יהושע, פרק ח׳, פסוק י׳

The morning before a decisive battle requires proactive leadership and careful preparation. After a night of tactical planning and dispatching ambush forces under the cover of darkness, the focus shifts to the main army remaining in the camp. Before the sun rises, Joshua gets up early to prepare the troops for the upcoming confrontation [אברבנאל].

His first action is to review the people. The primary approach among commentators is that this involves much more than a simple headcount. Acting as the commanding general, Joshua conducts a careful inspection of the soldiers to ensure they are fully equipped and ready for war. Another perspective suggests that this preparation also involves issuing specific commands and tallying the fighters [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Following this inspection, Joshua and the spiritual leadership—the elders of Israel—take their positions at the very front of the army. This placement serves two main purposes. First, it fulfills a specific condition set by God; the army's advance depends entirely on Joshua leading the way, and only when he moves ahead of them will the people follow [רש"י, מלבי"ם].

Second, their presence provides crucial psychological support. That morning, a natural fear of the inhabitants of Ai hung over the camp. This anxiety was heightened because thirty thousand of their best and bravest warriors had departed during the night to form the ambush, leaving the remaining soldiers feeling vulnerable and unprotected. To prevent any loss of morale, Joshua and the elders stand at the front lines. Their placement at the head of the camp is meant to instill courage and confidence, giving the people faith that the merit of their leaders will protect them in battle [אלשיך, חומת אנך]. However, some point out that while the leaders intend to boost morale out of concern for the soldiers' fears, the troops themselves actually do not need this encouragement. The fighters approach the battlefield on their own initiative, driven by inner bravery and strength [אברבנאל].