1 Then|strong="H6965" said the|strong="H3605" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w* to|strong="H3068" Joshua|strong="H3091", ‘Don’t be|strong="H3027" afraid|strong="H3372" or|strong="H7200" dismayed|strong="H2865". Take|strong="H3947" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" warriors|strong="H4421" with|strong="H5973" you|strong="H5414" and|strong="H6965" march up|strong="H5927" to|strong="H3068" Ai|strong="H5857". I|strong="H5414" put|strong="H5414" into|strong="H5927" your|strong="H3068" hands|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Ai|strong="H5857" with|strong="H5973" his|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" and|strong="H6965" his|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892" and|strong="H6965" his|strong="H3605" country.
2 Treat|strong="H6213" Ai|strong="H5857" and|strong="H4428" its|strong="H6213" king|strong="H4428" as|strong="H6213" you|strong="H6213" treated|strong="H6213" Jericho|strong="H3405" and|strong="H4428" its|strong="H6213" king|strong="H4428", except|strong="H7535" that|strong="H4428" you|strong="H6213" may|strong="H4428" take|strong="H7760" the|strong="H6213" spoils|strong="H7998" and|strong="H4428" cattle in|strong="H6213" it|strong="H7760" for|strong="H6213" yourselves. Lay|strong="H7760" an|strong="H6213" ambush for|strong="H6213" the|strong="H6213" town|strong="H5892" to|strong="H6213" the|strong="H6213" west of|strong="H4428" it|strong="H7760".’
3 So|strong="H7971" Joshua|strong="H3091" and|strong="H6965" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" warriors|strong="H1368" started|strong="H6965" off|strong="H5927" for|strong="H7971" Ai|strong="H5857". Joshua|strong="H3091" picked out|strong="H7971" three|strong="H7970" thousand veterans and|strong="H6965" despatched them|strong="H7971" by|strong="H6965" night|strong="H3915"
4 with|strong="H5892" orders|strong="H6680" to|strong="H1961" ‘Lie|strong="H1961" in|strong="H5892" ambush to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" west of|strong="H5892" the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892" at|strong="H7200" its|strong="H3605" rear. Do|strong="H6680" not|strong="H1961" go|strong="H1961" too|strong="H4480" far|strong="H7368" away|strong="H7368" but|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" all|strong="H3605" ready|strong="H3559".
5 I|strong="H3588" and|strong="H5971" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" troops|strong="H5971" who|strong="H3605" are|strong="H5971" with|strong="H6440" me|strong="H6440" will|strong="H1961" move against|strong="H7125" the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892", and|strong="H5971" when|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" come|strong="H1961" out|strong="H3318" against|strong="H7125" us|strong="H6440", as|strong="H1961" before|strong="H6440", we|strong="H3068" will|strong="H1961" run|strong="H5127" off|strong="H6440",
6 until|strong="H5704" we|strong="H3068" draw|strong="H5423" them|strong="H6440" away|strong="H5127" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H6440" town|strong="H5892", for|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" will|strong="H5892" think we|strong="H3068" are|strong="H5892" running from|strong="H4480" them|strong="H6440" as|strong="H5704" before|strong="H6440". Then|strong="H3318", as|strong="H5704" we|strong="H3068" run|strong="H5127" away|strong="H5127",
7 you|strong="H5414" must start out|strong="H3423" of|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" ambush and|strong="H6965" seize|strong="H3423" the|strong="H5414" town|strong="H5892". The|strong="H5414" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w* your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" put|strong="H5414" it|strong="H5414" into|strong="H3027" your|strong="H3068" hands|strong="H3027".
8 As|strong="H1697" soon as|strong="H1697" you|strong="H6680" have|strong="H1961" seized|strong="H8610" the|strong="H7200" town|strong="H5892", set|strong="H3341" it|strong="H6213" on|strong="H7200" fire|strong="H3341", and|strong="H3068" carry|strong="H6213" out|strong="H7200" the|strong="H7200" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*”s command|strong="H6680". These|strong="H6213" are|strong="H1697" my|strong="H3068" orders|strong="H6680".’
