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so will they come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, Fleeing before us, as at the first! therefore will we flee before them.

And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted, and rose up early, and the men of the city came out to meet Israel for battle, he and all his people, at an appointed time, before the waste plain, - he not knowing that there was an ambush lying in wait for him, behind the city.

Then said Yahweh unto Joshua - Stretch out with the javelin which is in thy hand, towards Ai, for, into thy hand, will I deliver it. So Joshua stretched out with the javelin which was in his hand, towards the city.

they, however, acted craftily, and went and started, - and took old sacks for their asses, and leathern wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land spake unto us, saying - Take ye, in your hand, provision for the journey, and go your way to meet them, - then shall ye say unto them, Your servants, we are. Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.

This our bread, took we, hot, for our provision, out of our houses, on the day we came forth to journey unto you, - but, now, lo! it is dry, yea it is broken;

and, these leathern wine bottles, which we filled new, lo! also, they are rent, - and, as for these our mantles and our sandals, they are worn out, by reason of the very long journey.

And Joshua called for them, and spake unto them, saying, - Wherefore did ye deceive us, saying - We are, very far, from you, whereas, ye, in our midst, are dwelling?

Now, therefore, accursed, ye are, - and ye shall not cease to be in bond-service as hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.

And they responded to Joshua, and said - Because it was, plainly told, thy servants, how that Yahweh thy God had commanded Moses his servant to give unto you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, - therefore feared we greatly, for our lives, because of you, and did this thing.

Come up unto me and help me, that we may smite Gibeon, - for it hath made peace with Joshua, and with the sons of Israel.

So the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal, saying, Do not withhold thy hand from thy servants, - Come up unto us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country, are gathered together against us.

And Yahweh said unto Joshua: Do not fear because of them, for, into thy hand, have I delivered them, - not a man of them shall stand before thee.

And there was no day like that - before it or after it, when Yahweh hearkened unto the voice of a man, - in that, Yahweh, himself fought for Israel.

but do not, ye, stay, chase after your enemies, so shall ye attack them in the rear, - do not suffer them to enter into their cities, for Yahweh your God hath delivered them into your hand.

And it came to pass, when they brought out these kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war who had been with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. So they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

Then said Joshua unto them: Do not fear, nor be alarmed, - be firm and bold, for, thus and thus, will Yahweh do unto all your enemies, against whom ye do fight.

Yea, all these kings and their land, did Joshua capture at one time, - because, Yahweh, God of Israel, fought for Israel.

and they came out - they, and all their hosts with them, much people, like the sand that is upon the seashore for multitude, - with horses and chariots very many.

Then said Yahweh unto Joshua - Do not fear because of them, for, to-morrow, about this time, am I going to deliver up all of them, slain, before Israel, - their horses, shalt thou ham-string, and, their chariots, shalt thou burn up with fire.