Ai Is Destroyed
1 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid, neither be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. Behold, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, with his people, his city, and his land.
1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
1 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “(A)Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, (B)I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
1 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.(A) Take the whole military force with you and go attack Ai. Look, I have handed over to you the king of Ai, his people, city, and land.(B)
1 The LORD then told Joshua, "Don't be afraid or lose heart! Take all the fighting men with you, and go up right now to Ai. Take note that I have handed over the king of Ai into your control, along with his people, his city, and his land.
2 You shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king, except its spoil and its livestock, you shall take for a plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it."
2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
2 You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall (C)take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. (a)Set an ambush for the city behind it.”
2 Treat Ai and its king as you did Jericho and its king;(C) you may plunder its spoil and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”
2 Do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, but take its spoil and its livestock as war booty for yourselves. Set an ambush around the city."
3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them out by night.
3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
3 So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night.
3 So Joshua and the whole military force set out to attack Ai. Joshua selected 30,000 fighting men and sent them out at night.
3 So Joshua and all of the fighting men prepared to go out against Ai. Joshua selected 30,000 valiant warriors and sent them out by night,
4 He commanded them, saying, "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Don't go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.
4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
4 He commanded them, saying, “See, you are (D)going to ambush the city from behind (b)it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.
4 He commanded them: “Pay attention. Lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it, and all of you be ready.(D)
4 telling them, "Pay attention now! You are to set up an ambush around the city. Don't go very far from the city, and all of you remain on alert.
5 I, and all the people who are with me, will approach to the city. It shall happen, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them.
5 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, (E)we will flee before them.
5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.
5 I and all of the army with me will advance upon the city. When they come out after us like they did before, we'll run away from them.
6 They will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, 'They flee before us, like the first time.' So we will flee before them,
6 (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
6 They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ So we will flee before them.
6 They will come after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us as before.’ While we are fleeing from them,
6 They'll come after us until we've drawn them away from the city, because they'll say, "They're running away from us just like they did before.' While we're running away from them,
7 and you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city; for Yahweh your God will deliver it into your hand.
7 Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
7 And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.
7 you are to come out of your ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God has handed it over to you.
7 you get up from the ambush and seize the city, because the LORD your God will give it into your control.
8 It shall be, when you have seized on the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do this according to the word of Yahweh. Behold, I have commanded you."
8 And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
8 Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it (F)according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.”
8 After taking the city, set it on fire. Follow the Lord’s command—see that you do as I have ordered you.”
8 When you've taken the city, set it on fire, just as the LORD ordered. Look! These are your orders!"
9 Joshua sent them out; and they went to set up the ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua stayed among the people that night.
9 Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
9 So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.
9 So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.
9 So Joshua sent them out, and they set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai.
10 Joshua rose up early in the morning, mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
10 Now Joshua (G)rose early in the morning and mustered the people, and he went up with the elders of Israel before the people to Ai.
10 Joshua started early the next morning and mobilized them. Then he and the elders of Israel led the troops up to Ai.
10 Joshua spent that night in the camp among the army. In the morning, Joshua got up early, mustered his army, and set off for Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel in full view of the army.
11 All the people, even the men of war who were with him, went up, and drew near, and came before the city, and encamped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between him and Ai.
11 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
11 Then all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near and arrived in front of the city, and camped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between him and Ai.
11 All those(a) who were with him went up and approached the city, arriving opposite Ai, and camped to the north of it, with a valley between them and the city.
11 The entire fighting force with him attacked, approaching the city, and camped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai.
12 He took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
12 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
12 And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between (H)Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the (c)city.
12 Now Joshua had taken about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
12 Taking about 5,000 men, he set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai to the west of the city,
13 So they set the people, even all the army who was on the north of the city, and their ambush on the west of the city; and Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
13 So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north side of the city, and its rear guard on the west side of the city, and Joshua spent that night in the midst of the valley.
13 The military force was stationed in this way: the main(b) camp to the north of the city and its rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley.
13 stationing their forces with its main encampment north of the city and its rear guard to the west. Joshua spent that night in the valley.
14 It happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he didn't know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
14 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
14 It came about when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose up early and went out to meet Israel in battle, he and all his people at the appointed place before the desert plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
14 When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, the men of the city hurried and went out early in the morning so that he and all his people could engage Israel in battle at a suitable place facing the Arabah. But he did not know there was an ambush waiting for him behind the city.
14 When the king of Ai saw what had happened, he and his army quickly got up early and went out to meet Israel in battle. He and all his people met at the place adjacent to the desert plain. But he didn't know about the ambush that had been set for him on the other side of the city.
15 Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them, and fled (I)by the way of the wilderness.
15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten back by them and fled toward the wilderness.
15 Because Joshua and the entire fighting force of Israel pretended to lose the battle by running away in front of them toward the wilderness,
16 All the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them. They pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
16 And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and (J)were drawn away from the city.
16 Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
16 everyone in the city followed after them. As they pursued Joshua, they were drawn away from the town.
17 There was not a man left in Ai or Beth El who didn't go out after Israel. They left the city open, and pursued Israel.
17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
17 So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel, and they left the city (d)unguarded and pursued Israel.
17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city exposed while they pursued Israel.
17 There wasn't a single man left in Ai or Bethel who didn't run out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
18 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.
18 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “(K)Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.
18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Hold out the sword in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the city over to you.” So Joshua held out his sword toward it.
