1 AND the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
5 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
6 (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
7 Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.
8 And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the Lord shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
9 Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, 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, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
22 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were 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.
23 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
25 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the Lord which he commanded Joshua.
28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.
29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal,
31 As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

1 And the Lord said vnto Ioshua, Feare not, neither be thou dismaid: take all the people of warre with thee, and arise, goe vp to Ai: See, I haue giuen into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his citie, and his land.

2 And thou shalt doe to Ai and her king, as thou diddest vnto Iericho and her king: Onely the spoile thereof and the cattell thereof shall ye take for a pray vnto your selues: lay thee an ambush for the citie, behind it.

3 So Ioshua arose, and all the people of warre, to goe vp against Ai: and Ioshua chose out thirtie thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night:

4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the citie, euen behind the citie: goe not very farre from the citie, but be ye all ready:

5 And I, and all the people that are with mee, will approch vnto the citie: and it shall come to passe when they come out against vs, as at the first, that we will flee before them,

6 (For they will come out after vs) till we haue drawen them from the citie; for they will say, They flee before vs, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.

7 Then yee shall rise vp from the ambush, and seise vpon the citie: for the Lord your God will deliuer it into your hand.

8 And it shall be when yee haue taken the citie, that ye shall set the citie on fire: according to the commandement of the Lord shall ye do. See, I haue commanded you.

9 Ioshua therefore sent them foorth, and they went to lie in ambush, and abode betweene Bethel and Ai, on the West side of Ai: but Ioshua lodged that night among the people.

10 And Ioshua rose vp early in the morning, and numbred the people, and went vp; he, and the Elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.

11 And all the people, euen the people of warre that were with him, went vp, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the North side of Ai: now there was a valley betweene them and Ai.

12 And he tooke about fiue thousand men, and set them to lye in ambush betweene Bethel and Ai, on the West side of the citie.

13 And when they had set the people, euen all the hoste that was on the North of the city, and their liers in wait on the West of the citie: Ioshua went that night into the midst of the valley.

14 And it came to passe when the King of Ai saw it, that they hasted, and rose vp early, and the men of the citie went out against Israel to battell, hee, and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plaine, but hee wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.

15 And Ioshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wildernesse.

16 And all the people that were in Ai, were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Ioshua, and were drawen away from the city.

17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the citie open, and pursued after Israel.

18 And the Lord said vnto Ioshua, Stretch out the speare that is in thy hand, toward Ai; for I will giue it into thine hand. And Ioshua stretched out the speare that hee had in his hand, toward the city.

19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ranne as soone as he had stretched out his hand: and they entred into the city, and tooke it, and hasted, and set the citie on fire.

20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended vp to heauen, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wildernesse, turned backe vpon the pursuers.

21 And when Ioshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned againe and slew the men of Ai.

22 And the other issued out of the citie against them, so they were 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 remaine or escape.

23 And the King of Ai they tooke aliue, and brought him to Ioshua.

24 And it came to passe when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai, in the field, in the wildernesse wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, vntill they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned vnto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.

25 And so it was that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelue thousand, euen all the men of Ai.

26 For Ioshua drew not his hand backe wherewith hee stretched out the speare, vntill he had vtterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

27 Onely the cattell, and the spoile of that city Israel tooke for a pray vnto themselues, according vnto the word of the Lord, which he commaunded Ioshua.

28 And Ioshua burnt Ai, and made it an heape for euer, euen a desolation vnto this day.

29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree vntil euentide: and assoone as the sunne was downe, Ioshua commaunded that they should take his carkeise downe from the tree, and cast it at the entring of the gate of the citie, and raise thereon a great heape of stones that remaineth vnto this day.

30 Then Ioshua built an Altar vnto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal,

31 As Moses the seruant of the Lord commaunded the children of Israel, as it is written in the booke of the Law of Moses, an Altar of whole stones, ouer which no man hath lift vp any yron: and they offred theron burnt offerings vnto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.

32 And he wrote there vpon the stones a copie of the Lawe of Moses, which hee wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

33 And all Israel, and their Elders, and Officers, and their Iudges, stood on this side the Arke, and on that side, before the Priests the Leuites, which bare the Arke of the Couenant of the Lord, aswell the stranger, as he that was borne among them: halfe of them ouer against mount Gerizim, and halfe of them ouer against mount Ebal, as Moses the seruant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should blesse the people of Israel

34 And afterward hee read all the words of the Law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the booke of the Law.

