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约书亚记生命读经 · 第8篇

艾城的毁灭

The Destruction of Ai
1读经：约书亚记七至八章。在本篇信息中，我们要来看约书亚七、八章。这两章记载艾城的毁灭。
1Scripture Reading: Josh. 7—8 In this message we will consider Joshua 7 and 8. These chapters give the account of the destruction of Ai
2以色列人头一次上去毁灭艾城时遭遇失败。这次失败有四个原因。第一，以色列人犯了罪。神的百姓要圣别、成圣，尤其是在争战期间。但犹大支派中一个兵丁，因著偷窃当灭的物犯了罪。第二，他们失去主的同在。第三，他们信靠自己。第四，他们失去与神的一。神没有人也能作一切事，但照著约书亚记的记载，祂要人与祂是一。神守住成为肉体的原则，要藉著人、同著人、甚至在人里面作一切事。在耶利哥，以色列同著祭司扛抬的约柜（豫表基督作三一神的具体化身）绕城。这景象的属灵意义乃是一幅团体神人的图画，神与人，人与神一同行走，如同一人。这是以色列人过约但河的方式，也是他们毁灭耶利哥城的方式。神与以色列人争战在一起。然而，实际上是神争战，以色列人不过呼喊、宣扬、见证，然后占有那城。这景象该持续下去，直至取得那地。但耶利哥毁灭以后，以色列人因著从耶利哥取了一件当灭的物，（书六18～19，）就犯了罪。虽然这罪是亚干个人所犯，却影响了神全体的百姓。为这缘故，神对约书亚说，『以色列人犯了罪。』（七11上。）因著这罪，神离开他们，从他们收回祂的同在。这是约书亚和所有以色列人在攻击艾城时，变得愚昧、骄傲、和盲目的原因。
2The first time the children of Israel went up to destroy Ai they suffered a defeat. There were four reasons for this defeat. First, Israel sinned. God'sp eople were to be holy, sanctified, especially during the time of war. But one of the men of war from the tribe of Judah sinned by stealing something that was devoted to destruction. Second, they lost the presence of the Lord. Third, they trusted in themselves. Fourth, they lost their oneness with God. God can do everything without man, but according to the record of the book of Joshua He wants man to be one with Him. In keeping with the principle of incarnation, God wants to do everything through man, with man, and even in man. At Jericho Israel marched around the city with the ark, a type of Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God, on the shoulders of the priests. The spiritual significance of this scene is that it is a picture of a corporate God-man, God and man, man and God, walking together as one person. This was the way the children of Israel crossed the river Jordan, and this was the way they destroyed the city of Jericho. God and Israel were fighting together. Actually, however, God did the fighting, and Israel simply shouted, proclaimed, and testified and then occupied the city. This scene should have continued through all the taking of the land. But after the destruction of Jericho, Israel sinned by taking something from Jericho that was devoted to destruction (6:18-19). Although this sin was committed by an individual, Achan, it affected the entire body of God'sp eople. For this reason God said to Joshua, “Israel has sinned” (7:11a). Because of this sin God stayed away from them, withdrawing His presence from them. This was the reason that Joshua and all the children of Israel became foolish, proud, and blind in attacking Ai
3在耶利哥，约书亚照著神的经纶打发探子，不是为著争战，乃是要得著喇合。在毁灭耶利哥的事上，不需要争战。但在艾城，因为他们失去了主的同在，约书亚就为著争战打发探子。（2。）探子回到约书亚那里说，因为仇敌很少，不必劳累众民都去。他们题议只要差遣二三千人去攻击艾城。因著他们的愚昧、骄傲和盲目，他们就轻视仇敌。约书亚接到探子的报告，就差遣三千兵丁去攻击艾城。但以色列人被艾城的人击败，有三十六人被杀。这时，约书亚就领悟事情不对了。他在耶和华的约柜前俯伏在地，直到晚上。（6～9。）
3At Jericho, according to God'secon o my, Joshua sent out spies, not for fighting but to gain Rahab. In the destruction of Jericho, no fighting was needed. But at Ai, because they lost the presence of the Lord, Joshua sent out spies for fighting (v. 2). The spies returned to Joshua and said that because the enemies were few, not all the people needed go up. They suggested that about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Because of their foolishness, pride, and blindness, they despised their enemy. Nevertheless, Joshua received the report from the spies and sent three thousand men of war against Ai. But when Israel was defeated by the people of Ai and thirty-six men were slaughtered, Joshua realized that something was wrong. He then fell to the ground upon his face before the ark of Jehovah until evening (vv. 6-9).