9 So|strong="H7971" Joshua|strong="H3091" despatched them|strong="H7971", and|strong="H7971" they|strong="H1931" went|strong="H3212" to|strong="H3212" the|strong="H8432" place|strong="H3427" of|strong="H3427" ambush|strong="H3993", remaining|strong="H3427" between|strong="H8432" Bethel|strong="H1008" and|strong="H7971" Ai|strong="H5857", to|strong="H3212" the|strong="H8432" west|strong="H3220" of|strong="H3427" Ai|strong="H5857". Joshua|strong="H3091" spent|strong="H3885" the|strong="H8432" night|strong="H3915" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H8432" camp in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H8432" valley.
10 Joshua|strong="H3091" rose|strong="H7925" in|strong="H3478" the|strong="H6440" morning|strong="H1242" and|strong="H3478" mustered|strong="H6485" the|strong="H6440" nation|strong="H5971". Then|strong="H5927" he|strong="H1931" and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H6440" elders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H6440" Israel|strong="H3478" led|strong="H6440" them|strong="H6440" against|strong="H6440" Ai|strong="H5857".
11 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" nation|strong="H5971", that|strong="H5971" is|strong="H3605", the|strong="H3605" armed|strong="H4421" men|strong="H5971" who|strong="H3605" were|strong="H5971" with|strong="H5971" him|strong="H3605", marched|strong="H5927" up|strong="H5927" close|strong="H5066" to|strong="H5927" the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892" and|strong="H5971" camped|strong="H2583" on|strong="H5927" the|strong="H3605" north|strong="H6828" of|strong="H5892" Ai|strong="H5857". Between|strong="H4421" him|strong="H3605" and|strong="H5971" Ai|strong="H5857" lay a|strong="H3068" valley|strong="H1516",
12 so|strong="H3947" Joshua took|strong="H3947" about|strong="H3947" five|strong="H2568" thousand men|strong="H3220" and|strong="H5892" put|strong="H7760" them|strong="H7760" in|strong="H5892" ambush between Bethel|strong="H1008" and|strong="H5892" Ai|strong="H5857", to|strong="H3220" the|strong="H3947" west|strong="H3220" of|strong="H5892" the|strong="H3947" town|strong="H5892".
13 The|strong="H3605" main army|strong="H4264" were|strong="H5971" thus|strong="H5971" stationed|strong="H7760" to|strong="H3212" the|strong="H3605" north|strong="H6828" of|strong="H5892" the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892", with|strong="H3212" the|strong="H3605" ambush laid|strong="H7760" to|strong="H3212" the|strong="H3605" west|strong="H3220". Joshua|strong="H3091" passed|strong="H5971" that|strong="H5971" night|strong="H3915" in|strong="H8432" the|strong="H3605" middle|strong="H8432" of|strong="H5892" the|strong="H3605" valley|strong="H6010".
14 When|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Ai|strong="H5857" saw|strong="H7200" this|strong="H1931", he|strong="H1931" and|strong="H3478" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H5971" made|strong="H3045" an|strong="H1961" early|strong="H7925" start. In|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" morning|strong="H7925" they|strong="H3588" rose|strong="H7925" and|strong="H3478" marched|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H3318" fight|strong="H4421" Israel|strong="H3478" at|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" expected place|strong="H1961" near|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" Arabah|strong="H6160", not|strong="H3808" knowing|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" an|strong="H1961" ambush had|strong="H1961" been|strong="H1961" laid|strong="H3478" behind the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892".
15 They|strong="H3605" beat Joshua|strong="H3091" and|strong="H3478" all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478", who|strong="H3605" fled|strong="H5127" in|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" direction|strong="H1870" of|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" desert|strong="H4057".
