2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. The men went up and spied out Ai.
3They returned to Joshua, and said to him, Don`t let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai; don`t make all the people to toil there; for they are but few.
4So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5The men of Ai struck of them about thirty-six men; and they chased them [from] before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
6Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
7Joshua said, Alas, Lord Yahweh, why have you at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would that we had been content and lived beyond the Jordan!
8Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!
