Joshua 8:15

8:15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them and they retreated along the way to the desert.

Joshua 8:20

8:20 When the men of Ai turned around, they saw ¹  the smoke from the city ascending into the sky and were so shocked they were unable to flee in any direction. ²  In the meantime the men who were retreating to the desert turned against their pursuers.

Joshua 8:24

8:24 When Israel had finished killing all the men ³  of Ai who had chased them toward the desert ⁴  (they all fell by the sword), ⁵  all Israel returned to Ai and put the sword to it.

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¹ tn Heb “and they saw, and look.” The Hebrew term הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) draws attention to the scene and invites the audience to view the events from the perspective of the men of Ai.

² tn Heb “and there was not in them hands to flee here or there.” The Hebrew term יָדַיִם (yadayim, “hands”) is idiomatic for “strength.”

³ tn Heb “residents.”

⁴ tn Heb “in the field, in the desert in which they chased them.”

⁵ tc Heb “and all of them fell by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed.” The LXX omits the words, “and all of them fell by the edge of the sword.” They may represent a later scribal addition.