Then Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two spies, secretly, saying, "Go and view the land and also Jericho." And they went, and came unto a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Then Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, "Get you up and view the country." And the men went up and spied out Ai,

and returned unto Joshua and said unto him, "Let not all the people go up, but let as it were a two or three thousand men go up and destroy Ai, and make not all the people to labour thither, for they are but few."