13. So they stationed the forces; all the army was north of the city while the rear guard was west. But Joshua went that night to the middle of the valley.
14. When the king of Ai saw this, the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out to meet Israel for battle—he and all his army—to the meeting place before the Arabah. He did not know that there was an ambush for him behind the city.
15. Then Joshua and all Israel acted like they were beaten before them, and they fled in the direction of the wilderness.
16. All of the people who were in the city were called to pursue after them. As they pursued after Joshua, they were drawn away from the city.