4神对约书亚说话，告诉他，他们若不审判那罪，祂就不再与他们同在了。（12。）约书亚召聚百姓，藉著乌陵和土明找出（犹大）支派、（谢拉）家族、和犯罪的人（亚干）。（16～18。）于是以色列人用石头打死亚干，又用火焚烧他和他所有的。这样，以色列人得了清理，被带回归神，再次与神成为一。我们都需要从这记载学功课。我们这班神的子民该一直与我们的神是一。今天，尤其在新约里，我们的神不但在我们中间，也在我们各人里面。所以，我们每个人都不是孤独、单独的人。反之，我们是有神的人，我们是神人。你领悟你这在基督里的信徒是神人，神是你的一部分，你也是神的一部分么？我们来自许多不同的国家，但我们都是同样的人。我们都是神人。为这缘故，我们必须领悟，无论我们作甚么，无论我们去那里，无论我们是甚么，都不该凭著我们自己。我们不该凭著自己，乃该同著神行动、为人或行事。探子对约书亚的报告，指明以色列人把神放在一边。他们忘记神，只知道自己。那时他们没有与神是一，只关心自己。因此，神离开他们，祂对约书亚说，『你们若不把当灭的物，从你们中间除灭，我就不再与你们同在了。』（12下。）神不再与我们同在，是一件非常严重的事。没有甚么能顶替祂。我能见证，没有神，我就不能活。离了祂，我就无法生存。
4God spoke to Joshua, telling him that unless they judged the sin, He would not be with them anymore (v. 12). Joshua called the people together, and through the Urim and Thummim he found the tribe (Judah), the family (Zerah), and the person (Achan) who had sinned (vv. 16-18). The children of Israel then stoned and burned Achan and all that he had. In this way Israel was cleared up and brought back to God to be one with God again. We all need to learn a lesson from this account. We, the people of God, should always be one with our God. Today, especially in the New Testament, our God is not only among us but also within each one of us. Therefore, every one of us is not a solitary individual, a person alone. On the contrary, we are men with God, God-men. Do you realize that, as a believer in Christ, you are a God-man, that God is a part of your being and that you are a part of God's being? We come from many different countries, but we all are the same kind of person. We all are God-men. For this reason, we must realize that whatever we do, wherever we go, and whatever we are should not be by ourselves. We should not act, behave, or do things by ourselves but with God. The report of the spies to Joshua indicates that Israel had set God aside. They forgot God and knew only themselves. At that time they were not one with God but cared only for themselves. Thus, God stayed away from them, and He said to Joshua, “I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy that which was devoted to destruction from among you” (v. 12c). It is a very serious matter for God no longer to be with us. Nothing can replace Him. I can testify that without God I cannot live. Apart from Him I cannot have any being
5以色列人因著他们的罪与神分开。这罪使他们变得愚昧。以色列人该求问神，祂要他们作甚么来攻击艾城。这是他们得胜的秘诀。约书亚该对百姓说，『不要忘记我们在耶利哥所经历的。我们没有争战；我们乃是与神同行，如同一人。让我们在艾城作同样的事，同著约柜绕城。』约书亚若这样说，他就是智慧的人，以色列人也会跟从他智慧的劝告。
5Israel was separated from God because of their sin. This sin caused them to become foolish. Israel should have asked God what He wanted them to do against Ai. This was the secret for their victory. Joshua should have said to the people, “Do not forget what we experienced at Jericho. We did not fight, but instead we walked with God as one. Let us do the same thing at Ai, walking around the city with the ark.” If Joshua had said this, he would have been a wise man, and the children of Israel would have followed his wise counsel.
