And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Joshua{H3091}, Fear{H3372}{(H8799)} not, neither be thou dismayed{H2865}{(H8735)}: take{H3947}{(H8798)} all the people{H5971} of war{H4421} with thee, and arise{H6965}{(H8798)}, go up{H5927}{(H8798)} to Ai{H5857}: see{H7200}{(H8798)}, I have given{H5414}{(H8804)} into thy hand{H3027} the king{H4428} of Ai{H5857}, and his people{H5971}, and his city{H5892}, and his land{H776}:

And thou shalt do{H6213}{(H8804)} to Ai{H5857} and her king{H4428} as thou didst{H6213}{(H8804)} unto Jericho{H3405} and her king{H4428}: only the spoil{H7998} thereof, and the cattle{H929} thereof, shall ye take for a prey{H962}{(H8799)} unto yourselves: lay{H7760}{(H8798)} thee an ambush{H693}{(H8802)} for the city{H5892} behind{H310} it.

So Joshua{H3091} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and all the people{H5971} of war{H4421}, to go up{H5927}{(H8800)} against Ai{H5857}: and Joshua{H3091} chose out{H977}{(H8799)} thirty{H7970} thousand{H505} mighty{H1368} men{H376} of valour{H2428}, and sent them away{H7971}{(H8799)} by night{H3915}.

And he commanded{H6680}{(H8762)} them, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold{H7200}{(H8798)}, ye shall lie in wait{H693}{(H8802)} against the city{H5892}, even behind{H310} the city{H5892}: go{H7368} not very{H3966} far{H7368}{(H8686)} from the city{H5892}, but be ye all ready{H3559}{(H8737)}:

And I, and all the people{H5971} that are with me, will approach{H7126}{(H8799)} unto the city{H5892}: and it shall come to pass, when they come out{H3318}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} us, as at the first{H7223}, that we will flee{H5127}{(H8804)} before{H6440} them,

(For they will come out{H3318}{(H8804)} after{H310} us) till we have drawn{H5423}{(H8687)} them from the city{H5892}; for they will say{H559}{(H8799)}, They flee{H5127}{(H8801)} before{H6440} us, as at the first{H7223}: therefore we will flee{H5127}{(H8804)} before{H6440} them.

Then ye shall rise up{H6965}{(H8799)} from the ambush{H693}{(H8802)}, and seize{H3423}{(H8689)} upon the city{H5892}: for the LORD{H3068} your God{H430} will deliver{H5414}{(H8804)} it into your hand{H3027}.

And it shall be, when ye have taken{H8610}{(H8800)} the city{H5892}, that ye shall set{H3341}{(H8686)} the city{H5892} on fire{H784}: according to the commandment{H1697} of the LORD{H3068} shall ye do{H6213}{(H8799)}. See{H7200}{(H8798)}, I have commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} you.

Joshua{H3091} therefore sent them forth{H7971}{(H8799)}: and they went{H3212}{(H8799)} to lie in ambush{H3993}, and abode{H3427}{(H8799)} between Bethel{H1008} and Ai{H5857}, on the west side{H3220} of Ai{H5857}: but Joshua{H3091} lodged{H3885}{(H8799)} that night{H3915} among{H8432} the people{H5971}.

And Joshua{H3091} rose up early{H7925}{(H8686)} in the morning{H1242}, and numbered{H6485}{(H8799)} the people{H5971}, and went up{H5927}{(H8799)}, he and the elders{H2205} of Israel{H3478}, before{H6440} the people{H5971} to Ai{H5857}.

And all the people{H5971}, even the people of war{H4421} that were with him, went up{H5927}{(H8804)}, and drew nigh{H5066}{(H8799)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} before the city{H5892}, and pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} on the north side{H6828} of Ai{H5857}: now there was a valley{H1516} between them and Ai{H5857}.

And he took{H3947}{(H8799)} about five{H2568} thousand{H505} men{H376}, and set{H7760}{(H8799)} them to lie in ambush{H693}{(H8802)} between Bethel{H1008} and Ai{H5857}, on the west side{H3220} of the city{H5857}{(H8675)}{H5892}.

