Part 7

06:008:016 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.

06:008:017 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

06:008:018 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.

06:008:019 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.

06:008:020 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

06:008:021 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.

06:008:022 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.

06:008:023 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

06:008:024 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.

06:008:025 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.

06:008:026 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

06:008:027 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.

06:008:028 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.

06:008:029 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

06:008:030 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,

06:008:031 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

06:008:032 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

06:008:033 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

06:008:034 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

06:008:035 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

06:009:001 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;

06:009:002 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

06:009:003 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

06:009:004 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

06:009:005 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

06:009:006 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

06:009:007 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

06:009:008 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?