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14 And when the king of Ai saw it, he hastened, and the men of the city rose up, and went out against Israel to battle; so all the people of Ai were in the plain; and they did not know that there was an ambush against them from behind the city. 15 And Joshua and all Israel scattered before them to flee by way of the wilderness. 16 And all the people of Ai shouted as they pursued them; and they followed Joshua, and were drawn out of the city. 17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el who did not go out after Israel; and they left the city open, and pursued Israel. 18 And the LORD said to Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai; for I have delivered it into your hands. And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. 19 And the men in ambush arose quickly from their places, 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 the smoke of their city going up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way; and the people of Israel that fled to the wilderness turned back upon their pursuers. 21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the city was going up in smoke, then they turned back and slew the men of Ai. 22 And the others went out of the city to meet them; so the men of Ai were caught 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. Joshua 8:14-22, Lamsa Bible. Public domain.
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