And when they had set{H7760}{(H8799)} the people{H5971}, even all the host{H4264} that was on the north{H6828} of the city{H5892}, and their liers in wait{H6119} on the west{H3220} of the city{H5892}, Joshua{H3091} went{H3212}{(H8799)} that night{H3915} into the midst{H8432} of the valley{H6010}.

And it came to pass, when the king{H4428} of Ai{H5857} saw{H7200}{(H8800)} it, that they hasted{H4116}{(H8762)} and rose up early{H7925}{(H8686)}, and the men{H582} of the city{H5892} went out{H3318}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} Israel{H3478} to battle{H4421}, he and all his people{H5971}, at a time appointed{H4150}, before{H6440} the plain{H6160}; but he wist{H3045}{(H8804)} not that there were liers in ambush{H693}{(H8802)} against him behind{H310} the city{H5892}.

And Joshua{H3091} and all Israel{H3478} made as if they were beaten{H5060}{(H8735)} before{H6440} them, and fled{H5127}{(H8799)} by the way{H1870} of the wilderness{H4057}.

And all the people{H5971} that were in Ai{H5857}{(H8675)}{H5892} were called{H2199}{(H8735)} together to pursue{H7291}{(H8800)} after{H310} them: and they pursued{H7291}{(H8799)} after{H310} Joshua{H3091}, and were drawn away{H5423}{(H8735)} from the city{H5892}.

And there was not a man{H376} left{H7604}{(H8738)} in Ai{H5857} or Bethel{H1008}, that went not out{H3318}{(H8804)} after{H310} Israel{H3478}: and they left{H5800}{(H8799)} the city{H5892} open{H6605}{(H8803)}, and pursued{H7291}{(H8799)} after Israel{H3478}.

And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Joshua{H3091}, Stretch out{H5186}{(H8798)} the spear{H3591} that is in thy hand{H3027} toward Ai{H5857}; for I will give{H5414}{(H8799)} it into thine hand{H3027}. And Joshua{H3091} stretched out{H5186}{(H8799)} the spear{H3591} that he had in his hand{H3027} toward the city{H5892}.

And the ambush{H693}{(H8802)} arose{H6965}{(H8804)} quickly{H4120} out of their place{H4725}, and they ran{H7323}{(H8799)} as soon as he had stretched out{H5186}{(H8800)} his hand{H3027}: and they entered{H935}{(H8799)} into the city{H5892}, and took{H3920}{(H8799)} it, and hasted{H4116}{(H8762)} and set{H3341}{(H8686)} the city{H5892} on fire{H784}.

And when the men{H582} of Ai{H5857} looked{H6437}{(H8799)} behind{H310} them, they saw{H7200}{(H8799)}, and, behold, the smoke{H6227} of the city{H5892} ascended up{H5927}{(H8804)} to heaven{H8064}, and they had no power{H3027} to flee{H5127}{(H8800)} this way or that way{H2008}: and the people{H5971} that fled{H5127}{(H8801)} to the wilderness{H4057} turned back{H2015}{(H8738)} upon the pursuers{H7291}{(H8802)}.

And when Joshua{H3091} and all Israel{H3478} saw{H7200}{(H8804)} that the ambush{H693}{(H8802)} had taken{H3920}{(H8804)} the city{H5892}, and that the smoke{H6227} of the city{H5892} ascended{H5927}{(H8804)}, then they turned again{H7725}{(H8799)}, and slew{H5221}{(H8686)} the men{H582} of Ai{H5857}.

And the other{H428} issued out{H3318}{(H8804)} of the city{H5892} against{H7125}{(H8800)} them; so they were in the midst{H8432} of Israel{H3478}, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them, so that{H5704} they let{H7604}{(H8689)} none of them remain{H8300} or escape{H6412}.

And the king{H4428} of Ai{H5857} they took{H8610}{(H8804)} alive{H2416}, and brought{H7126}{(H8686)} him to Joshua{H3091}.

