Bible Dictionary
Ai
Ai was a Canaanite city east of Bethel, where Israel was first defeated because of Achan’s sin and later gained victory. It was subsequently rebuilt; another Ai is mentioned in Ammonite territory.
Definition
Ai, meaning “the ruin” or “heap of ruins,” was a Canaanite town east of Bethel in Benjamin. It was first a place of Israelite defeat and later of victory, after which it was burned. A different Ai is mentioned in Ammonite territory.
Biblical Usage
Israel was defeated at Ai because of Achan’s sin, but after confession and expiation Joshua captured and destroyed the city. Ai later appears as rebuilt and inhabited, and its name is also used in an Ammonite setting.
Historical Background
Ai was near Bethel and Beth-aven and has been identified with sites such as Haiyan or El-Tell. Its position gave Israel access to central Canaan. The name in the Ammonite passage may reflect a corrupt reading.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Ruins. (1.) One of the royal cities of the Canaanites (Josh. 10:1; Gen. 12:8; 13:3). It was the scene of Joshua’s defeat, and afterwards of his victory. It was the second Canaanite city taken by Israel (Josh. 7:2-5; 8:1-29). It lay rebuilt and inhibited by the Benjamites (Ezra 2:28; Neh. 7:32; 11:31). It lay to the east of Bethel, “beside Beth-aven.” The spot which is most probably the site of this ancient city is Haiyan, 2 miles east from Bethel. It lay up the Wady Suweinit, a steep, rugged valley, extending from the Jordan valley to Bethel. (2.) A city in the Ammonite territory (Jer. 49:3). Some have thought that the proper reading of the word is Ar (Isa. 15:1).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(heap of ruins).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a'-i (`ay, written always with the definite article, ha-`ay, probably meaning "the ruin," kindred root, `awah):</p><p>(1) A town of central Palestine, in the tribe of Benjamin, near and just east of Bethel (Ge 12:8). It is identified with the modern Haiyan, just south of the village Der Diwan (Conder in HDB; Delitzsch in Commentary on Ge 12:8) or with a mound, El-Tell, to the north of the modern village (Davis, Dict. Biblical). The name first appears in the earliest journey of Abraham through Palestine (Ge 12:8), where its location is given as east of Bethel, and near the altar which Abraham built between the two places. It is given similar mention as he returns from his sojourn in Egypt (Ge 13:3). In both of these occurrences the King James Version has the form Hai, including the article in transliterating. The most conspicuous mention of Ai is in the narrative of the Conquest. As a consequence of the sin of Achan in appropriating articles from the devoted spoil of Jericho, the Israelites were routed in the attack upon the town; but after confession and expiation, a second assault was successful, the city was taken and burned, and left a heap of ruins, the inhabitants, in number twelve thousand, were put to death, the king captured, hanged and buried under a heap of stones at the gate of the ruined city, only the cattle being kept as spoil by the people (Jos 7; 8). The town had not been rebuilt when Jos was written (Jos 8:28). The fall of Ai gave the Israelites entrance to the heart of Canaan, where at once they became established, Bethel and other towns in the vicinity seeming to have yielded without a struggle. Ai was rebuilt at some later period, and is mentioned by Isa (Isa 10:28) in his vivid description of the approach of the Assyrian army, the feminine form (`ayyath) being used. Its place in the order of march, as just beyond Michmash from Jerusalem, corresponds with the identification given above. It is mentioned also in post-exilic times by Ezr 2:28 and Ne 7:32, (and in Ne 11:31 as, `ayya'), identified in each case by the grouping with Bethel.</p><p>(2) The Ai of Jer 49:3 is an Ammonite town, the text probably being a corruption of `ar; or ha-`ir, "the city" (BDB).</p><p>Edward Mack</p>