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 when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city and those lying in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14
And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hastened and rose up early; and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed before the plain; but he knew not that there lay an ambush against him behind the city.
15
And 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 who were in Ai were called together to pursue after them, and they pursued after Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
17
And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who went not out after Israel; and they left the city open and pursued after Israel.
18
And the LORD said unto Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai, for I will give it into thine hand." And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19
And 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 hastened and 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 who fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21
And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again and slew the men of Ai.
22
And the others issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape;