Study Desk

So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night.

And they will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.' So we will flee before them.

So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.

So they set the people, all the army that was on the north side of the city, and its rear guard on the west side of the city, and Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.

So not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel, and they forsook the city, leaving it open, and pursued Israel.

Then Yahweh said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.

But Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city ascended. So they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.

And the others came out from the city to meet them, so that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side; and they struck them down until there was no one remaining for him who survived or escaped.

So all who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000—all the people of Ai.

So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day.

So they also acted craftily and went and traveled as envoys and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn-out and torn and mended,

And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; so now, cut a covenant with us."

So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; now then, cut a covenant with us."'

So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but they did not ask for the command of Yahweh.

Then all the leaders said to the whole congregation, "We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, so now we cannot touch them.

This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them."

So the leaders said to them, "Let them live." Thus they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

So now, you are cursed, and you shall never be cut loose from being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God."

So they answered Joshua and said, "Because it was certainly told to your slaves that Yahweh your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you; therefore we feared greatly for our lives because of you and have done this thing.

So now, behold, we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us."