Jos 8:25 And [so] it was, [that] all that fell that day, both of men and women, [were] twelve thousand, [even] all the men of Ai.
TWELVE: Perfection of government. Twelve is the number of the Church, both the Old Covenant Church of Israel founded by 12 physical fathers (the 12 sons of Israel) and the New Covenant Church founded by 12 spiritual fathers (the 12 Apostles). This number also has a relationship to rule along with multiples of 12:
- 12 signs of the zodiac (these ancient symbols are found in Jewish synagogues of the 1st century AD).
- The circle of the heavens = 360' (12 x 30).
- The product of 3 (perfection of divinity) x 4 (the number of the earth).
- 12 tribes of Israel [Genesis 49:28].
- 12 pillars were erected at Mt. Sinai [Exodus 24:4].
- 12 statues of oxen held up the water basin in Solomon’s Temple [1 Kings 7:25].
- 12 men were selected by God to conduct the census [Numbers 1:2-16].
- 12 princes of Israel brought gifts to the Sanctuary on 12 days [Numbers 7:10-83].
- 12 spies sent to reconnoiter Canaan [Numbers 13:1-15].
- 12 months of a year.
- Jesus is 12 when He questions the scholars in the Temple [Luke 2:41].
- 12 legions of angles [Matthew 26:53].
- 12 Apostles [Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:13].
- 144,000 servants of God (12 times 12) [Revelation 7:4].
- 12 gates of the New Jerusalem [Revelation 21:12].
- 12 foundations of the Heavenly Jerusalem [Revelation 7:4; 21:16, 17].
- The Trees of Life in the new creation will bear 12 kinds of fruits [Revelation 22:2].
Jos 8:26 KJV - For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
Destroyed: The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the lord, often by totally destroying them.
Jos 6:21 And they utterly destroyed all that [was] in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
Joshua - Joshua seems to have been not only the general but the standard-bearer of the army, (Jos 8:18,) and continued in this employment, by holding up or extending his spear, during the whole of the battle; and did not slacken from the pursuit till the forces of Ai were utterly discomfited. Some commentators, however, understand this action in a figurative sense, like the holding up of Moses' hands, as if it implied that Joshua continued in prayer for the success of his troops, nor ceased till the armies of Ai were annihilated, and the city taken and destroyed.
Jos 8:18 KJV - And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that [is] in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that [he had] in his hand toward the city.
Exd 17:11 KJV - And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Exd 17:12 KJV - But Moses' hands [were] heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Jos 8:27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
Jos 8:2 KJV - And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
Jos 11:4 KJV - And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that [is] upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
Num 31:22 KJV - Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
Num 31:26 KJV - Take the sum of the prey that was taken, [both] of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation:
Psa 50:10 KJV - For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Mat 20:15 KJV - Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Jos 8:28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, [even] a desolation unto this day.
Jos 8:29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, [that remaineth] unto this day.
the king - The kings of Canaan lay under the same curse as their subjects and probably were more deeply criminal. The reserving of the king of Ai for a solemn execution, would tend to strike terror into the other kings, contribute to the success of Israel, and give their proceedings the stamp of a judicial process, and of executing the vengeance of God upon his enemies. Jos 10:26-28,30,33; Deu 21:22,23; Est 7:10; Psa 107:40; Psa 110:5; Act 12:23; Rev 19:17,18
Jos 10:26 KJV - And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
Jos 10:27 KJV - And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, [that] Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, [which remain] until this very day.
Jos 10:28 KJV - And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
Jos 10:30 KJV - And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
Jos 10:33 KJV - Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
Deu 21:22 KJV - And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deu 21:23 KJV - His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged [is] accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance.
Est 7:10 KJV - So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
Psa 107:40 KJV - He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.
Psa 110:5 KJV - The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
Act 12:23 KJV - And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Rev 19:17 KJV - And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 KJV - That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.
as soon -
Jos 10:27 KJV - And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, [that] Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, [which remain] until this very day.
a great heap -
Jos 7:26 KJV - And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
2Sa 18:17 KJV - And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent