He took about five thousand men and put them in hiding west of the city, between Ai and Bethel.
After that, he moved on south to the hill country east of the city of Bethel and set up his camp between Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There also he built an altar and worshiped the Lord.
He named the place Bethel. (The town there was once known as Luz.)
The soldiers with him went toward the main entrance to the city and set up camp on the north side, with a valley between themselves and Ai.
The soldiers were arranged for battle with the main camp north of the city and the rest of the men to the west. Joshua spent the night in the valley.
The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh went to attack the city of Bethel, at that time called Luz. The Lord helped them. They sent spies to the city,
Then he and his men went to the city of Amalek and waited in ambush in a dry riverbed.