8. When you have taken it, set it on fire. Do what the Lord has commanded. Make sure you obey my orders."
9. Then Joshua sent them away. They went to the place where they had planned to hide. They hid in a place west of Ai. It was between Bethel and Ai. But Joshua spent that night with his men.
10. Early the next morning Joshua brought his men together. He and the leaders of Israel marched in front of them to Ai.
11. The whole army that was with him marched up to the city. They stopped in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai. There was a valley between them and the city.
12. Joshua had chosen about 5,000 soldiers. He had ordered them to hide in a place west of Ai. It was between Bethel and Ai.
13. The men took up their battle positions. All of the men who were in the camp that was north of the city took up their positions. So did those who were supposed to hide west of the city. That night Joshua went into the valley.
14. The king of Ai saw what the army of Israel was doing. So he and all of his men hurried out of the city early in the morning. They marched out to meet Israel in battle. They went to a place that looked out over the Arabah Valley. The king didn't know that some of Israel's fighting men were hiding behind the city.
15. Joshua and all of his men let the men of Ai drive them back. The men of Israel ran away toward the desert.
16. All of the men of Ai were called out to chase them. They chased Joshua. So they were drawn away from the city.