Papa Hand Ai Give Israel
Our Papa give Ai to dem the second time, through ambush and as dem pretend say dem dey run, and dem hang its king. Then, wey e be like say e no fit for there between the battles, the whole assembly — including foreigners — stand for two mountains while dem read every word of the law, blessing and curse, loud.
8 1Den our Papa tell Joshua say, “No fear, no make your heart weak. Carry all di fighting men wey dey with you go up to Ai. I don hand di king of Ai, im people, im city, and im land give you. 2Do Ai and im king wetin you do Jericho and im king—keep di plunder and di animal dem. Set ambush for back di city.”
3Joshua and all di fighting men comot go Ai. E pick 30,000 strong warrior, e send dem comot for night. 4E command dem say, “Wait for ambush for back di city—no go too far. All of una, dey alert. 5Me and all my people go near di city. Wen dem comot come face us like before, we go run for dem front. 6Dem go comot follow us come until we don draw dem comot far from di city, because dem go talk say, ‘Dem dey run for our front like before.’ Den we go run from dem. 7Rise from di ambush, seize di city, because your Papa go hand am give you. 8Wen you don take di city, set am on fire. Do wetin our Papa command. Look—I don command you.”
9Joshua send dem comot, and dem go di ambush place, dem wait between Bethel and Ai, for west of Ai, but e stay dat night among di people. 10Joshua wake early, e gather di people, and with di elders of Israel e lead dem go up to Ai. 11All im fighting men comot, dem move forward until dem reach direct opposite di city, and dem camp for north of Ai, with valley between dem and Ai. 12E take about 5,000 men, e set ambush between Bethel and Ai, for west of di city. 13So dem station di people—di whole camp for north of di city, im rear guard for west of am—and dat night Joshua go inside di middle of di valley. 14Wen di king of Ai see dis, di men of di city wake early and rush comot go meet Israel for battle, for di appointed place wey face di Arabah—him and all im people. E no know say ambush dey wait for back di city. a a v14 Di Arabah na di deep low land of Jordan Valley wey run go south from di Sea of Galilee towards di Dead Sea. 15Joshua and all Israel allow dem drive dem back, and dem run go di wilderness side. 16Dem call all di people wey dey inside di city make dem pursue dem; dem pursue Joshua and dem draw dem comot far from di city. 17No man remain for Ai or Bethel wey no comot go pursue Israel; dem leave di city open and dem pursue Israel.
18Den our Papa tell Joshua say, “Stretch di javelin wey dey your hand towards Ai—I go hand am give you.” So Joshua stretch di javelin wey dey im hand towards di city.
19Di moment wey e raise im hand, di ambush rise from dem position, dem run go inside di city, dem seize am, and dem quick set am on fire. 20Di men of Ai turn, dem see di smoke of di city dey rise go sky, and dem no get any way to run, because di people wey dey run go di wilderness don turn back on di ones wey dey pursue dem. 21Wen Joshua and all Israel see say di ambush don capture di city, and say im smoke dey rise, dem turn back and dem strike down di men of Ai. 22Di rest comot from di city come meet dem, dem trap di men of Ai between Israel for both side. Israel strike dem until nobody survive or escape. 23But di king of Ai dem take am alive and bring am go Joshua.
24Wen Israel finish to kill all di people wey dey Ai for di open field and for di wilderness where dem chase dem, and all don fall by di sword until nobody remain, all Israel return go Ai and strike am with di sword. 25All wey fall dat day, both men and women, na 12,000—all di people of Ai. 26Joshua keep im javelin raise up until e don devote to destruction all di people wey dey Ai. 27Israel keep only di animal dem and di plunder of dat city, as our Papa command Joshua. 28So Joshua burn Ai and make am heap of ruin wey go stay forever, a desolate place until today. 29E hang di king of Ai for tree until evening. For sunset Joshua order say make dem bring im body come down and throw am for di entrance of di city gate, and dem raise big heap of stone on top am—wey still dey dia today.
Israel Renew di Covenant of our Papa
30Den Joshua build altar for our Papa, di God of Israel, for Mount Ebal, 31just as Moses, di servant of our Papa, don command di people of Israel—as dem write am for di Book of di Law of Moses—an altar of stone wey dem no cut, wey iron no touch. On top am dem offer burnt offering give our Papa and dem sacrifice peace offering. 32Dia, before di people of Israel, e write on di stone dem copy of di law of Moses, wey Moses don write. 33All Israel—foreigner and di one wey born for di land, dem all—with elders, officers, and judges, stand for both side of di ark, dey face di Levite priests wey carry di ark of di Covenant of our Papa. Half face Mount Gerizim, half face Mount Ebal, as Moses di servant of our Papa don command before, to bless di people of Israel. 34Den e read all di words of di law—di blessing and di curse—exactly as dem write am for di Book of di Law. 35Joshua read every word wey Moses don command—e no leave anytin out—before di whole assembly of Israel: women, children, and di foreigners wey dey live among dem.
