He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
We have here an account of the taking of Ai by stratagem. The stratagem here used, we are sure, was lawful and good; God himself appointed it, and we have no reason to think but that the like is lawful and good in other wars.
Commenting on Joshua 8:3-22
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush,.... This was another ambush, as both Jarchi and Kimchi observe; and the latter adds, perhaps he set them nearer the city than the former; though some are of opinion that these are the same ambush spoken of, whose number is here given, being set on the same side of the city...
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. (e) He sent these few, that the others who lay in ambush might not be discovered.