²⁵ And the townsmen of Shechem put secret watchers on the tops of the mountains, and they made attacks on all who went by on the road and took their goods; and word of this came to Abimelech.

⁴ And he gave them their orders, saying, Go and take up your position secretly at the back of the town: do not go very far away, and let all of you be ready:

¹² And taking about five thousand men, he put them in position for a surprise attack on the west side of Ai, between Beth-el and Ai.

¹³ So all the people were in their places, the army on the north side of the town and the secret force on the west; and that night Joshua went down into the valley.

¹¹ If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause;

¹² Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death;