Then when the adversaries were beaten with great vengeance, and were almost wasted unto the death, they that might flee Israel, entered into the strengthened cities.
And David said to Abishai, Now Sheba, the son of Bichri, shall torment us more than Absalom did; therefore take the servants of thy lord, and pursue him, lest in hap he find strengthened cities, and escape us.
Tell ye in Judah, and make ye heard in Jerusalem; speak ye, and sing ye with a trump in the land; cry ye strongly, and say ye, Be ye gathered together, and enter we into [the] strong cities.
Why sit we? come ye together, enter we into a strong city, and be we still there; for our Lord hath made us to be still, and gave to us drink the water of gall; for we have sinned to the Lord.
and the Lord troubled them from the face of Israel, and all-brake with great vengeance in Gibeon. And Joshua pursued them by the way of the ascending [or going up] of Bethhoron, and smote till to Azekah and Makkedah.
soothly do not ye stand, but pursue ye the enemies, and slay ye all the last of fleers; and suffer ye not them to enter into the strongholds of their cities, the which enemies your Lord God hath betaken in your hands.
And all the host turned again whole, and in whole number to Joshua, into Makkedah, where the tents were then; and no man was hardy to grutch against the sons of Israel.
And the Lord betook them into the hands of Israel; which smited them, and pursued till to Great Sidon, and the waters of Misrephothmaim, and to the field of Mizpeh, which is at the east part thereof.
Therefore, when all the men were slain, that pursued Israel fleeing to desert, and had fallen by sword in the same place, the sons of Israel turned again, and destroyed the city of Ai.