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Plan to capture Ai

The Lord said to Joshua, “Don’t be afraid or terrified. Take the entire army with you. Start to go up to Ai. Look! I have given the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your power. Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king. But you may take its booty and cattle as plunder. Set your ambush behind the city.”

So Joshua and the whole army got ready to go up to Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand brave soldiers. He sent them out by night. He commanded them, “Look. You are to ambush the city from behind. Don’t move too far away from the city. Be ready, all of you. I will approach the city with all the people. When they come out against us the same way as before, we will flee from them. They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city. They will think, They are fleeing from us as before. So we will flee from them. But you will rise up from the ambush and take over the city. The Lord your God will give it into your power. As soon as you seize the city, set it on fire. Act according to the Lord’s word. Indeed, I have given you an order!”

Joshua sent them off, and they went to set the ambush. They stayed between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. Joshua spent that night among the people. 10 Joshua got up early in the morning and mustered the people. Then he and the elders of Israel went up in front of the people to Ai. 11 The entire army that was with him went up. They moved in close, in front of the city. Then they camped north of Ai, with the valley between them and Ai. 12 He took about five thousand men and positioned them as an ambush between Bethel and Ai to the west of the city. 13 The people positioned the main camp on the north side of the city and its rear guard on its west side. That night, Joshua went into the middle of the valley.

Israel’s successful strategy

14 As soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his troops, the men of the city, hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle. They moved out to the battleground on the slopes down toward the Jordan.[a] He didn’t know that there was an ambush set against him behind the city. 15 Then Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten before them. They fled in the direction of the desert. 16 Next, all the troops who were still in the city were called out to chase them. They chased after Joshua and so let themselves be drawn away from the city. 17 No one who hadn’t gone out after Israel was left in either Ai or Bethel. They left the city wide open and chased after Israel.

18 The Lord said to Joshua, “Point the dagger in your hand toward Ai, because I will give it into your power.” So Joshua pointed the dagger in his hand toward the city. 19 The ambush quickly rose from its place. As soon as he reached out his hand, it charged. They entered the city and captured it. They set the city on fire at once. 20 Then the men of Ai turned around. They caught sight of the smoke of the city rising toward the sky. They had no chance to flee one way or the other. The troops who were fleeing toward the desert turned against the pursuit. 21 Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city was rising. So they turned and struck down the men of Ai. 22 When other Israelites came out of the city to confront them, the men of Ai were caught in the middle. Some Israelites were on one side of them and some on the other. The Israelites struck them down until there was no one left to escape. 23 But they seized the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

24 Israel finished killing the entire population of Ai that had chased them out into the open wasteland. All of them were finished off without mercy. Then all Israel went back to Ai and struck it down without mercy. 25 Twelve thousand men and women died that day, all the people of Ai. 26 Joshua didn’t pull back the hand that was stretched out holding a dagger until he had wiped out the whole population of Ai as something reserved for God. 27 However, Israel did take the cattle and other booty of that city as plunder for themselves, in agreement with the command that the Lord had given Joshua. 28 Then Joshua burned Ai. He made it a permanently deserted mound. That is still the case today. 29 He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. At sundown, Joshua gave an order, and they took his body down from the tree. They threw it down at the opening of the city gate. Then they raised over it a great pile of stones that is still there today.

Joshua reads the Instruction

30 Then Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the Lord, the God of Israel. 31 This was exactly what Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded the Israelites. It is what is written in the Instruction scroll from Moses: “an altar of crude stones against which no iron tool has swung.”[b] On it they offered entirely burned offerings to the Lord and sacrificed well-being offerings. 32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the Instruction from Moses, which Moses had written earlier. 33 All Israel—with its elders, officers, and judges—were standing on either side of the chest. They were facing the levitical priests who carry the Lord’s chest containing the covenant. They included both immigrants and full citizens. Half stood facing Mount Gerizim and half stood facing Mount Ebal. This was exactly what Moses the Lord’s servant had initially commanded for the blessing of the Israelite people. 34 Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the Instruction, both blessing and curse, in agreement with everything written in the Instruction scroll. 35 There wasn’t a single word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua failed to read aloud in the presence of the entire assembly of Israel. This assembly included the women and small children, along with the immigrants who lived among them.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 8:14 Or the Arabah
  2. Joshua 8:31 Deut 27:5-6

