1And יהוה said unto Yehoshua, “Fear not, neither be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land. 2And you shall do to Ai and her king as you did unto Yerekho and her king; only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall you take for a prey unto yourselves; set yourself an ambush for the city behind it.” 3So Yehoshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai; and Yehoshua chose out thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night. 4And he commanded them, saying, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city; do not go very far from the city, but all of you, be ready. 5And I and all the people that are with me will approach unto the city; and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us as at the first, that we will flee before them. 6And they will come out after us, till we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, ‘They flee before us,’ as at the first; so we will flee before them. 7And you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city; for יהוה your Elohim will deliver it into your hand. 8And it shall be, when you have seized upon the city, that you shall set the city on fire; according to the D’var יהוה shall you do; see, I have commanded you.” 9And Yehoshua sent them forth; and they went to the ambush, and abode between Beit El and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Yehoshua lodged that night among the people. 10And Yehoshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Yisra’el, before the people, to Ai. 11And all the people, even the men of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai; now there was a valley between him and Ai. 12And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Beit El and Ai, on the west side of Ai. 13So the people set themselves in array, even all the host that was on the north of the city, their rear lying in wait on the west of the city; and Yehoshua went that night into the midst of the valley. 14And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hastened and rose up early and went out against Yisra’el to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, in front of the Arabah; but he knew not that there was an ambush against him behind the city. 15And Yehoshua and all Yisra’el made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. 16And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them; and they pursued after Yehoshua, and were drawn away from the city. 17And there was not a man left in Ai or Beit El, that went not out after Yisra’el; and they left the city open, and pursued after Yisra’el.
18And יהוה said unto Yehoshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand.” And Yehoshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. 19And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it; and they hastened and set the city on fire. 20And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way; and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. 21And when Yehoshua and all Yisra’el saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned back, and slew the men of Ai. 22And the other came forth out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Yisra’el, some on this side, and some on that side; and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape. 23And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Yehoshua. 24And it came to pass, when Yisra’el had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, even in the wilderness wherein they pursued them, and they were all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all Yisra’el returned unto Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword. 25And all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai. 26For Yehoshua drew not back his hand, wherewith he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. 27Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Yisra’el took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the D’var יהוה which He commanded Yehoshua. 28So Yehoshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation, unto this day. 29And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until the evening time; and at the going down of the sun Yehoshua commanded, and they took his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised thereon a great heap of stones, unto this day.
30Then Yehoshua built a mizbe’akh unto יהוה Elohei Yisra’el, in Har Eval, 31as Moshe the servant of יהוה commanded B’nei Yisra’el, as it is written in the book of the Torah of Moshe, a mizbe’akh of unhewn stones, upon which no man had lifted up any iron; and they offered thereon Olot unto יהוה , and sacrificed Sh’lamim. 32And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the Torah of Moshe, which he wrote before B’nei Yisra’el. 33And all Yisra’el, and their elders and officers, and their shoftim, stood on this side of the Aron and on that side before the Kohanim, the Levi’im that bore the Aron HaBrit יהוה , as well the stranger as the home-born; half of them in front of Har Gerizim and half of them in front of Har Eval; as Moshe the servant of יהוה had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Yisra’el. 34And afterward he read all the words of the Torah, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Sefer HaTorah. 35There was not a word of all that Moshe commanded which Yehoshua read not before all the congregation of Yisra’el, and the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that walked among them.
