Joshua 8:5

5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.

Joshua 8:5 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 8:5

And I and all the people that [are] with me will approach unto
the city
That is, Joshua with the main body of the army would march up to the city the next morning, in order to draw out the inhabitants of it to fight them:

and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the
first;
as they had done before, when the three thousand were sent against them, ( Joshua 7:4 Joshua 7:5 ) ;

that we will flee before them;
as the three thousand did, which would animate them to pursue them with the greater eagerness, and to a distance from their city.

Joshua 8:5 In-Context

3 So Joshua and the whole military force set out to attack Ai. Joshua selected 30,000 fighting men and sent them out at night.

4 He commanded them: "Pay attention. Lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it, and all of you be ready.

5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.

6 They will come after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are fleeing from us as before.' While we are fleeing from them,

7 you are to come out of your ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God has handed it over to you.