3 So Joshua got ready to go to Ai with all his soldiers. He picked out 30,000 of his best troops and sent them out at night
4 with these orders: “Hide on the other side of the city, but not too far away from it; be ready to attack.
5 My men and I will approach the city. When the men of Ai come out against us, we will turn and run, just as we did the first time.
6 They will pursue us until we have led them away from the city. They will think that we are running away from them, as we did before.
7 Then you will come out of hiding and capture the city. The Lord your God will give it to you.
8 After you have taken the city, set it on fire, just as the Lord has commanded. These are your orders.”
9 So Joshua sent them out, and they went to their hiding place and waited there, west of Ai, between Ai and Bethel. Joshua spent the night in camp.