Some Christians argue that Joshua and Israel lost the battle of Ai because they were overconfident.1 Commentators also point out that we are never told that Joshua prays before the battle. Yet we don’t actually know whether this is true. It is always dangerous when interpreting the Bible to make an argument from silence. In addition, such interpretations fail to adequately reckon with what we learn in Joshua 7:1. The reason for the defeat of Israel was not a lack of praying or planning, or on account of overconfidence; it was because the Lord’s anger burned against them on account of Achan’s disobedience.
5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.