3So Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night
4with these orders: “Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready.
5Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.
6They will pursue us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ So as we flee from them,
7you are to rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
8And when you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do as the LORD has commanded! See, I have given you orders.”
9So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But Joshua spent that night among the people.