אוַיֹּאמֶר יהוה אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אַל תִּירָא וְאַל תֵּחָת קַח עִמְּךָ אֵת כָּל עַם הַמִּלְחָמָה וְקוּם עֲלֵה הָעָי; רְאֵה נָתַתִּי בְיָדְךָ אֶת מֶלֶךְ הָעַי וְאֶת עַמּוֹ וְאֶת עִירוֹ וְאֶת אַרְצוֹ. בוְעָשִׂיתָ לָעַי וּלְמַלְכָּהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ לִירִיחוֹ וּלְמַלְכָּהּ רַק שְׁלָלָהּ וּבְהֶמְתָּהּ תָּבֹזּוּ לָכֶם; שִׂים לְךָ אֹרֵב לָעִיר מֵאַחֲרֶיהָ. גוַיָּקָם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָל עַם הַמִּלְחָמָה לַעֲלוֹת הָעָי; וַיִּבְחַר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף אִישׁ גִּבּוֹרֵי הַחַיִל וַיִּשְׁלָחֵם לָיְלָה. דוַיְצַו אֹתָם לֵאמֹר רְאוּ אַתֶּם אֹרְבִים לָעִיר מֵאַחֲרֵי הָעִיר אַל תַּרְחִיקוּ מִן הָעִיר מְאֹד; וִהְיִיתֶם כֻּלְּכֶם נְכֹנִים. הוַאֲנִי וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתִּי נִקְרַב אֶל הָעִיר; וְהָיָה כִּי יֵצְאוּ לִקְרָאתֵנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִאשֹׁנָה וְנַסְנוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם. ווְיָצְאוּ אַחֲרֵינוּ עַד הַתִּיקֵנוּ אוֹתָם מִן הָעִיר כִּי יֹאמְרוּ נָסִים לְפָנֵינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִאשֹׁנָה; וְנַסְנוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם. זוְאַתֶּם תָּקֻמוּ מֵהָאוֹרֵב וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם אֶת הָעִיר; וּנְתָנָהּ יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּיֶדְכֶם. חוְהָיָה כְּתָפְשְׂכֶם אֶת הָעִיר תַּצִּיתוּ אֶת הָעִיר בָּאֵשׁ כִּדְבַר יהוה תַּעֲשׂוּ; רְאוּ צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם. טוַיִּשְׁלָחֵם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶל הַמַּאְרָב וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בֵּין בֵּית אֵל וּבֵין הָעַי מִיָּם לָעָי; וַיָּלֶן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא בְּתוֹךְ הָעָם. יוַיַּשְׁכֵּם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּפְקֹד אֶת הָעָם; וַיַּעַל הוּא וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הָעָם הָעָי. יאוְכָל הָעָם הַמִּלְחָמָה אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ עָלוּ וַיִּגְּשׁוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ נֶגֶד הָעִיר; וַיַּחֲנוּ מִצְּפוֹן לָעַי וְהַגַּי בֵּינָו וּבֵין הָעָי. יבוַיִּקַּח כַּחֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ; וַיָּשֶׂם אוֹתָם אֹרֵב בֵּין בֵּית אֵל וּבֵין הָעַי מִיָּם לָעִיר. יגוַיָּשִׂימוּ הָעָם אֶת כָּל הַמַּחֲנֶה אֲשֶׁר מִצְּפוֹן לָעִיר וְאֶת עֲקֵבוֹ מִיָּם לָעִיר; וַיֵּלֶךְ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא בְּתוֹךְ הָעֵמֶק. ידוַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת מֶלֶךְ הָעַי וַיְמַהֲרוּ וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ וַיֵּצְאוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל לַמִּלְחָמָה הוּא וְכָל עַמּוֹ לַמּוֹעֵד לִפְנֵי הָעֲרָבָה; וְהוּא לֹא יָדַע כִּי אֹרֵב לוֹ מֵאַחֲרֵי הָעִיר. טווַיִּנָּגְעוּ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵיהֶם; וַיָּנֻסוּ דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר. טזוַיִּזָּעֲקוּ כָּל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בעיר (בָּעַי) לִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם; וַיִּרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיִּנָּתְקוּ מִן הָעִיר. יזוְלֹא נִשְׁאַר אִישׁ בָּעַי וּבֵית אֵל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָצְאוּ אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַיַּעַזְבוּ אֶת הָעִיר פְּתוּחָה וַיִּרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