6以色列在艾城失败的关键，乃是他们失去神的同在，不再与祂是一。这次失败以后，约书亚学了功课，要在约柜前与主同在。至终，主进来对他说话，告诉他要作甚么。今天对我们原则是一样的。我们若有神的同在，就有智慧、眼光、先见、以及对事物内里的知识。我们研读这段以色列历史的内在意义时，需要学习与主同行的秘诀。今天我们不该仅仅跟随主，乃该与祂同行，与祂同活，并与祂一同行事为人。这是基督徒行事为人，神的儿女争战、并建造基督身体的路。我们需要记得我们是神人，并要实行与主是一。关于这点，主耶稣说，『到那日，你们就知道我在我父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。』（约十四20。）这话启示我们是『在里面』的人：我们在基督里面，祂也在我们里面。（十五4。）所以，我们无论作甚么，都不该凭著自己作，乃该同著且凭著另一位作。
6The secret of Israel's defeat at A i was that they lost God's presence and were no longer one with Him. After this defeat, Joshua learned the lesson of staying with the Lord before the ark. Eventually, the Lord came in to speak to him and to tell him what to do. The principle is the same with us today. If we have God's presence, we have wisdom, insight, foresight, and the inner knowledge concerning things. As we study the intrinsic significance of this part of Israel's history, we need to learn the secret of walking with the Lord. Today we should not merely follow the Lord but walk with Him, living with Him and having our being with Him. This is the way to walk as a Christian, to fight as a child of God, and to build up the Body of Christ. We need to remember that we are God-men and to practice being one with the Lord. Concerning this, the Lord Jesus said, “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:20). This word reveals that we are a people of “ins”: we are in Christ and He is in us (15:4). Therefore, whatever we do should not be done by ourselves but should be done with and by another One
7我年轻时，人教导我各种得胜、圣别、并属灵的方法。然而，这些方法没有一样管用。至终，经过六十八年多的经历，我发现除了主的同在以外，没有一样管用。祂与我们同在，就是一切。现在让我们比较专一的来看约书亚七、八章。
7In my youth I was taught various ways to overcome, to be victorious, to be holy, and to be spiritual. However, not any of these ways worked. Eventually, through more than sixty-eight years of experience, I have found out that nothing works but the Lord's presence. His being with us is everything. Let us now consider Joshua 7 and 8 in a more particular way
壹 在艾城的失败
I. THE DEFEAT AT AI
8七章描述在艾城的失败。一以色列人在当灭的物上有了过
8The defeat at Ai is described in chapter seven. A. The Children of Israel Committing a Trespass in
the thing devoted to destruction
犯
9以色列人行事不忠信，在当灭的物上有了过犯，因为亚干取了当灭的物。因著这事，耶和华的怒气，就向以色列人发作。（1。）
9The children of Israel acted unfaithfully and committed a trespass in that which was devoted to destruction, for Achan took of that which was devoted to destruction. Concerning this, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel (v. 1).
