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.
10. Early in the morning Joshua got up and called the soldiers together. Then he and the leaders of Israel led them to Ai.
11. The soldiers with him went towards the main entrance to the city and set up camp on the north side, with a valley between themselves and Ai.
12. He took about 5,000 men and put them in hiding west of the city, between Ai and Bethel.
13. The soldiers were arranged for battle with the main camp north of the city and the rest of the men to the west. Joshua spent the night in the valley.
14. When the king of Ai saw Joshua's men, he acted quickly. He and all his men went out towards the Jordan Valley to fight the Israelites at the same place as before, not knowing that he was about to be attacked from the rear.
15. Joshua and his men pretended that they were retreating, and ran away towards the barren country.