יחוַיֹּאמֶר יהוה אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ נְטֵה בַּכִּידוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדְךָ אֶל הָעַי כִּי בְיָדְךָ אֶתְּנֶנָּה; וַיֵּט יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּכִּידוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ אֶל הָעִיר. יטוְהָאוֹרֵב קָם מְהֵרָה מִמְּקוֹמוֹ וַיָּרוּצוּ כִּנְטוֹת יָדוֹ וַיָּבֹאוּ הָעִיר וַיִּלְכְּדוּהָ; וַיְמַהֲרוּ וַיַּצִּיתוּ אֶת הָעִיר בָּאֵשׁ. כוַיִּפְנוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעַי אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ וְהִנֵּה עָלָה עֲשַׁן הָעִיר הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְלֹא הָיָה בָהֶם יָדַיִם לָנוּס הֵנָּה וָהֵנָּה; וְהָעָם הַנָּס הַמִּדְבָּר נֶהְפַּךְ אֶל הָרוֹדֵף. כאוִיהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל רָאוּ כִּי לָכַד הָאֹרֵב אֶת הָעִיר וְכִי עָלָה עֲשַׁן הָעִיר; וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיַּכּוּ אֶת אַנְשֵׁי הָעָי. כבוְאֵלֶּה יָצְאוּ מִן הָעִיר לִקְרָאתָם וַיִּהְיוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּתָּוֶךְ אֵלֶּה מִזֶּה וְאֵלֶּה מִזֶּה; וַיַּכּוּ אוֹתָם עַד בִּלְתִּי הִשְׁאִיר לוֹ שָׂרִיד וּפָלִיט. כגוְאֶת מֶלֶךְ הָעַי תָּפְשׂוּ חָי; וַיַּקְרִבוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. כדוַיְהִי כְּכַלּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל לַהֲרֹג אֶת כָּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָעַי בַּשָּׂדֶה בַּמִּדְבָּר אֲשֶׁר רְדָפוּם בּוֹ וַיִּפְּלוּ כֻלָּם לְפִי חֶרֶב עַד תֻּמָּם; וַיָּשֻׁבוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל הָעַי וַיַּכּוּ אֹתָהּ לְפִי חָרֶב. כהוַיְהִי כָל הַנֹּפְלִים בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא מֵאִישׁ וְעַד אִשָּׁה שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אָלֶף: כֹּל אַנְשֵׁי הָעָי. כווִיהוֹשֻׁעַ לֹא הֵשִׁיב יָדוֹ אֲשֶׁר נָטָה בַּכִּידוֹן עַד אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱרִים אֵת כָּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָעָי. כזרַק הַבְּהֵמָה וּשְׁלַל הָעִיר הַהִיא בָּזְזוּ לָהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּדְבַר יהוה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. כחוַיִּשְׂרֹף יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶת הָעָי; וַיְשִׂימֶהָ תֵּל עוֹלָם שְׁמָמָה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. כטוְאֶת מֶלֶךְ הָעַי תָּלָה עַל הָעֵץ עַד עֵת הָעָרֶב; וּכְבוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ צִוָּה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֹּרִידוּ אֶת נִבְלָתוֹ מִן הָעֵץ וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ אוֹתָהּ אֶל פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הָעִיר וַיָּקִימוּ עָלָיו גַּל אֲבָנִים גָּדוֹל עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
לאָז יִבְנֶה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מִזְבֵּחַ לַיהוה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַר עֵיבָל. לאכַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד יהוה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּכָּתוּב בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֹת אֲשֶׁר לֹא הֵנִיף עֲלֵיהֶן בַּרְזֶל; וַיַּעֲלוּ עָלָיו עֹלוֹת לַיהוה וַיִּזְבְּחוּ שְׁלָמִים. לבוַיִּכְתָּב שָׁם עַל הָאֲבָנִים אֵת מִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר כָּתַב לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. לגוְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל וּזְקֵנָיו וְשֹׁטְרִים וְשֹׁפְטָיו עֹמְדִים מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה לָאָרוֹן נֶגֶד הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יהוה כַּגֵּר כָּאֶזְרָח חֶצְיוֹ אֶל מוּל הַר גְּרִזִים וְהַחֶצְיוֹ אֶל מוּל הַר עֵיבָל: כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד יהוה לְבָרֵךְ אֶת הָעָם יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּרִאשֹׁנָה. לדוְאַחֲרֵי כֵן קָרָא אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַבְּרָכָה וְהַקְּלָלָה כְּכָל הַכָּתוּב בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה. להלֹא הָיָה דָבָר מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר לֹא קָרָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ נֶגֶד כָּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף וְהַגֵּר הַהֹלֵךְ בְּקִרְבָּם.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 