35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Ioshua read not before all the Congregation of Israel, with the women and the litle ones, and the strangers that were conuersant among them. 

I == Deut 1:21 ; 7:18 ; 31:8 ; Josh 1:9 ; 6:2

 

 

II == Deut 20:14 ; Josh 6:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV == Judg 20:29

 

 

V == Judg 20:32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIII == 2nd Sam 13:28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XI == Josh 8:5

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Josh 8:4

 

 

 

XIV == Judg 20:34 ; Ecci 9:12

 

 

 

XV Judg 20:36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == Deut 7:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == Num 31:22 , 26 ; Josh 8:2

 

XXVIII == Deut 13:16

XXIX == Deut 21:23 ; Josh 7:26 ; 10:26-27 ; Ps 107:40 ; 110:5

 

 

 

XXX == Deut 27:4-5

XXXI == Ex 20:24-25 ; Deut 27:5-6

 

 

 

 

XXXII == Detu 27:2 , 8

 

XXXIII == Detu 11:29 ; 27:12 ; 31:9 , 12 , 25

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIV == Deut 28:2 , 15 , 45 ; 29:20-21 ; 30:19 ; 31:11 ; Neh 8:3

 

XXXV == Deut 31:12 ; Josh 8:33

 

 

1 The LORD then said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or dismayed. Take all the army with you and prepare to attack Ai. I have delivered the king of Ai into your power, with his people, city, and land.

2 Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king; except that you may take its spoil and livestock as booty. Set an ambush behind the city."

3 So Joshua and all the soldiers prepared to attack Ai. Picking out thirty thousand warriors, Joshua sent them off by night

4 with these orders: "See that you ambush the city from the rear, at no great distance; then all of you be on the watch.

5 The rest of the people and I will come up to the city, and when they make a sortie against us as they did the last time, we will flee from them.

6 They will keep coming out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will think we are fleeing from them as we did the last time. When this occurs,

7 rise from ambush and take possession of the city, which the LORD, your God, will deliver into your power.

8 When you have taken the city, set it afire in obedience to the LORD'S command. These are my orders to you."

9 Then Joshua sent them away. They went to the place of ambush, taking up their position to the west of Ai, toward Bethel. Joshua, however, spent that night in the plain.

10 Early the next morning Joshua mustered the army and went up to Ai at its head, with the elders of Israel.

11 When all the troops he led were drawn up in position before the city, they pitched camp north of Ai, on the other side of the ravine.

12 (He took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, west of the city.)

13 Thus the people took up their stations, with the main body north of the city and the ambush west of it, and Joshua waited overnight among his troops.

14 The king of Ai saw this, and he and all his army came out very early in the morning to engage Israel in battle at the descent toward the Arabah, not knowing that there was an ambush behind the city.

15 Joshua and the main body of the Israelites fled in seeming defeat toward the desert,

16 till the last of the soldiers in the city had been called out to pursue them.

17 Since they were drawn away from the city, with every man engaged in this pursuit of Joshua and the Israelites, not a soldier remained in Ai (or Bethel), and the city was open and unprotected.

18 Then the LORD directed Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin in your hand toward Ai, for I will deliver it into your power." Joshua stretched out the javelin in his hand toward the city,

19 and as soon as he did so, the men in ambush rose from their post, rushed in, captured the city, and immediately set it on fire.

20 By the time the men of Ai looked back, the smoke from the city was already sky-high. Escape in any direction was impossible, because the Israelites retreating toward the desert now turned on their pursuers;

21 for when Joshua and the main body of Israelites saw that the city had been taken from ambush and was going up in smoke, they struck back at the men of Ai.

22 Since those in the city came out to intercept them, the men of Ai were hemmed in by Israelites on either side, who cut them down without any fugitives or survivors

23 except the king, whom they took alive and brought to Joshua.

24 All the inhabitants of Ai who had pursued the Israelites into the desert were slain by the sword there in the open, down to the last man. Then all Israel returned and put to the sword those inside the city.

