He took about five thousand men and put them in hiding west of the city, between Ai and Bethel.

Joshua sent some men from Jericho to Ai, a city east of Bethel, near Bethaven, with orders to go and explore the land. When they had done so,

After that, he moved on south to the hill country east of the city of Bethel and set up his camp between Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There also he built an altar and worshiped the LORD.

(SEE 2:21)

(SEE 7:26)

He sent the gifts on ahead of him and spent that night in camp.