YHWHיְהוָהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJoshua,יְהוֹשֻׁעַ“Do notאַלfearתִּירָאorוְאַלbe dismayed.תֵּחָתTakeקַחwith youעִמְּךָallאֵת כָּלthe peopleעַםof war,הַמִּלְחָמָהand arise,וְקוּםgo upעֲלֵהto Ai.הָעָיSee,רְאֵהI have givenנָתַתִּיinto your handבְיָדְךָthe kingאֶת מֶלֶךְof Ai,הָעַיhis people,וְאֶת עַמּוֹhis city,וְאֶת עִירוֹand his land.וְאֶת אַרְצוֹ
And you shall doוְעָשִׂיתָto Aiלָעַיand its kingוּלְמַלְכָּהּasכַּאֲשֶׁרyou didעָשִׂיתָto Jerichoלִירִיחוֹand its king;וּלְמַלְכָּהּonlyרַקits spoilשְׁלָלָהּand its livestockוּבְהֶמְתָּהּyou may plunderתָּבֹזּוּfor yourselves.לָכֶםSetשִׂיםfor yourselfלְךָan ambushאֹרֵבagainst the cityלָעִירbehind it.”מֵאַחֲרֶיהָ
So Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַarose,וַיָּקָםand allוְכָלthe peopleעַםof war,הַמִּלְחָמָהto go upלַעֲלוֹתto Ai;הָעָיand Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַchoseוַיִּבְחַרthirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםthousandאֶלֶףmen,אִישׁmightyגִּבּוֹרֵיwarriors,הַחַיִלand sent them outוַיִּשְׁלָחֵםby night.לָיְלָה
He commanded them,וַיְצַו אֹתָםsaying,לֵאמֹר“See,רְאוּyouאַתֶּםshall lie in ambushאֹרְבִיםagainst the city,לָעִירbehindמֵאַחֲרֵיthe city.הָעִירDo notאַלgo very farתַּרְחִיקוּ מְאֹדfromמִןthe city,הָעִירand beוִהְיִיתֶםall of youכֻּלְּכֶםready.נְכֹנִים
And Iוַאֲנִיand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרare with meאִתִּיwill approachנִקְרַבthe city.אֶל הָעִירAnd whenוְהָיָה כִּיthey come outיֵצְאוּto meet usלִקְרָאתֵנוּasכַּאֲשֶׁרat the first,בָּרִאשֹׁנָהwe will fleeוְנַסְנוּbefore them.לִפְנֵיהֶם
They will come outוְיָצְאוּafter usאַחֲרֵינוּuntilעַדwe have drawn them awayהַתִּיקֵנוּ אוֹתָםfromמִןthe city,הָעִירforכִּיthey will say,יֹאמְרוּ‘They are fleeingנָסִיםbefore usלְפָנֵינוּasכַּאֲשֶׁרat the first.’בָּרִאשֹׁנָהSo we will fleeוְנַסְנוּbefore them.לִפְנֵיהֶם
Then youוְאַתֶּםshall rise upתָּקֻמוּfrom the ambushמֵהָאוֹרֵבand take possession ofוְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּםthe city,אֶת הָעִירand YHWHוּ יְהוָהyour Elohimאֱלֹהֵיכֶםwill give itנְתָנָהּinto your hand.בְּיֶדְכֶם
And it shall be,וְהָיָהwhenכְּyou have capturedתָפְשְׂכֶםthe city,אֶת הָעִירthat you shall setתַּצִּיתוּthe cityאֶת הָעִירon fire.בָּאֵשׁAccording to the wordכִּדְבַרof YHWHיְהוָהyou shall do.תַּעֲשׂוּSee,רְאוּI have commanded you.”צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם
So Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַsent them,וַיִּשְׁלָחֵםand they wentוַיֵּלְכוּtoאֶלthe place of ambushהַמַּאְרָבand stayedוַיֵּשְׁבוּbetweenבֵּיןBethelבֵּית אֵלandוּבֵיןAi,הָעַיto the westמִיָּםof Ai;לָעָיand Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַspentוַיָּלֶןthatהַהוּאnightבַּלַּיְלָהamongבְּתוֹךְthe people.הָעָם
Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַrose earlyוַיַּשְׁכֵּםin the morningבַּבֹּקֶרand countedוַיִּפְקֹדthe people,אֶת הָעָםand heוַ הוּאand the eldersוְזִקְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwent upיַּעַלbeforeלִפְנֵיthe peopleהָעָםto Ai.הָעָי
And allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםof warהַמִּלְחָמָהwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with himאִתּוֹwent upעָלוּand drew nearוַיִּגְּשׁוּand cameוַיָּבֹאוּin front ofנֶגֶדthe cityהָעִירand campedוַיַּחֲנוּon the northמִצְּפוֹןof Ai,לָעַיwith the valleyוְהַגַּיbetween himבֵּינָיוandוּבֵיןAi.הָעָי
He tookוַיִּקַּחabout fiveכַּחֲמֵשֶׁתthousandאֲלָפִיםmenאִישׁand set themוַיָּשֶׂם אוֹתָםin ambushאֹרֵבbetweenבֵּיןBethelבֵּית אֵלandוּבֵיןAi,הָעַיto the westמִיָּםof the city.לָעִיר
So the peopleהָעָםpositionedוַיָּשִׂימוּallאֶת כָּלthe campהַמַּחֲנֶהthatאֲשֶׁרwas to the northמִצְּפוֹןof the cityלָעִירand its rearוְאֶת עֲקֵבוֹto the westמִיָּםof the city,לָעִירand Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַwentוַיֵּלֶךְthatהַהוּאnightבַּלַּיְלָהinto the middleבְּתוֹךְof the valley.הָעֵמֶק
And it came about,וַיְהִיwhenכִּthe kingמֶלֶךְof Aiהָעַיsaw it,רְאוֹתthat the menאַנְשֵׁיof the cityהָעִירhurriedוַיְמַהֲרוּand rose earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּימוּand went outוַיֵּצְאוּto meetלִקְרַאתIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלin battle,לַמִּלְחָמָהheהוּאand allוְכָלhis people,עַמּוֹat the appointed timeלַמּוֹעֵדbeforeלִפְנֵיthe Arabah;הָעֲרָבָהbut heוְהוּאdid notלֹאknowיָדַעthatכִּיthere was an ambushאֹרֵבagainst himלוֹbehindמֵאַחֲרֵיthe city.הָעִיר
Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַand allוְכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלlet themselves be beatenוַיִּנָּגְעוּbefore themלִפְנֵיהֶםand fledוַיָּנֻסוּby the wayדֶּרֶךְof the wilderness.הַמִּדְבָּר
Allכָּלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere in Aiבָּעַיwere called outוַיִּזָּעֲקוּto pursueלִרְדֹּףthem,אַחֲרֵיהֶםand they pursuedוַיִּרְדְּפוּJoshuaאַחֲרֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַand were drawn awayוַיִּנָּתְקוּfromמִןthe city.הָעִיר
Notוְלֹאa manאִישׁwas leftנִשְׁאַרin Aiבָּעַיor Bethelוּבֵית אֵלwhoאֲשֶׁרdid notלֹאgo outיָצְאוּafterאַחֲרֵיIsrael;יִשְׂרָאֵלand they abandonedוַיַּעַזְבוּthe cityאֶת הָעִירopenפְּתוּחָהand pursuedוַיִּרְדְּפוּIsrael.אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
Then YHWHוַ יְהוָהsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJoshua,יְהוֹשֻׁעַ“Stretch outנְטֵהthe javelinבַּכִּידוֹןthatאֲשֶׁרis in your handבְּיָדְךָtowardאֶלAi,הָעַיforכִּיinto your handבְיָדְךָI will give it.”אֶתְּנֶנָּהAnd Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַstretched outוַיֵּטthe javelinבַּכִּידוֹןthatאֲשֶׁרwas in his handבְּיָדוֹtowardאֶלthe city.הָעִיר
