At the same time the men who had taken the city came out to fight, and the men of Ai were trapped in the middle.<n id="1" /> The Israelites struck them down, leaving no survivors or refugees.

Instruct them, &#8216;Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests<n id="1" /> stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.&#8217;&#8221;p>

All the people,<n id="1" /> rulers,<n id="2" /> leaders, and judges were standing on either side of the ark, in front of the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc>. Both resident foreigners and native Israelites were there.<n id="3" /> Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s servant had previously instructed to them to do for the formal blessing ceremony.<n id="4" />