At sinabi ng Panginoon kay Josue, Huwag kang matakot, ni manglumo: ipagsama mo ang buong bayang pangdigma, at bumangon ka, na sumampa ka sa Hai: tingnan mo, aking ibinigay sa iyong kamay ang hari sa Hai, at ang kaniyang bayan, at ang kaniyang siyudad, at ang kaniyang lupain;

At iyong gagawin sa Hai at sa kaniyang hari ang gaya ng iyong ginawa sa Jerico at sa kaniyang hari: ang samsam lamang doon, at ang mga hayop niyaon, ang iyong kukunin na pinakasamsam ninyo: lagyan mo ng mga bakay ang bayan sa likuran.

Sa gayo'y bumangon si Josue, at ang buong bayang pangdigma, upang sumampa sa Hai: at pumili si Josue ng tatlong pung libong lalake, na mga makapangyarihang lalaking matapang, at sinugo ng kinagabihan.

At iniutos niya sa kanila, na sinasabi, Narito, kayo'y babakay laban sa bayan, sa likuran ng bayan: huwag kayong lumayong totoo sa bayan kundi humanda kayo;

At ako, at ang buong bayan na kasama ko ay lalapit sa bayan. At mangyayari, na pagka sila'y lumabas laban sa amin gaya ng una, ay tatakas kami sa harap nila;

At sila'y lalabas na susunod sa amin, hanggang sa aming mailayo sila sa bayan, sapagka't kanilang sasabihin, Sila'y tumatakas sa harap natin, na gaya ng una; gayon kami tatakas sa harap nila:

At kayo'y babangon sa pagbakay, at inyong aariin ang bayan: sapagka't ibibigay ng Panginoon ninyong Dios sa inyong kamay.

At mangyayari, na pagka inyong nasakop ang bayan, ay inyong sisilaban ng apoy ang bayan; ayon sa salita ng Panginoon ay inyong gagawin: narito, aking iniutos sa inyo.

At pinapagpaalam sila ni Josue: at sila'y yumaon sa pagbakay, at lumagay sa pagitan ng Beth-el at ng Hai, sa dakong kalunuran ng Hai: nguni't si Josue ay tumigil ng gabing yaon sa gitna ng bayan.

10 At si Josue ay bumangong maaga sa kinaumagahan, at binilang ang bayan, at sumampa siya at ang mga matanda ng Israel, sa unahan ng bayan, sa Hai.

11 At ang buong bayan, sa makatuwid baga'y ang mga taong pangdigma na kinasama niya, ay sumampa, at lumapit, at naparoon sa harap ng bayan, at humantong sa dakong hilagaan ng Hai: mayroon ngang isang libis sa pagitan niya at ng Hai.

12 At siya'y kumuha ng may limang libong lalake at inilagay niya silang bakay sa pagitan ng Beth-el at ng Hai sa dakong kalunuran ng bayan.

13 Gayon inilagay nila ang bayan, ang buong hukbo na nasa hilagaan ng bayan, at ang kanilang mga bakay na nasa kalunuran ng bayan; at si Josue ay naparoon ng gabing yaon sa gitna ng libis.

14 At nangyari, nang makita ng hari sa Hai, na sila'y nagmadali at bumangong maaga, at ang mga lalake sa bayan ay lumabas laban sa Israel upang makipagbaka, siya at ang kaniyang buong bayan, sa kapanahunang takda, sa harap ng Araba, nguni't hindi niya talastas na may bakay laban sa kaniya sa likuran ng bayan.

15 At ginawa ni Josue at ng buong Israel na parang sila'y nadaig sa harap nila, at tumakas sa daan na ilang.

16 At ang lahat ng mga tao na nasa bayan ay pinisan upang humabol sa kanila: at kanilang hinabol si Josue, at nangalayo sa bayan.

17 At walang lalake na naiwan sa Hai o sa Beth-el, na hindi humabol sa Israel: at kanilang iniwang bukas ang bayan, at hinabol ang Israel.