And the ambushוְהָאוֹרֵבroseקָםquicklyמְהֵרָהfrom its place,מִמְּקוֹמוֹand they ranוַיָּרוּצוּas soon as he stretched outכִּנְטוֹתhis hand,יָדוֹand enteredוַיָּבֹאוּthe cityהָעִירand took it;וַיִּלְכְּדוּהָand they hurriedוַיְמַהֲרוּand setוַיַּצִּיתוּthe cityאֶת הָעִירon fire.בָּאֵשׁ
The menאַנְשֵׁיof Aiהָעַיturned backוַיִּפְנוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶםand looked,וַיִּרְאוּand look,וְהִנֵּהthe smokeעֲשַׁןof the cityהָעִירwas going upעָלָהto the heavens,הַשָּׁמַיְמָהand they hadהָיָה בָהֶםnoוְלֹאstrengthיָדַיִםto fleeלָנוּסthis wayהֵנָּהor that way;וָהֵנָּהand the peopleוְהָעָםwho were fleeingהַנָּסto the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּרturned backנֶהְפַּךְagainstאֶלthe pursuer.הָרוֹדֵף
When Joshuaוִיהוֹשֻׁעַand allוְכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלsawרָאוּthatכִּיthe ambushהָאֹרֵבhad takenלָכַדthe cityאֶת הָעִירand thatוְכִיthe smokeעֲשַׁןof the cityהָעִירwas going up,עָלָהthey turned backוַיָּשֻׁבוּand struckוַיַּכּוּthe menאֶת אַנְשֵׁיof Ai.הָעָי
And theseוְאֵלֶּהcame outיָצְאוּfromמִןthe cityהָעִירto meet them,לִקְרָאתָםso that they wereוַיִּהְיוּin the middleבַּתָּוֶךְof Israel,לְיִשְׂרָאֵלsomeאֵלֶּהon this sideמִזֶּהand someוְאֵלֶּהon that side;מִזֶּהand they struck themוַיַּכּוּ אוֹתָםuntilעַדnoבִּלְתִּיsurvivorשָׂרִידor fugitiveוּפָלִיטwas leftהִשְׁאִירto them.לוֹ
But the kingוְאֶת מֶלֶךְof Aiהָעַיthey capturedתָּפְשׂוּaliveחָיand brought himוַיַּקְרִבוּ אֹתוֹtoאֶלJoshua.יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
And it came about,וַיְהִיwhenכְּIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלhad finishedכַלּוֹתkillingלַהֲרֹגallאֶת כָּלthe inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵיof Aiהָעַיin the field,בַּשָּׂדֶהin the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּרwhereאֲשֶׁר בּוֹthey had pursued them,רְדָפוּםand all of themכֻלָּםhad fallenוַיִּפְּלוּby the edgeלְפִיof the swordחֶרֶבuntilעַדthey were finished,תֻּמָּםthat allכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלreturnedוַיָּשֻׁבוּto Aiהָעַיand struck itוַיַּכּוּ אֹתָהּwith the edgeלְפִיof the sword.חָרֶב
Allכָלwho fellהַנֹּפְלִיםthatהַהוּאday,בַּיּוֹםfrom manמֵאִישׁtoוְעַדwoman,אִשָּׁהwereוַיְהִיtwelveשְׁנֵים עָשָׂרthousand,אָלֶףallכֹּלthe menאַנְשֵׁיof Ai.הָעָי
Joshuaוִיהוֹשֻׁעַdid notלֹאdraw backהֵשִׁיבhis handיָדוֹthatאֲשֶׁרhe had stretched outנָטָהwith the javelinבַּכִּידוֹןuntilעַד אֲשֶׁרhe had devoted to destructionהֶחֱרִיםallאֵת כָּלthe inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵיof Ai.הָעָי
Onlyרַקthe livestockהַבְּהֵמָהand the spoilוּשְׁלַלof thatהַהִיאcityהָעִירIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלplunderedבָּזְזוּfor themselves,לָהֶםaccording to the wordכִּדְבַרof YHWHיְהוָהthatאֲשֶׁרhe had commandedצִוָּהJoshua.אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
So JoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַburnedוַיִּשְׂרֹףAiאֶת הָעָיand made itוַיְשִׂימֶהָa heap of ruinsתֵּלforever,עוֹלָםa desolation,שְׁמָמָהtoעַדthisהַזֶּהday.הַיּוֹם