18 Then the LORD told Joshua, "Stretch out the battle lance that's in your hand toward Ai, because I will give it into your control." So Joshua stretched out the battle lance that was in his hand toward the city.
19 The ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it. They hurried and set the city on fire.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
19 The men in ambush rose quickly from their place, and when he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it, and they quickly set the city on fire.
19 When he held out his hand, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They ran, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.
19 As soon as he stretched out his hand, the troops in ambush quickly got up from their place of hiding and attacked. They entered the city, seized it, and immediately set it on fire.
20 When the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way. The people who fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.
20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
20 When the men of Ai turned (e)back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the sky, and they had no place to flee this way or that, for the people who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned against the pursuers.
20 The men of Ai turned and looked back, and smoke from the city was rising to the sky! They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now became the pursuers.
20 Then the men of Ai looked back behind them and all of a sudden! smoke from the city was rising into the sky. They were unable to run in any direction, because the Israelis who had fled toward the wilderness had turned around to attack their pursuers.
21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and killed the men of Ai.
21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and (f)slew the men of Ai.
21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.
21 When Joshua and the entire fighting force of Israel observed that the men who had been in ambush had seized the city and that the smoke from the city was rising, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai.
22 The others came out of the city against them, so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side. They struck them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
22 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
22 (g)The others came out from the city to encounter them, so that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, (h)some on this side and some on that side; and they (i)slew them until (L)no one was left (j)of those who survived or escaped.
22 Then men in ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces, some on one side and some on the other. They struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained,
22 Then the others came out from the city against them, so the men of Ai were surrounded by the Israelis, some on one side and some on the other. Israel attacked them until no one was left to survive or escape.
23 They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.
23 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
23 But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua.
23 but they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
23 But the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.
A Review Of The Fighting
24 It happened, when Israel had made an end of killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness in which they pursued them, and they had all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all Israel returned to Ai, and struck it with the edge of the sword.
24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
24 Now when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field in the wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them were fallen by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed, then all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword.
24 When Israel had finished killing everyone living in Ai who had pursued them into the open country, and when every last one of them had fallen by the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the sword.
24 When Israel had completed executing all of the residents of Ai in the open wilderness where they had chased them, and after all of them to the very last of them had been killed by swords, the entire fighting force of Israel returned to Ai and attacked it with swords.
25 All that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
25 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
25 The total of those who fell that day, both men and women, was 12,000—all the people of Ai.
25 The total of all who fell that day, including men and women, was 12,000 the entire population of Ai.
26 For Joshua didn't draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
26 For Joshua (N)did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had (l)utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
26 Joshua did not draw back his hand that was holding the sword until all the inhabitants of Ai were completely destroyed.(E)
26 Joshua did not cease his attack until he had completely destroyed every inhabitant of Ai.
27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took for prey to themselves, according to the word of Yahweh which he commanded Joshua.
27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
27 (O)Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua.
27 Israel plundered only the cattle and spoil of that city for themselves, according to the Lord’s command that He had given Joshua.
27 Israel took only the livestock and the spoil of that city as their war booty, in accordance with what the LORD had commanded to Joshua.
29 He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until the evening, and at the sundown Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised a great heap of stones on it that remains to this day.
29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
29 (Q)He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening; and at sunset Joshua gave command and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the city gate, and raised over it a great heap of stones that stands to this day.
29 He hung(c) the body of the king of Ai on a tree(d) until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take his body down from the tree.(G) They threw it down at the entrance of the city gate and put a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.
29 He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until dusk, and at sunset Joshua ordered his body brought down from the tree and laid at the entrance to the gate of the town. There he raised over it a large mound of stones, which stands there to this day.
Israel Renews The Covenant
31 as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones, on which no man had lifted up any iron. They offered burnt offerings on it to Yahweh, and sacrificed peace offerings.
31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
31 just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, (S)an altar of uncut stones on which no man had wielded an iron tool; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.
31 just as Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the book of the law of Moses: an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.(I) Then they offered burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings on it.
31 just the way Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelis in the Book of the Law of Moses: ""an altar of uncut stones that hasn't been worked with iron tools"" and they offered burnt offerings to the LORD on it, along with peace offerings.
32 He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
32 He (T)wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which (m)he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.
32 There on the stones, Joshua copied the law of Moses, which he had written in the presence of the Israelites.(J)
32 There Joshua inscribed on stones a copy of the Law of Moses that Moses had presented to the Israelis.
33 All Israel, and their elders and officers, and their judges, stood on this side of the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, who carried the ark of Yahweh's covenant, the foreigner as well as the native; half of them in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.
33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
33 (U)All Israel with their elders and officers and their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as the native. Half of them stood in front of (V)Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had given command at first to bless the people of Israel.
33 All Israel, foreigner and citizen alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark of the Lord’s covenant facing the Levitical priests who carried it. As Moses the Lord’s servant had commanded earlier, half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal,(K) to bless the people of Israel.(L)
33 All Israel, both foreigners and citizens, together with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on opposite sides of the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD. Half stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half stood in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses, the LORD's servant had commanded at the first, so that they could bless the people of Israel.
34 Afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
34 Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in (W)the book of the law.
34 Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings as well as the curses—according to all that is written in the book of the law.
34 Afterwards, Joshua read all the words of the Law both the blessings and the curses according to everything written in the Book of the Law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua didn't read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who were among them.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel (X)with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were (n)living among them.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, the little children, and the foreigners who were with them.(M)
35 There wasn't one word of everything Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read in front of the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, their little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them.