54 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

death must have tended to give the people a greater
abhorrence against sin, and in particular against the sin
of covetousness. After the death of Achan the Lord
spoke to Joshua words of encouragement. The sin of
Achan possibly made the heart of Joshua almost ready
to fail. Joshua was a brave man, but the bravest of
men may tremble because of sin; a traitor in the camp
or in the heart is more to be dreaded than all that can
assail us from without. To comfort Joshua, the Lord
told him that he had given Ai and her king into his
hand, that he might do to them as he had done to
Jericho and her king, only the spoil and the cattle they
were to take for their own. In order that Ai might fall
into the hands of the Israelites, Joshua was directed to
take there with him all the men of war, and to place an
ambush behind the city.

Marianne. Did God tell him to do that?

Grandfather. Yes; and we learn from this that when
any one acts prudently and well it is God who puts wis-
dom in their hearts. Joshua selected thirty thousand
men of valour, and sent them away by night, command-
ing them to lie in wait behind the city, not very far from
it. He, and all the people who were with him, were to
make an attack on the city, and when the inhabitants
came out against them they were to flee before them.
The people of Ai would pursue, then those who were in
ambush would rush in and seize on the city. Joshua
tells them with certainty that they would succeed in
this, for, says he, “ The Lord your God will deliver it