25 There fell that day a total of twelve thousand men and women, the entire population of Ai.

26 Joshua kept the javelin in his hand stretched out until he had fulfilled the doom on all the inhabitants of Ai.

27 However, the Israelites took for themselves as booty the livestock and the spoil of that city, according to the command of the LORD issued to Joshua.

28 Then Joshua destroyed the place by fire, reducing it to an everlasting mound of ruins, as it remains today.

29 He had the king of Ai hanged on a tree until evening; then at sunset Joshua ordered the body removed from the tree and cast at the entrance of the city gate, where a great heap of stones was piled up over it, which remains to the present day.

30 Later Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,

31 of unhewn stones on which no iron tool had been used, in keeping with the command to the Israelites of Moses, the servant of the LORD, as recorded in the book of the law. On this altar they offered holocausts and peace offerings to the LORD.

32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed upon the stones a copy of the law written by Moses.

33 And all Israel, stranger and native alike, with their elders, officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark facing the levitical priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Half of them were facing Mount Gerizim and half Mount Ebal, thus carrying out the instructions of Moses, the servant of the LORD, for the blessing of the people of Israel on this first occasion.

34 Then were read aloud all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, exactly as written in the book of the law.

35 Every single word that Moses had commanded, Joshua read aloud to the entire community, including the women and children, and the strangers who had accompanied Israel.

v 1,2. Joshua was not to be discouraged by the incidents of chapter seven, God has assured him of victory. Jericho was defeated by a miracle of God, but this time, the Lord lays out a strategy for Joshua to use. All the people are to be destroyed with no exceptions like Rahab this time, and all the spoils and the cattle are to be taken.

v 3-8. The battle is to be fought in the day, but it also involves a night operation in the setting up of 30,000 men in ambush. The main body would make contact and pretend to flee as before, while those in ambush took the city.

 

 

 

 

 

v 9-13. Joshua used three contingents of soldiers. Out of the 30,000 lying in ambush to enter the city, 5,000 were to remain in ambush west of the city to cut off any people from Bethel who might come to assist Ai. Sometime after midnight the main body at Gilgal was numbered so it could be proven if there was no death loss. They made a forced march of 13-15 miles and encamped across the valley north of Ai. Then under cover of darkness, Joshua took some of them across the valley to expose themselves to the enemy. The elders Joshua brought would have stayed in the encampment so they could see that the soldiers brought all the booty back to be distributed equitably.

v 14-22. The king of Ai discovered them early and the battle went as planned. (The words “at the time appointed” is better translated “in the direction of the Arabah”, or Jordan valley.) Israel pretended to flee, so all the soldiers of Ai came out in force expecting a total rout. At the Lord’s command, Joshua raised his spear toward Ai and the ambushers set the city on fire. The Joshua’s main army then turned, and suddenly surrounded with no place to escape, the men of Ai were destroyed. All the men of Bethel came to help and were also destroyed, so Joshua bypassed Bethel, and it was not finally captured until Jud. 1:22-26.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 23-29. Ai’s king was captured and when the slaughter of the soldiers was done, Israel killed everyone in the city, a total of 12,000 men and women. Joshua did not allow his spear to drop until all were destroyed. Compare Ex. 12:17 when Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands until Amalek was defeated. Ai was left in a heap of ashes and debris, the king was hanged until evening, then his body was covered with a great heap of stones at the city gate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 30-35. Now that a successful bridgehead had been established, Joshua took time out to lead all the people over 30 miles to Mt Ebal and Mt Gerazim near Shechem (Whether he captured it or they were scared.) and performed 3 ceremonies.
(1) He built an altar, of whole stones as commanded in Ex. 20:25, and offered burnt and peace offerings to the Lord, as in Lev. 1:3. 
(2) Joshua wrote the commandments of Moses on the stones in the presence of the people. I believe this was just the ten commandments, but some think it was that plus at least Deut. 5-26. 
(3) Then the people divided with six tribes on each side of the valley with the ark and Levites between , and Joshua read the curses for disobedience and the blessings for obedience. The people on Mt. Ebal were to respond to the curses and those on Mt. Gerazim to the blessings, as Moses instructed, Deut 27. Joshua read everything that Moses had commanded to every man, woman child and any others in their midst.