24. The Israelites killed every one of the enemy in the barren country where they had chased them. Then they went back to Ai and killed everyone there.
25-26. Joshua kept his spear pointed at Ai and did not put it down until every person there had been killed. The whole population of Ai was killed that day — 12,000 men and women.
27. The Israelites kept for themselves the livestock and goods captured in the city, as the Lord had told Joshua.
28. Joshua burnt Ai and left it in ruins. It is still like that today.
29. He hanged the king of Ai from a tree and left his body there until evening. At sunset Joshua gave orders for the body to be removed, and it was thrown down at the entrance to the city gate. They covered it with a huge pile of stones, which is still there today.
30. Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel.