8
And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you."
9
Joshua therefore sent them forth; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
10
And Joshua rose up early in the morning and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11
And all the people, even the people of war who were with him, went up and drew nigh, 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 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.