Joshua 8:2

“And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst to Jericho and her king, etc.] Burn the one and slay the other: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves; which they were not allowed to do at Jericho: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it; at the west side of it: some have called in question the lawfulness of the ambush, but, as this was appointed by the Lord, there is no room for it.”

“To Ai - That is, the city and people of Ai. Unto Jericho and her king - That is, overcome and destroy them. This was enjoined to chastise their last insolence, and the triumphs and blasphemies which doubtless their success had produced: and to revive the dread and terror which had been impressed upon the Canaanites by Jericho's ruin, and had been much abated by the late success of Ai. Joshua 8:3”

“8:2 Unlike other ancient nations, who went to war to gain wealth, Israel served as God’s agent of judgment upon the Canaanites; the plunder and the livestock were incidental. • The strategy for capturing Ai was to plan an ambush. Joshua executed God’s simple instructions well. • behind the town: On its west side (8:12).”

“do to Ai: Jos 8:24, Jos 8:28, Jos 8:29. See note on Jos 6:21, see note on Jos 10:1, see note on Jos 10:28, and see note on Deu 3:2. only the spoil: Jos 8:27; Deu 20:14; Job 27:16, Job 27:17; Psa 39:6; Pro 13:22, Pro 28:20; Jer 17:11; Luk 12:20, Luk 12:21 lay thee: Jos 8:7, Jos 8:9, Jos 8:12, Jos 8:14, Jos 8:19; Jdg 20:29-33; Ch2 13:13, Ch2 20:22; Jer 51:12 Joshua 8:3”