Joshua 7:2-5

2Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven.

3When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.”

4So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai

5chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.