Now Joshuasentmenfrom Jerichoto Ai,whichis nearBeth-aven,eastof Bethel,and saidto them, "Goup and spyout the land."So the menwentup and spiedout Ai.
Then he proceededfrom thereto the mountainon the eastof Bethel,and pitchedhis tent,with Bethelon the westand Aion the east;and therehe builtan altarto the LORDand calledupon the nameof the LORD.
He calledthe nameof that placeBethel;however,previouslythe nameof the cityhad been Luz.
He setonein Bethel,and the otherhe putin Dan.
The sonsof Benjaminalso [lived] from Geba[onward], at Michmashand Aija,at Betheland its towns,
Prepareplansby consultation,And makewarby wiseguidance.
For by wiseguidanceyou will wagewar,And in abundanceof counselorsthere is victory.
He has comeagainstAiath,He has passedthrough Migron;At Michmashhe depositedhis baggage.
"Wail,O Heshbon,for Aihas been destroyed!Cryout, O daughtersof Rabbah,Girdyourselveswith sackclothand lament,And rushbackand forthinside the walls;For Malcamwill gointo exileTogetherwith his priestsand his princes.
Thoughyou, Israel,playthe harlot,Do not let Judahbecomeguilty;Also do not goto Gilgal,Or goup to Beth-avenAnd takethe oath:"As the LORDlives!"
"Behold,I sendyou out as sheepin the midstof wolves;sobe shrewdas serpentsand innocentas doves.
Thereforebe carefulhowyou walk,not as unwise menbut as wise,
the kingof Jericho,one;the kingof Ai,whichis besideBethel,one;
Their borderon the northsidewas from the Jordan,then the borderwentup to the sideof Jerichoon the north,and wentup through the hillcountrywestward,and it endedat the wildernessof Beth-aven.
Then Joshuathe sonof Nunsenttwomenas spiessecretlyfrom Shittim,saying,"Go,viewthe land,especiallyJericho."So they wentand cameinto the houseof a harlotwhose namewas Rahab,and lodgedthere.
They returnedto Joshuaand saidto him, "Do not let allthe peoplegoup; [only] about two orthreethousandmenneed goup to Ai;do not make allthe peopletoilup there,for they are few."
Now the Philistinesassembledto fightwith Israel,30000chariotsand 6,000horsemen,and peoplelike the sandwhichis on the seashorein abundance;and they cameup and campedin Michmash,eastof Beth-aven.
So the LORDdeliveredIsraelthat day,and the battlespreadbeyondBeth-aven.
to those whowere in Bethel,and to those whowere in Ramothof the Negev,and to those whowere in Jattir,