And it came to pass, when Israel{H3478} had made an end{H3615}{(H8763)} of slaying{H2026}{(H8800)} all the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Ai{H5857} in the field{H7704}, in the wilderness{H4057} wherein they chased{H7291}{(H8804)} them, and when they were all fallen{H5307}{(H8799)} on the edge{H6310} of the sword{H2719}, until they were consumed{H8552}{(H8800)}, that all the Israelites{H3478} returned{H7725}{(H8799)} unto Ai{H5857}, and smote{H5221}{(H8686)} it with the edge{H6310} of the sword{H2719}.

And so it was, that all that fell{H5307}{(H8802)} that day{H3117}, both of men{H376} and women{H802}, were twelve{H8147}{H6240} thousand{H505}, even all the men{H582} of Ai{H5857}.

For Joshua{H3091} drew{H7725} not his hand{H3027} back{H7725}{(H8689)}, wherewith he stretched out{H5186}{(H8804)} the spear{H3591}, until he had utterly destroyed{H2763}{(H8689)} all the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Ai{H5857}.

Only the cattle{H929} and the spoil{H7998} of that city{H5892} Israel{H3478} took for a prey{H962}{(H8804)} unto themselves, according unto the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068} which he commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} Joshua{H3091}.

And Joshua{H3091} burnt{H8313}{(H8799)} Ai{H5857}, and made{H7760}{(H8799)} it an heap{H8510} for ever{H5769}, even a desolation{H8077} unto this day{H3117}.

And the king{H4428} of Ai{H5857} he hanged{H8518}{(H8804)} on a tree{H6086} until eventide{H6256}{H6153}: and as soon as the sun{H8121} was down{H935}{(H8800)}, Joshua{H3091} commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} that they should take{H3381} his carcase{H5038} down{H3381}{(H8686)} from the tree{H6086}, and cast{H7993}{(H8686)} it at the entering{H6607} of the gate{H8179} of the city{H5892}, and raise{H6965}{(H8686)} thereon a great{H1419} heap{H1530} of stones{H68}, that remaineth unto this day{H3117}.

Then Joshua{H3091} built{H1129}{(H8799)} an altar{H4196} unto the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478} in mount{H2022} Ebal{H5858},

As Moses{H4872} the servant{H5650} of the LORD{H3068} commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, as it is written{H3789}{(H8803)} in the book{H5612} of the law{H8451} of Moses{H4872}, an altar{H4196} of whole{H8003} stones{H68}, over which no man hath lift up{H5130}{(H8689)} any iron{H1270}: and they offered{H5927}{(H8686)} thereon burnt offerings{H5930} unto the LORD{H3068}, and sacrificed{H2076}{(H8799)} peace offerings{H8002}.

And he wrote{H3789}{(H8799)} there upon the stones{H68} a copy{H4932} of the law{H8451} of Moses{H4872}, which he wrote{H3789}{(H8804)} in the presence{H6440} of the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}.

And all Israel{H3478}, and their elders{H2205}, and officers{H7860}{(H8802)}, and their judges{H8199}{(H8802)}, stood{H5975}{(H8802)} on this side the ark{H727} and on that side before the priests{H3548} the Levites{H3881}, which bare{H5375}{(H8802)} the ark{H727} of the covenant{H1285} of the LORD{H3068}, as well the stranger{H1616}, as he that was born{H249} among them; half{H2677} of them over{H413} against{H4136} mount{H2022} Gerizim{H1630}, and half{H2677} of them over against{H4136} mount{H2022} Ebal{H5858}; as Moses{H4872} the servant{H5650} of the LORD{H3068} had commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} before{H7223}, that they should bless{H1288}{(H8763)} the people{H5971} of Israel{H3478}.

And afterward{H310} he read{H7121}{(H8804)} all the words{H1697} of the law{H8451}, the blessings{H1293} and cursings{H7045}, according to all that is written{H3789}{(H8803)} in the book{H5612} of the law{H8451}.

There was not a word{H1697} of all that Moses{H4872} commanded{H6680}{(H8765)}, which Joshua{H3091} read{H7121}{(H8804)} not before all the congregation{H6951} of Israel{H3478}, with the women{H802}, and the little ones{H2945}, and the strangers{H1616} that were conversant{H1980}{(H8802)} among{H7130} them.