And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
All the people who were in the city of Ai were called together to chase after them. They pursued Joshua and his army, and in doing so, they were drawn away from their city.
The writer is describing how all the soldiers in Ai fell for Israel's trap by chasing after Joshua's forces and leaving their city undefended.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites were conquering the Promised Land as part of God's promise to give it to them after their exodus from Egypt. After an earlier defeat at Ai due to sin among the Israelites, Joshua led a strategic ambush by pretending to flee, which lured the people of Ai out of their city to chase his forces. This verse highlights that moment when the inhabitants of Ai abandoned their defenses, making the city ripe for capture.
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