16 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" townsmen of|strong="H5892" Ai were|strong="H5971" called|strong="H2199" out|strong="H2199" to|strong="H5971" pursue|strong="H7291" them|strong="H7291". They|strong="H5971" allowed themselves to|strong="H5971" be|strong="H5892" drawn|strong="H5423" away|strong="H5423" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892".
17 Not|strong="H3808" a|strong="H3068" man was|strong="H3478" left|strong="H7604" in|strong="H3478" Ai|strong="H5857" or|strong="H3808" Bethel|strong="H1008" who|strong="H3478" did|strong="H3478" not|strong="H3808" go|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" after|strong="H7291" Israel|strong="H3478", and|strong="H3478" in|strong="H3478" their|strong="H5800" pursuit|strong="H7291" of|strong="H5892" the|strong="H3318" Israelites|strong="H3478" they|strong="H3808" left|strong="H7604" the|strong="H3318" town|strong="H5892" unguarded|strong="H6605".
18 Then|strong="H5414" said the|strong="H3588" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w* to|strong="H3068" Joshua|strong="H3091", ‘Stretch|strong="H5186" out|strong="H5186" the|strong="H3588" javelin|strong="H3591" in|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" hand|strong="H3027" towards Ai|strong="H5857", for|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" put|strong="H5414" Ai|strong="H5857" in|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" power|strong="H3027".’
19 And|strong="H6965" as|strong="H5892" soon|strong="H4116" as|strong="H5892" Joshua stretched|strong="H5186" out|strong="H5186" the|strong="H6965" javelin towards the|strong="H6965" town|strong="H5892", the|strong="H6965" men in|strong="H5892" ambush rushed|strong="H7323" into|strong="H3027" the|strong="H6965" town|strong="H5892" and|strong="H6965" captured|strong="H3920" it|strong="H5186", and|strong="H6965" hurried|strong="H4116" to|strong="H3027" set|strong="H6965" the|strong="H6965" town|strong="H5892" on|strong="H3027" fire|strong="H3341".
20 So|strong="H1961" that|strong="H5971" when|strong="H1961" the|strong="H7200" men|strong="H5971" of|strong="H3027" Ai|strong="H5857" turned|strong="H2015" round|strong="H5892" to|strong="H5927" look|strong="H7200", there|strong="H2009" was|strong="H1961" smoke|strong="H6227" rising|strong="H5927" from|strong="H5927" the|strong="H7200" town|strong="H5892"! They|strong="H3808" had|strong="H1961" no|strong="H3808" chance to|strong="H5927" flee|strong="H5127" this|strong="H7200" way|strong="H2008" or|strong="H3808" that|strong="H5971", for|strong="H3027" the|strong="H7200" Israelites who|strong="H5971" were|strong="H1961" flying towards the|strong="H7200" desert|strong="H4057" turned|strong="H2015" upon|strong="H3027" their|strong="H7200" pursuers|strong="H7291".
21 Seeing|strong="H7200" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H3605" in|strong="H3478" ambush had|strong="H3478" captured|strong="H3920" the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892" and|strong="H3478" seeing|strong="H7200" the|strong="H3605" smoke|strong="H6227" rise|strong="H5927" up|strong="H5927" from|strong="H7725" it|strong="H3588", Joshua|strong="H3091" and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" turned|strong="H7725" and|strong="H3478" attacked|strong="H5221" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H3605" of|strong="H5892" Ai|strong="H5857",
22 and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H5221" men|strong="H3478" in|strong="H3478" ambush rushed from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H5221" town|strong="H5892" to|strong="H5704" join them|strong="H5221", so|strong="H4480" that|strong="H3478" the|strong="H5221" men|strong="H3478" of|strong="H5892" Ai were|strong="H3478" caught between|strong="H8432" Israelites|strong="H3478", some|strong="H4480" on|strong="H1961" one|strong="H2088" side|strong="H2088" and|strong="H3478" some|strong="H4480" on|strong="H1961" the|strong="H5221" other|strong="H2088". They|strong="H5704" were|strong="H3478" slaughtered|strong="H5221" until|strong="H5704" not|strong="H1115" a|strong="H3068" man|strong="H2088" escaped|strong="H6412" or|strong="H5704" remained|strong="H7604" alive|strong="H8300".
