Joshua 8:14-22 ▼

14 When the king of Ai (heap of ruins) saw the Israelites, he hurried out early in the morning with the men of the city to engage them (he wrestles with God) in battle at an appointed place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set up against him behind the city.

15 Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.

16 Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua (YHWH saves) and were drawn away from the city.

17 Not a man was left in Ai (heap of ruins) or Bethel (house of God) who did not go out after Israel (he wrestles with God), leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel.

18 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Joshua (YHWH saves), “Hold out your battle lance (javelin) toward Ai (heap of ruins), for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out his battle lance toward Ai,

19 and as soon as he did so, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They rushed forward, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.

20 When the men of Ai (heap of ruins) turned and looked back, the smoke of the city was rising into the sky. They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now turned against their pursuers.

21 When Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned around and struck down the men of Ai (heap of ruins).

22 Meanwhile, those in the ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite (he wrestles with God) forces on both sides. So Israel struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained.