11
And all the people of war that
were with him, went up, and drew near and came before the city and pitched camp on the north side of Ai; now
there was a valley between them and Ai.
12
And he took about five thousand men and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13
And the people, all the camp that
was on the side of the north came near to the city, and their ambush on the west of the city. And Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14
When the king of Ai saw it, he rose up early in the morning and made haste with the men of the city to go out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he did not know that
there was an ambush against him behind the city.
15
Then Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16
And all the people that
were in Ai were called together to pursue after them; and they pursued after Joshua and were raptured from the city.
17
And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel that did not go out after Israel; and because they pursued after Israel, they left the city open.
18
Then the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that
is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thy hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that
he had in his hand toward the city.
19
And those of the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand; and they entered into the city and took it and made haste to set the city on fire.
20
And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way; and the people that were fleeing into the wilderness turned back upon their pursuers.
21
Then Joshua and all Israel, seeing that those of the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned and slew the men of Ai.