Why could the Israelites plunder Ai, but not Jericho (8:2)?
In ancient times pillaging was a means of resupplying the army with food and equipment. So it was not the battle of Ai that was unusual, but the battle of Jericho. The dedication of Jericho s valuables to the Lord paralleled God s laws about firstfruits (see Leviticus 2:14), and so they honored the Lord by giving the first victory to him. The Quest Study Bible Are we to believe that the sun actually stopped (10:13-14)? While some argue that the passage is figurative, there is no reason to believe that God could not extend the day. He who created the world by the power of His word can certainly work beyond the normal limitations of that which can be explained by science. If God can raise the dead, part the Red Sea, and heal leprosy, He can certainly control the sun and the earth. Don Porter Did women have any rights in that society (17:4)? The women of ancient Israel had few rights by today s standards. But the law provided for their care and protection in several important ways: (1) a
