Joshua 8:14-22 ▼

14 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hurried and rose early and went out—the men of the city—against Israel into battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the face of the plain. And he did not know that an ambush was against him behind the city.

15 And Joshua and all Israel were struck before their faces, and they fled by the way of the wilderness.

16 And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them, and they pursued after Joshua, and they were drawn away from the city.

17 And there was left not a man in Ai and Bethel who did not go out after Israel. And they left the city open and pursued after Israel.

18 And YHWH said to Joshua, “Stretch out the battle lance that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the battle lance that was in his hand toward the city.

19 And the ambush arose quickly out of its place, and they ran at the stretching out of his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and they hurried and burned the city with the fire.

20 And the men of Ai looked behind them, and they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the heavens. And there was not power in them to flee here or there, and the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.

21 And Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, and they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.

22 And these came out of the city to meet them, and they were in the midst of Israel, these from this side and these from this side, and they struck them down until he left to him no survivor or escapee.