Reference: Ambush
Easton
Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory (Jos 8:4-26). Shechem was taken in this manner (Jg 9:30-45. Comp. Jer 51:12).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he commanded them, saying, "See that ye lie await unto the town on the backside thereof. Go not very far from the city, and see that ye be all ready. And I and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And when they come out against us, as at the first time, then will we flee before them. read more. And they will come out after us, until we have plucked them away from the city. For they will say, 'They flee before us, as at the first time': for we will flee before them. Then shall ye rise up from lying await and destroy the city: For the LORD your God will deliver it into your hands. As soon, therefore, as ye have taken the city, see that ye set it on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD see that ye do: behold, I have charged you." And Joshua sent them forth, and they went to lie await, and lay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people. And he rose up early in the morning and numbered the people and went up, both he and the elders of Israel before the people, unto Ai. And all the men of war that were with him, went up and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai, a valley being between them and Ai, and he took upon a five thousand men and put them to lie await, between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And he put the people, even all the host, on the north side of the city, and the lyers-await on the west. And Joshua went the same night into the midst of the valley. And when the king of Ai saw that they hasted and rose up early, then the people of the city went out against Israel, to battle, both the king and all his people, at a time appointed, even before the plain, and wist not that there were lyers-await on the backside of the city. And Joshua and Israel were put to the worse before them, and fled toward the wilderness. And all the people of the town cried to follow after them. And they followed after Joshua till they were drawn away from the city: So that there was not a man left in Ai, or in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city open and followed after Israel. Then the LORD said unto Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in thine hand toward Ai, for I have given thee it." And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand, toward the city. And the lyers-await rose quickly out of their places, and ran, as soon as Joshua had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set it on fire. And when the men of Ai looked back after them and saw, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. And they had no place to flee either this way or that, for the people that fled to the wilderness turned back again upon the followers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the lyers-await had taken the city and that the smoke of it ascended, they turned again and laid on the men of Ai. And the other issued out of the city against them. And so were they in the midst of Israel, these being on the one side of them, and the rest on the other. And they laid upon them, so that they let none either remain or escape. And the king of Ai they took alive and brought him to Joshua. And when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabiters of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness by which they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were wasted, then all Israel returned unto Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword. And all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai. For Joshua plucked not his hand back again which he stretched out with the spear, until they had utterly destroyed all the inhabiters of Ai.
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Abed, he was wroth, and sent messengers unto Abimelech privily saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem: and behold they set the city against thee. read more. Now, therefore, up by night, both thou and all the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the fields. And rise early in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, and come upon the city. And when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, do to him what thine hands shall be able." And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night. And they laid await to the city in four companies. And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up and the folk that were with him, from lying await. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains." And Zebul said unto him, "The shadow of the hills seem men unto thee." And Gaal answered again and said, "See, there come folk down by the middle of the land and another company come along by the charmer's oak." Then said Zebul unto him, "Where is now thy mouth that said, 'What fellow is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' These are the people that thou so despisest. Go out now a fellowship and fight with them." And Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased him that he fled before him and many were overthrown and slain, even until they came unto the entering of the gate. And then Abimelech went and dwelt at Arumah. And then Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, and would not suffer them to dwell in Shechem. And on the morrow the people went out into the field. And it was told Abimelech. And he took his people and divided them into three companies and lay await in the fields. And when he saw that the people were come out of the city, he ran upon them and laid upon them. And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, ran and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields and slew them. And then Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took it, and slew the people that were therein, and destroyed the city and sowed salt in the place.
Set up tokens upon the walls of Babylon, make your watch strong, set your watchmen in array, yea hold privy watches: and yet for all that shall the LORD go forth with the device, which he hath taken upon them that dwell in Babylon.