二 以色列人凭自己行动，没有寻求主的指引，也没有主的同在
B. Israel Acting on Their Own, without Seeking the Lord's Direction and without Having the Lord's Presence
10约书亚从耶利哥打发人往艾城去，吩咐他们窥探那地。他们窥探艾城以后，回到约书亚那里，对他说，『众民不必都上去；只要二三千人上去攻打艾城。不必劳累众民都去，因为仇敌很少。』（2～3。）所以民中只有约三千人上那里去。（4上。）这指明以色列人凭自己行动，没有寻求主的指引，也没有主的同在。
10Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, telling them to spy out the land. After they spied out Ai, they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Not all the people need go up; let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Do not make all the people labor there, for the enemies are few” (vv. 2-3). So only about three thousand men from the people went up there (v. 4a). This indicates that Israel acted on their own, without seeking the Lord's direction and without having the Lord's presence
三 以色列人被艾城的人击败赶逐
C. Israel Being Defeated and Driven Away by the Men of Ai
11以色列人被艾城的人击败赶逐。（4下～5。）结果，『众民的心就销化如水。』（5下。）
11Israel was defeated and driven away by the men of Ai (vv. 4b-5). As a result, “the heart of the people melted and became like water” (v. 5b
四 约书亚和以色列长老的悲痛及向耶和华的呼喊
D. The Anguish and Cry of Joshua and the Elders of Israel to Jehovah
12六至九节描述约书亚和以色列长老的悲痛及向耶和华的呼喊。约书亚撕裂衣服，在耶和华的约柜前，俯伏在地，直到晚上。以色列的长老也照样行。约书亚说，『哎，主耶和华阿！你为甚么竟领这百姓过约但河，将我们交在亚摩利人手中，使我们灭亡？惟愿我们甘心住在约但河那边！主阿，以色列人既在仇敌面前转背逃跑，我还有甚么可说的呢？』（7～8。）约书亚继续求问耶和华：祂为祂的大名要怎样。
12In verses 6 through 9 we have the anguished cry of Joshua and the elders of Israel to Jehovah. Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the ground upon his face before the ark of Jehovah until the evening. The elders of Israel did likewise. Joshua said, “Ah, Lord Jehovah! Why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us over into the hand of the Amorites and cause us to perish? If only we had been content to dwell across the Jordan! Oh, Lord, what can I say after Israel has turned its back before its enemies?” (vv. 7-8). Joshua continued by asking Jehovah what He would do for His great name
五 耶和华的吩咐
E. Jehovah's Charge
13十至十五节记载耶和华的吩咐－对付偷窃当灭的物。耶和华告诉约书亚，以色列人犯了罪，违背祂的约，取了当灭的物，并且把那当灭的物放在自己的物件里。
13Verses 10 through 15 are a record of Jehovah's charge— to deal with the stealing of the thing devoted to destruction. Jehovah told Joshua that Israel had sinned, trespassing His covenant by taking that which had been devoted to destruction and putting it among their goods
14那就是以色列人在仇敌面前站立不住，反倒在他们面前转背逃跑的原因。耶和华接著说，他们若不把当灭的物，从他们中间除去，他们在仇敌面前，必站立不住。耶和华吩咐，那偷窃当灭之物的人，和他的一切所有的，要用火焚烧。
14That was the reason the children of Israel were not able to stand before their enemies but instead turned their backs before them. Jehovah went on to say that they would not be able to stand before their enemies until they removed from among them that which had been devoted to destruction. Jehovah charged that he who had stolen what was devoted to destruction was to be burned with fire, he and all that belonged to him.
六 以色列人对付他们的罪
F. Israel's Dealing with Their Sin
15十六至二十六节描述以色列人对付他们的罪。１找出犯罪的人首先，以色列人找出犯罪的人。（16～21。）他们藉著大祭司决断胸牌上的乌陵和土明（出二八30）作这事。犯罪的人是犹大支派的亚干。约书亚吩咐他说出他所作的事，亚干就回答说，『我实在得罪了耶和华以色列的神，我所作的事，是这样的：我在所夺的财物中，看见一件美好的示拿衣服，二百舍客勒银子，一条金子，重五十舍客勒，我就贪爱这些物件，便拿去了。现今藏在我帐棚内的地里，银子在衣服底下。』（书七20～21。）
15Verses 16 through 26 describe Israel's dealing with their sin. 1. Finding Out the One Who Committed the Sin First, Israel found out the one who committed the sin (vv. 16-21). They did this by the Urim and the Thummim on the high priest's breastplate of judgment (Exo. 28:30). The one who committed the sin was Achan, of the tribe of Judah. When Joshua commanded him to say what he had done, Achan replied, “It is true; I have sinned against Jehovah, the God of Israel; and this is what I did: When I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle of Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And now they are hidden in the earth in my tent, with the silver under it” (Josh. 7:20-21
