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.

When he held out his hand, the men waiting in ambush rose up quickly from their place and attacked. They entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.

Joshua kept holding out his curved sword until Israel had annihilated all who lived in Ai.

Joshua said, “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to the Lord God of Israel.”