23 The|strong="H3091" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Ai|strong="H5857" was|strong="H4428" taken|strong="H8610" alive|strong="H2416" and|strong="H4428" brought|strong="H7126" to|strong="H4428" Joshua|strong="H3091".
24 When|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" Israelite|strong="H3478" had|strong="H1961" finished|strong="H3615" slaughtering|strong="H5221" the|strong="H3605" townsmen of|strong="H3427" Ai|strong="H5857" who|strong="H3605" had|strong="H1961" run|strong="H7291" into|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3605" desert|strong="H4057" and|strong="H3478" when|strong="H1961" they|strong="H5704" had|strong="H1961" cut|strong="H3478" them|strong="H7725" down|strong="H5307", giving no|strong="H3605" quarter, all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478" then|strong="H1961" returned|strong="H7725" to|strong="H5704" Ai|strong="H5857" and|strong="H3478" sacked it|strong="H7725".
25 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" population of|strong="H3117" Ai|strong="H5857" fell|strong="H5307" that|strong="H3605" day|strong="H3117", both|strong="H8147" men|strong="H3605" and|strong="H3117" women, twelve|strong="H8147" thousand in|strong="H3117" all|strong="H3605".
26 Joshua|strong="H3091" never|strong="H3808" withdrew|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3605" hand|strong="H3027" that|strong="H3605" held|strong="H5186" his|strong="H3605" javelin|strong="H3591" until|strong="H5704" he|strong="H5704" had|strong="H3091" massacred all|strong="H3605" who|strong="H3605" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Ai|strong="H5857".
27 Only|strong="H7535" the|strong="H3068" Israelites|strong="H3478" took|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3068" spoils|strong="H7998" and|strong="H3478" cattle of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" town|strong="H5892" for|strong="H3068" themselves|strong="H1992", as|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3068" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w* had|strong="H3068" given|strong="H6680" orders|strong="H6680" to|strong="H3478" Joshua|strong="H3091".
28 Ai|strong="H5857" itself|strong="H2088" Joshua|strong="H3091" burned|strong="H8313", and|strong="H3117" made|strong="H7760" it|strong="H7760" a|strong="H3068" heap|strong="H8510" of|strong="H3117" ruins. To|strong="H5704" this|strong="H2088" day|strong="H3117" it|strong="H7760" lies desolate|strong="H8077".
29 Joshua|strong="H3091" hung|strong="H8518" the|strong="H5921" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Ai|strong="H5857" on|strong="H5921" a|strong="H3068" tree|strong="H6086" until|strong="H5704" evening|strong="H6153". At|strong="H5921" sunset|strong="H8121" Joshua|strong="H3091" ordered|strong="H6680" his|strong="H5921" body|strong="H5038" to|strong="H5704" be|strong="H3117" taken|strong="H3381" down|strong="H3381" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H5921" tree|strong="H6086" and|strong="H6965" thrown|strong="H7993" down|strong="H3381" at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" entrance|strong="H6607" to|strong="H5704" the|strong="H5921" town-gate. They|strong="H3117" raised|strong="H6965" a|strong="H3068" cairn of|strong="H4428" stones over|strong="H5921" it|strong="H5921", which|strong="H5892" is|strong="H2088" there|strong="H2088" to|strong="H5704" this|strong="H2088" day|strong="H3117".
