Joshua 8:8-17
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 8
8Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it in accordance with the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.' 9So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.
10Now Joshua got up early in the morning and mustered the people, and he went up with the elders of Israel before the people to Ai.
11Then all the people of war who were with him went up and approached, and arrived in front of the city; and they camped on the north side of Ai. And there was a valley between him and Ai.
12Then he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north side of the city, and its rear guard on the west side of the city, and Joshua spent that night in the midst of the valley.
14And it came about, when the king of Ai saw them, that the men of the city hurried and got up early, and went out to meet Israel in battle, he and all his people at the appointed place before the desert plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
15Then Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.
17So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel, but they had all gone out after Israel, and they left the city unguarded and pursued Israel.
King James Version
Chapter 8
8And 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. 9Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
10And 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.
11And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
12And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted 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 wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 8
8After taking the city, set it on fire. Follow the Lord’s command—see that you do as I have ordered you." 9So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.
10Joshua started early the next morning and mobilized them. Then he and the elders of Israel led the troops up to Ai.
11All those who were with him went up and approached the city, arriving opposite Ai, and camped to the north of it, with a valley between them and the city.
12Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
13The troops were stationed in this way: the main camp to the north of the city and its rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley.
14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, the men of the city hurried and went out early in the morning so that he and all his people could engage Israel in battle at a suitable place facing the Arabah. But he did not know there was an ambush waiting for him behind the city.
15Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten back by them and fled toward the wilderness.
16Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city exposed while they pursued Israel.
New Living Translation
9So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night.
10Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel.
11All the fighting men who were with Joshua marched in front of the town and camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the town.
12That night Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the town.
13So they stationed the main army north of the town and the ambush west of the town. Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.
14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurried out early in the morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn’t realize there was an ambush behind the town.
15Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten.
16Then all the men in the town were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the town.
17There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the town was left wide open.
English Standard Version
Chapter 8
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.
New International Version
10Early the next morning Joshua mustered his army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai.
11The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city.
12Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
13So the soldiers took up their positions—with the main camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.
14When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set against him behind the city.
15Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.
16All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.
17Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.
New King James Version
9Joshua therefore sent them out; 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.
10Then Joshua rose up 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 people of war who were with him went up and drew near; and they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now a valley lay between them and Ai.
12So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13And when they had set the people, all the army that was on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14Now it happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
15And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
17There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel.