18 At sinabi ng Panginoon kay Josue, Iunat mo ang sibat na nasa iyong kamay sa dakong Hai; sapagka't aking ibibigay sa iyong kamay. At iniunat ni Josue ang sibat na nasa kaniyang kamay sa dakong bayan.

19 At ang bakay ay bumangong bigla sa kanilang dako, at sila'y tumakbo pagkaunat niya ng kaniyang kamay, at pumasok sa bayan at sinakop at sila'y nagmadali at sinilaban ang bayan.

20 At nang lumingon ang mga lalake sa Hai sa likuran nila, ay kanilang nakita, at, narito, ang usok ng bayan ay napaiilanglang sa langit, at wala silang kapangyarihan na makatakas sa daang ito o sa daang yaon: at ang bayan na tumakas sa ilang ay pumihit sa mga manghahabol.

21 At nang makita ni Josue at ng buong Israel na nasakop ng bakay ang bayan at ang usok ng bayan ay napaiilanglang, ay nagsibalik nga uli sila at pinatay ang mga lalake sa Hai.

22 At ang iba'y lumabas sa bayan laban sa kanila, na anopa't sila'y nasa gitna ng Israel, na ang iba'y sa dakong ito, at ang iba'y sa dakong yaon: at sinaktan nila sila, na anopa't wala silang iniwan sa kanila na nalabi o nakatanan.

23 At ang hari sa Hai ay hinuli nilang buhay, at dinala nila siya kay Josue.

24 At nangyari, nang matapos ng Israel na mapatay sa parang ang lahat ng mga taga Hai, sa ilang na kanilang pinaghabulan sa kanila, at mangabuwal sa pamamagitan ng talim ng tabak, hanggang sa nalipol nila sila, ay bumalik ang buong Israel sa Hai, at sinugatan ng talim ng tabak.

25 At ang lahat na nabuwal ng araw na yaon, lalake at gayon din ang babae ay labing dalawang libo, lahat ng mga tao sa Hai.

26 Sapagka't hindi iniurong ni Josue ang kaniyang kamay na kaniyang ipinag-unat ng sibat hanggang sa kaniyang nalipol na lubos ang lahat ng mga taga Hai.

27 Ang hayop lamang at ang samsam sa bayan na yaon ang kinuha ng Israel na pinakasamsam, ayon sa salita ng Panginoon na kaniyang iniutos kay Josue.

28 Gayon sinunog ni Josue ang Hai, at pinapaging isang bunton magpakailan man na isang kagibaan, hanggang sa araw na ito.

29 At ibinitin niya ang hari sa Hai sa isang punong kahoy hanggang sa kinahapunan: at sa paglubog ng araw ay iniutos ni Josue, at ibinaba nila ang kaniyang bangkay sa punong kahoy at inihagis sa pasukan ng pintuan ng bayan, at binuntunan ng malaking bunton ng mga bato, hanggang sa araw na ito.

30 Nang magkagayo'y ipinagtayo ni Josue ng isang dambana ang Panginoon, ang Dios ng Israel, sa bundok ng Ebal,

31 Gaya ng iniutos ni Moises na lingkod ng Panginoon, sa mga anak ni Israel, gaya ng nakasulat sa aklat ng kautusan ni Moises, na isang dambana na hindi hinitsurahang mga bato, na hindi pinagbuhatan ng sinomang tao ng bakal: at kanilang pinaghandugan sa Panginoon ng mga handog na susunugin, at pinaghainan ng mga handog tungkol sa kapayapaan.

32 At siya'y sumulat doon sa mga bato ng isang salin ng kautusan ni Moises na kaniyang sinulat, sa harap ng mga anak ni Israel.

33 At ang buong Israel, at ang kanilang mga matanda at mga pinuno at ang kanilang mga hukom, ay tumayo sa dakong ito ng kaban at sa dakong yaon sa harap ng mga saserdote na mga Levita, na nagdadala ng kaban ng tipan ng Panginoon ang mga taga ibang lupa na gaya rin ng mga taga-roon; kalahati nila ay sa harap ng bundok ng Gerizim at kalahati nila ay sa harap ng bundok ng Ebal; gaya ng iniutos ni Moises na lingkod ng Panginoon, na kanilang basbasan muna ang bayan ng Israel.

