But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward A´i; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against A´i: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night.
And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gib´e-ah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.