6. We will let them chase us until we have drawn them away from the town. For they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ Then, while we are running from them,
7. you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the town, for the lord your God will give it to you.
8. Set the town on fire, as the lord has commanded. You have your orders.”
9. So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night.
10. Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel.
11. All the fighting men who were with Joshua marched in front of the town and camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the town.
12. That night Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the town.