Charles Ellicott Commentary Joshua 7:3

"And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few." — Joshua 7:3 (ASV)

Do not make all the people labor there. —In these words we see, by a sort of side-glance, the (not unnatural) comment of Israel on the seven days’ march around Jericho. They thought it useless labor, and were unable to appreciate the lesson which it taught.

Again our attention is directed to the peculiar character of the warfare. It was not that kind of war which men would naturally have been disposed to wage. But the narrative is consistent throughout. (See Note on Joshua 2:1.)