And the kingוְאֶת מֶלֶךְof Aiהָעַיhe hangedתָּלָהonעַלa treeהָעֵץuntilעַדthe timeעֵתof evening;הָעָרֶבand at the going downוּכְבוֹאof the sunהַשֶּׁמֶשׁJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַgave command,צִוָּהand they took downוַיֹּרִידוּhis corpseאֶת נִבְלָתוֹfromמִןthe treeהָעֵץand threw itוַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ אוֹתָהּatאֶלthe entranceפֶּתַחof the gateשַׁעַרof the city,הָעִירand raisedוַיָּקִימוּover itעָלָיוa greatגָּדוֹלheapגַּלof stones,אֲבָנִיםwhich is there toעַדthisהַזֶּהday.הַיּוֹם
ThenאָזJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַbuiltיִבְנֶהan altarמִזְבֵּחַto YHWH,לַיהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלon MountבְּהַרEbal,עֵיבָל
just asכַּאֲשֶׁרMosesמֹשֶׁהthe servantעֶבֶדof YHWHיְהוָהhad commandedצִוָּהthe sonsאֶת בְּנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלas it is writtenכַּכָּתוּבin the bookבְּסֵפֶרof the instructionתּוֹרַתof Moses:מֹשֶׁהan altarמִזְבַּחof wholeשְׁלֵמוֹתstones,אֲבָנִיםon whichאֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶןnoלֹאironבַּרְזֶלhad been lifted.הֵנִיףAnd they offered upוַיַּעֲלוּon itעָלָיוburnt offeringsעֹלוֹתto YHWH,לַיהוָהand sacrificedוַיִּזְבְּחוּpeace offerings.שְׁלָמִים
And he wroteוַיִּכְתָּבthere,שָׁםonעַלthe stones,הָאֲבָנִיםa copyאֵת מִשְׁנֵהof the instructionתּוֹרַתof Moses,מֹשֶׁהwhichאֲשֶׁרhe had writtenכָּתַבbeforeלִפְנֵיthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
And allוְכָלIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלwith its eldersוּזְקֵנָיוand supervisorsוְשֹׁטְרִיםand its judges,וְשֹׁפְטָיוwere standingעֹמְדִיםon this sideמִזֶּהand on that sideוּמִזֶּהof the ark,לָאָרוֹןin front ofנֶגֶדthe priests,הַכֹּהֲנִיםthe Levites,הַלְוִיִּםwho carriedנֹשְׂאֵיthe arkאֲרוֹןof the covenantבְּרִיתof YHWH,יְהוָהthe resident alienכַּגֵּרas well as the native,כָּאֶזְרָחhalf of themחֶצְיוֹin front ofאֶל מוּלMountהַרGerizimגְּרִזִיםand half of themוְהַחֶצְיוֹin front ofאֶל מוּלMountהַרEbal,עֵיבָלjust asכַּאֲשֶׁרMosesמֹשֶׁהthe servantעֶבֶדof YHWHיְהוָהhad commanded,צִוָּהto blessלְבָרֵךְthe peopleאֶת הָעָםof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלat the first.בָּרִאשֹׁנָה
And afterwardוְאַחֲרֵי כֵןhe readקָרָאallאֶת כָּלthe wordsדִּבְרֵיof the instruction,הַתּוֹרָהthe blessingהַבְּרָכָהand the curse,וְהַקְּלָלָהaccording to allכְּכָלthat is writtenהַכָּתוּבin the bookבְּסֵפֶרof the instruction.הַתּוֹרָה
There wasהָיָהnotלֹאa wordדָבָרof allמִכֹּלthatאֲשֶׁרMosesמֹשֶׁהhad commandedצִוָּהthatאֲשֶׁרJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁעַdid notלֹאreadקָרָאbeforeנֶגֶדallכָּלthe assemblyקְהַלof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand the womenוְהַנָּשִׁיםand the little onesוְהַטַּףand the resident alienוְהַגֵּרwho walkedהַהֹלֵךְamong them.בְּקִרְבָּם