30 Then|strong="H3068" Joshua|strong="H3091" built|strong="H1129" an|strong="H1129" altar|strong="H4196" to|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3068" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*, the|strong="H3068" God|strong="H3068" of|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478", on|strong="H3068" mount|strong="H2022" Ebal|strong="H5858",
31 as|strong="H3068" Moses|strong="H4872" the|strong="H5921" servant|strong="H5650" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w* had|strong="H3068" commanded|strong="H6680" the|strong="H5921" Israelites|strong="H3478", according|strong="H5921" to|strong="H3478" the|strong="H5921" directions written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" law|strong="H8451" book|strong="H5612" of|strong="H1121" Moses|strong="H4872". It|strong="H5921" was|strong="H3068" an|strong="H5130" altar|strong="H4196" of|strong="H1121" undressed stones, to|strong="H3478" which|strong="H3068" no|strong="H3808" man|strong="H1121" had|strong="H3068" ever|strong="H3808" taken|strong="H5927" an|strong="H5130" iron|strong="H1270" tool|strong="H5130". They|strong="H3068" sacrificed|strong="H2076" burnt-offerings to|strong="H3478" the|strong="H5921" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w* upon|strong="H5921" it|strong="H5921", and|strong="H1121" recompense offerings|strong="H8002".
32 Also|strong="H3478" he|strong="H8033" wrote|strong="H3789" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" stones there|strong="H8033" a|strong="H3068" copy|strong="H4932" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6440" law|strong="H8451" of|strong="H1121" Moses|strong="H4872", writing|strong="H3789" it|strong="H5921" in|strong="H5921" presence|strong="H6440" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6440" Israelites|strong="H3478".
33 All|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478", both|strong="H3605" native Israelites|strong="H3478" and|strong="H4872" foreigners|strong="H1616", with|strong="H3068" their|strong="H3605" elders|strong="H2205", their|strong="H3605" officials|strong="H5650", and|strong="H4872" their|strong="H3605" judges|strong="H8199", stood|strong="H5975" on|strong="H3068" each|strong="H3605" side|strong="H2088" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" ark in|strong="H3478" presence|strong="H5048" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" priestly|strong="H3548" Levites|strong="H3881" who|strong="H3605" carried|strong="H5375" the|strong="H3605" ark of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" covenant|strong="H1285" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w*. Half|strong="H2677" of|strong="H3068" them|strong="H5975" stood|strong="H5975" in|strong="H3478" front|strong="H5048" of|strong="H3068" mount|strong="H2022" Gerizim|strong="H1630" and|strong="H4872" half|strong="H2677" in|strong="H3478" front|strong="H5048" of|strong="H3068" mount|strong="H2022" Ebal|strong="H5858", as|strong="H3068" Moses|strong="H4872" the|strong="H3605" servant|strong="H5650" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" \+w Lord|strong="H3068"\+w* had|strong="H3068" previously|strong="H7223" commanded|strong="H6680" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" to|strong="H3478" be|strong="H3068" blessed|strong="H1288".
34 Then|strong="H3651" Joshua read|strong="H7121" aloud|strong="H3651" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" terms|strong="H1697" of|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3605" law|strong="H8451", the|strong="H3605" blessing|strong="H1293" and|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3605" curse|strong="H7045", exactly|strong="H3651" as|strong="H1697" it|strong="H7121" was|strong="H1697" written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H3789" the|strong="H3605" law|strong="H8451" book|strong="H5612".
35 There|strong="H1961" was|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" a|strong="H3068" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3605" orders|strong="H6680" of|strong="H1697" Moses|strong="H4872" which|strong="H1697" Joshua|strong="H3091" did|strong="H3478" not|strong="H3808" read|strong="H7121" aloud before|strong="H5048" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" assembled|strong="H6951" Israelites|strong="H3478", with|strong="H1980" the|strong="H3605" women, the|strong="H3605" children|strong="H2945", and|strong="H1980" the|strong="H3605" foreigners|strong="H1616" who|strong="H3605" accompanied them|strong="H7121".