Joshua 8:18-20

International Standard Version

¹⁸ Then the Lord told Joshua, “Stretch out the battle lance^[a] that’s in your hand toward Ai, because I will give it into your control.” So Joshua stretched out the battle lance^[b] that was in his hand toward the city. ¹⁹ As soon as he stretched out his hand, the troops in ambush quickly got up from their place of hiding^[c] and attacked. They entered the city, seized it, and immediately set it^[d] on fire.

²⁰ Then the men of Ai looked back behind them—and all of a sudden!—smoke from the city was rising into the sky. They were unable to run in any direction, because the Israelis^[e] who had fled toward the wilderness had turned around to attack their pursuers.