34 At pagkatapos ay kaniyang binasa ang lahat ng mga salita ng kautusan, ang pagpapala at ang sumpa, ayon sa lahat na nakasulat sa aklat ng kautusan.

35 Walang salita sa lahat na iniutos ni Moises na hindi binasa ni Josue sa harap ng buong kapulungan ng Israel at ng mga babae, at ng mga bata, at ng mga taga ibang lupa na nakikipamayan sa kanila.

Ai Destroyed

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid;(A) do not be discouraged.(B) Take the whole army(C) with you, and go up and attack Ai.(D) For I have delivered(E) into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder(F) and livestock for yourselves.(G) Set an ambush(H) behind the city.”

So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night with these orders: “Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So when we flee from them, you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hand.(I) When you have taken the city, set it on fire.(J) Do what the Lord has commanded.(K) See to it; you have my orders.”

Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush(L) and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people.

10 Early the next morning(M) Joshua mustered his army, and he and the leaders of Israel(N) marched before them to Ai. 11 The 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. 12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 So 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.

14 When 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.(O) But he did not know(P) that an ambush had been set against him behind the city. 15 Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back(Q) before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.(R) 16 All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away(S) from the city. 17 Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.

18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Hold out toward Ai the javelin(T) that is in your hand,(U) for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand.(V) 19 As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly(W) from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire.(X)

20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising up into the sky,(Y) but they had no chance to escape in any direction; the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the wilderness had turned back against their pursuers. 21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from it, they turned around(Z) and attacked the men of Ai. 22 Those in the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives.(AA) 23 But they took the king of Ai alive(AB) and brought him to Joshua.

24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. 25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai.(AC) 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin(AD) until he had destroyed[a](AE) all who lived in Ai.(AF) 27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua.(AG)

28 So Joshua burned(AH) Ai[b](AI) and made it a permanent heap of ruins,(AJ) a desolate place to this day.(AK) 29 He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset,(AL) Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks(AM) over it, which remains to this day.

The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal

30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal(AN) an altar(AO) to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool(AP) had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.(AQ) 32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.(AR) 33 All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical(AS) priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born(AT) were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal,(AU) as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.

34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.(AV) 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.(AW)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 8:26 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  2. Joshua 8:28 Ai means the ruin.

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.

So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.

And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,

(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.

Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.

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.

Joshua 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.

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 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.

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 their liers 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 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.

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 that 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, that 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 hasted 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 that 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 other 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.

23 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.

25 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.

26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the Lord which he commanded Joshua.

28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.

29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal,

31 As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.

32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

The Fall of Ai

Now the Lord said to Joshua: (A)“Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, (B)I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to (C)Jericho and its king. Only (D)its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.”

So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night. And he commanded them, saying: “Behold, (E)you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the first, that (F)we shall flee before them. For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ Therefore we will flee before them. Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. And it will be, when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the Lord you shall do. (G)See, I have commanded you.”

Joshua 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. 10 Then 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. 11 (H)And 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. 12 So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of [a]the city. 13 And 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.

14 Now 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 (I)did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. 15 And Joshua and all Israel (J)made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. 16 So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. 17 There 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.

18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. 19 So those in ambush arose quickly out of their place; they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and hurried to 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 to heaven. So they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.

21 Now when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. 22 Then the others came out of the city against them; so they were caught in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they struck them down, so that they (K)let none of them remain or escape. 23 But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

24 And it came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they pursued them, and when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. 25 So it was that all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand—all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had (L)utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. 27 (M)Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had (N)commanded Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it (O)a heap forever, a desolation to this day. 29 (P)And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. (Q)And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and (R)raise over it a great heap of stones that remains to this day.

Joshua Renews the Covenant(S)

30 Now Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel (T)in Mount Ebal, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: (U)“an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And (V)they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, (W)he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, (X)who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, (Y)the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, (Z)as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward (AA)he read all the words of the law, (AB)the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the (AC)Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, (AD)with the women, the little ones, (AE)and the strangers who were living among them.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 8:12 Ai