3. So Joshua arose, with all the warriors, to go up to Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valour, and sent them out by night.
4. He commanded them, saying, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.
5. I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. It shall happen, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them.
6. They will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, ‘They flee before us, like the first time.’ So we will flee before them,
7. and you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city; for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.
8. It shall be, when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do this according to the Lord’s word. Behold, I have commanded you.”
9. Joshua sent them out; and they went to set up the ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua stayed amongst the people that night.