２ 藉著用石头打死，对这罪执行死的审判
2. The Death Judgment on the Sin by Stoning
16以色列人对付亚干，把他和他的儿女，以及他所有的，都用石头打死，又用火焚烧。众人在亚干身上堆成一大堆石头；于是耶和华转意，不发祂的烈怒。（22～26。）
16Israel dealt with Achan by taking him, his sons and his daughters, and all that he had and stoning them with stones and burning them with fire. Then they erected over him a great heap of stones, and Jehovah turned from the fierceness of His anger (vv. 22-26
贰 胜过艾城
II. THE VICTORY OVER AI
17在八章一至二十九节我们看见胜过艾城。
17In 8:1-29 we see the victory over Ai
一 耶和华的指示
A. Jehovah's Instruction
18一至二节是耶和华对约书亚关于艾城的指示。耶和华吩咐约书亚不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，乃要率领一切兵丁去攻击艾城。耶和华应许约书亚，祂已经把艾城的王、民、城和地，都交在约书亚手里了。然后耶和华吩咐约书亚怎样待耶利哥和牠的王，也当照样待艾城和牠的王，并且将艾城内所夺的财物和牲畜，取为自己的掠物。最后，耶和华指示约书亚在艾城后设下伏兵。
18Verses 1 and 2 are Jehovah's instruction to Joshua regarding A i. Jehovah charged Joshua not to be afraid or dismayed but to take all the people of war with him to attack Ai. Jehovah promised Joshua that He had given the king, the people, the city, and the land of Ai into his hand. Then Jehovah charged Joshua to do to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king and to take the spoil and cattle of Ai for Israel's plunder. Finally, Jehovah instructed Joshua to set an ambush for the city of Ai behind it
二 征服并毁灭艾城
B. The Conquest and Destruction of Ai
19在三至二十九节，我们看见艾城被征服并毁灭。约书亚照著耶和华的指示，完成攻击。（3～26，28～。）然后以色列人将艾城的牲口和财物取为自己的掠物，是照耶和华所吩咐约书亚的话。（27。）
19In verses 3 through 29 we see the conquest and destruction of Ai. Joshua accomplished the attack according to Jehovah's instruction (vv. 3-26, 28-29). Then Israel took the cattle and the spoil of the city 29 of Ai for themselves as plunder according to what Jehovah had commanded Joshua (v. 27).
参 约书亚抄记律法，
III. JOSHUA'S RECORDING AND READING
并向以色列人宣读律法
OF THE LAW TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
20三十至三十五节说到约书亚抄记律法，并向以色列人宣读律法。
20Verses 30 through 35 are concerned with Joshua's recording and reading of the law to the people of Israel
一 筑坛并向耶和华献上燔祭和平安祭
A. Building an Altar and Offering Burnt Offerings and Peace Offerings to Jehovah
21约书亚在以巴路山上，为耶和华以色列的神筑了一座坛；他们在这坛上向耶和华献上燔祭和平安祭。（30～31。）
21Joshua built an altar to Jehovah, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, and they offered upon it burnt offerings to Jehovah and sacrificed peace offerings vv. 30-31
二 将摩西所写的律法抄写在石头上
B. Writing the Law of Moses upon the Stones
22约书亚在以巴路山那里，当著以色列人面前，将摩西所写的律法抄写在石头上。（32。）
22There at Mount Ebal, in the presence of the children of Israel, Joshua wrote upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses (v. 32
三 照著摩西所吩咐的，为以色列民祝福
C. Blessing the People of Israel according to What Moses Had Commanded
23三十三节说到照著摩西所吩咐的，为以色列民祝福。（申十一29～30，二七11～13。）
23Verse 33 speaks of the blessing of the people of Israel according to what Moses had commanded (Deut. 11:29-30; 27:11-13).
四 向以色列会众宣读全部的律法
D. Reading the Entire Law to the Congregation of Israel
24最终，约书亚将摩西全部的律法，无论是祝福或咒诅的话，都向以色列会众宣读。（书八34。）因此，三十五节总结说，『摩西所吩咐的一切话，约书亚在以色列全会众、和妇女孩子、并他们中间寄居的外人面前，没有一句不宣读的。』
24Finally, Joshua read the entire law of Moses, both the blessing and the curse, to the congregation of Israel Josh. 8:34). Thus, verse 35 concludes, “There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel and the women and the little ones and the sojourners who went among them