And he commanded them, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready.
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 commanded them, saying,.... At the time he sent them away: behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city; that is, on the west side of it, Jos 8:9, go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready; to enter into it, as soon as the forces are drawn out eastward to meet the army of Israel.
behind the city--is rendered (Jos 8:9), "on the west side of Ai."