NET Bible
"Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them and they retreated along the way to the wilderness."
— Joshua 8:15, NET Bible
“And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.”
“And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. ”
“Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.”
“But Joshua, and all Israel gave back, making as if they were afraid, and fleeing by the way of the wilderness.”
“Then Joshua and all Israel, acting as if they were overcome before them, went in flight by way of the waste land.”
“And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.”
He took five thousand men and set an ambush west of the city between Bethel and Ai.
The army was in position– the main army north of the city and the rear guard west of the city. That night Joshua went into the middle of the valley.
When the king of Ai saw Israel, they rushed to get up early. Then the men of the city went out to meet Israel in battle, he and all his people, at the meeting place near the rift valley. But he did not realize an ambush was waiting for him behind the city.
Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them and they retreated along the way to the wilderness.
All the reinforcements in Ai were ordered to chase them; they chased Joshua and were lured away from the city.
No men were left in Ai or Bethel; they all went out after Israel. They left the city wide open and chased Israel.
The LORD told Joshua,“Hold out toward Ai the curved sword in your hand, for I am handing the city over to you.” So Joshua held out toward Ai the curved sword in his hand.