² Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai,^(A) which is near Beth Aven^(B) to the east of Bethel,^(C) and told them, “Go up and spy out^(D) the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

³ When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” ⁴ So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai,^(E)