8. After taking the city, set it on fire. Follow the Lord’s command — see that you do as I have ordered you.”
9. So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.
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.
16. Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
17. Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city exposed while they pursued Israel.
18. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Hold out the sword in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the city over to you.” So Joshua held out his sword toward it.
19. When he held out his hand, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They ran, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.
20. The men of Ai turned and looked back, and smoke from the city was rising to the sky! They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now became the pursuers.