Joshua 8:7-17
English Standard Version
Chapter 8
7Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will give it into your hand. 8And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you." 9So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.
10Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11And all the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai.
12He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
13So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley.
14And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
15And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness.
16So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city.
17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
