Meanwhile ¹  the king’s men tried to find them on the road to the Jordan River ²  near the fords. ³  The city gate was shut as soon as they set out in pursuit of them. ⁴ 

All the reinforcements ¹  in Ai ²  were ordered ³  to chase them; they chased Joshua and were lured away from the city.

No men were left in Ai or Bethel; ¹  they all went out after Israel. ²  They left the city wide open and chased Israel.

If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated ¹  before its enemies?

After Moses the Lord’s servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant:

When it was time to shut the city gate for the night, the men left. ¹  I don’t know where they were heading. Chase after them quickly, for you have time to catch them!”

She told them, “Head ¹  to the hill country, so the ones chasing you don’t find you. ²  Hide from them there for three days, long enough for those chasing you ³  to return. Then you can be on your way.”

Armed troops marched ahead of the priests blowing the horns, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark blowing rams’ horns.

Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho ¹  and its king, except you may plunder its goods and cattle. Set an ambush behind the city!”

He told ¹  them, “Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!

They will attack ¹  us until we have lured them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are retreating from us like before.’ We will retreat from them.

Then ¹  Joshua read aloud all the words of the law, including the blessings and the curses, just as they are written in the law scroll.

Three days after they made the treaty with them, the Israelites found out they were from the local area and lived nearby. ¹ 

There has not been a day like it before or since. The Lord obeyed ¹  a man, for the Lord fought for Israel!

But don’t you delay! Chase your enemies and catch them! ¹  Don’t allow them to retreat to ²  their cities, for the Lord your God is handing them over to you.” ³ 

Then Joshua executed them ¹  and hung them on five trees. They were left hanging on the trees until evening.

My countrymen ¹  who accompanied ²  me frightened the people, ³  but I remained loyal to the Lord my God. ⁴ 

Now today you dare to turn back ¹  from following the Lord! You are rebelling today against the Lord; tomorrow he may break out in anger against ²  the entire community of Israel.

A long time ¹  passed after the Lord made Israel secure from all their enemies, ²  and Joshua was very old. ³ 

I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt down when I intervened in their land. ¹  Then I brought you out.