And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
The other Israelite soldiers came out of the city to attack them from behind. So the enemy was trapped in the middle, with Israelites on both sides surrounding them. The Israelites struck them down completely, leaving no survivors or anyone who could escape.
The writer is describing how Israel's military strategy perfectly trapped their enemies, resulting in complete victory with no survivors.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Joshua, the Israelites were conquering the Promised Land under God's command after their exodus from Egypt. After an initial defeat at Ai due to sin in the camp, Joshua devised a strategy involving an ambush as instructed by God. This verse depicts the successful encirclement and total destruction of Ai's forces, fulfilling God's judgment on the Canaanites for their wickedness.
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