10. Joshua started early the next morning and mobilized them. Then he and the elders of Israel led the troops up to Ai.
11. All those who were with him went up and approached the city, arriving opposite Ai, and camped to the north of it, with a valley between them and the city.
12. Now Joshua had taken about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
13. The military force was stationed in this way: the main camp to the north of the city and its rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley.
14. When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, the men of the city hurried and went out early in the morning so that he and all his people could engage Israel in battle at a suitable place facing the Arabah. But he did not know there was an ambush waiting for him behind the city.
15. Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten back by them and fled toward the wilderness.