² Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai,^(A) which is near Beth Aven^(B) to the east of Bethel,^(C) and told them, “Go up and spy out^(D) the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

²³ So on that day the Lord saved^(A) Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.^(B)

⁵ The Philistines assembled^(A) to fight Israel, with three thousand^[a] chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand^(B) on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash,^(C) east of Beth Aven.^(D)

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.^(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.^(B)

⁸ From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel^(A) and pitched his tent,^(B) with Bethel on the west and Ai^(C) on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.^(D)