Thematic Bible: Decoy
Thematic Bible
Armies » March in ranks » Decoy
He commanded them, saying: You shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city. Do not go very far from the city and be ready. I, and all the people that are with me, will approach the city. When they come out against us we will run away from them. They will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city. They will say: 'They run from us.' Therefore we will run before them. read more.
Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand. When you have taken the city you will set the city on fire according to the commandment of Jehovah. See, I have commanded you. Joshua sent them forth. They went to lie in ambush, and stay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. Joshua lodged that night among the people. Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered his men. He and the elders of Israel went in front of the people to Ai. And all the people, even the people of war that were with him went to the city. They set up camp on the north side of Ai. There was a valley between them and Ai. He took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. They had the solders take up their positions those in camp to the north and the ambush to the west. Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. 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 headed for the plain. He did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten in front of them and ran away to the wilderness. All the people in Ai were called together to chase after them. They chased after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. There was no man left in Ai or Bethel. They all went after Israel: and they left the city open. Jehovah said to Joshua: Stretch out the spear (javelin) that is in your hand toward Ai. I will give it to your hand. Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. The ambush began quickly. They ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand. They entered into the city, captured it and quickly set the city on fire. The men of Ai looked behind and saw the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. They had no power to run this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended they turned and killed the men of Ai. The men of the ambush came out of the city against them. They were caught in the middle with Israel on both sides. Israel killed them all. No one remained or escaped.
Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand. When you have taken the city you will set the city on fire according to the commandment of Jehovah. See, I have commanded you. Joshua sent them forth. They went to lie in ambush, and stay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. Joshua lodged that night among the people. Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered his men. He and the elders of Israel went in front of the people to Ai. And all the people, even the people of war that were with him went to the city. They set up camp on the north side of Ai. There was a valley between them and Ai. He took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. They had the solders take up their positions those in camp to the north and the ambush to the west. Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. 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 headed for the plain. He did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten in front of them and ran away to the wilderness. All the people in Ai were called together to chase after them. They chased after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. There was no man left in Ai or Bethel. They all went after Israel: and they left the city open. Jehovah said to Joshua: Stretch out the spear (javelin) that is in your hand toward Ai. I will give it to your hand. Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. The ambush began quickly. They ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand. They entered into the city, captured it and quickly set the city on fire. The men of Ai looked behind and saw the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. They had no power to run this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended they turned and killed the men of Ai. The men of the ambush came out of the city against them. They were caught in the middle with Israel on both sides. Israel killed them all. No one remained or escaped.
The Israelites hid some soldiers around Gibeah. Then for the third straight day they marched against the army of Benjamin. They placed their soldiers in battle position facing Gibeah, as they had done before. The Benjaminites came out to fight and were drawn away from the city. Just as before they killed some Israelites in the open country, on the road to Bethel and on the road to Gibeah. They killed about thirty Israelites. read more.
The Benjaminites said: They are defeated just as before. But the Israelites planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads. The main army of the Israelites pulled back and regrouped at Baaltamar. The men surrounding Gibeah suddenly rushed out of hiding in the rocky country around the city. Ten thousand, specially chosen men, out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. The Benjaminites did not realize they were about to be destroyed. Jehovah gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed twenty five thousand one hundred of the enemy that day, The Benjaminites knew they were defeated. The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites. This is because they relied on the men that were hiding around Gibeah. These men ran quickly toward Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone there. The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had a prearranged signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town, the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves: We have beaten them. The signal appeared. A cloud of smoke rose above the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them to see the whole city going up in flames. Then the Israelites turned around. The Benjaminites were thrown into panic because they could see that they were about to be destroyed. They retreated from the Israelites. They ran toward the open country and could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men now coming out of the city. They were destroyed. The Israelites trapped the enemy. Without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah. They killed them as they advanced.
The Benjaminites said: They are defeated just as before. But the Israelites planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads. The main army of the Israelites pulled back and regrouped at Baaltamar. The men surrounding Gibeah suddenly rushed out of hiding in the rocky country around the city. Ten thousand, specially chosen men, out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. The Benjaminites did not realize they were about to be destroyed. Jehovah gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed twenty five thousand one hundred of the enemy that day, The Benjaminites knew they were defeated. The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites. This is because they relied on the men that were hiding around Gibeah. These men ran quickly toward Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone there. The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had a prearranged signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town, the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves: We have beaten them. The signal appeared. A cloud of smoke rose above the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them to see the whole city going up in flames. Then the Israelites turned around. The Benjaminites were thrown into panic because they could see that they were about to be destroyed. They retreated from the Israelites. They ran toward the open country and could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men now coming out of the city. They were destroyed. The Israelites trapped the enemy. Without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah. They killed them as they advanced.