He took about five thousand men and had them lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the town.
Then he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and set up camp there. Bethel was to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar to the Lord there and worshiped him.
He named the place “Bethel,” (previously it was called Luz).
All the fighting men who were with him approached the front of the town, and camped there on the north side, with a valley between them and Ai.
So the army took up their positions—the main army to the north of the town, and the ambush to the west. Joshua went that night to the valley.
The descendants of Joseph went and attacked the town of Bethel, and the Lord was with them.
Saul advanced on the town of Amalek and set up an ambush in the valley.