6 They will come after us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will think, ‘They are fleeing from us as before!’ So we will flee from them.
7 Then you shall rise up for the ambush and take possession of the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hands.
8 When you have seized the city, set it on fire. Act according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.”
9 So Joshua sent them out. They went to the place of ambush and took up a position between Bethel and Ai, westward of Ai, and Joshua spent the night among the people.
10 Joshua got up early in the morning and mustered the people. He and the elders of Israel went up before the people to Ai.
11 All the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near to the city. They camped north of Ai, and there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 He took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, westward of the city.