Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? [Am] I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.

And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them [from] before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all -- to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!

But You have cast [us] off and put us to shame, And You do not go out with our armies.

You make us turn back from the enemy, And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves.

For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place.

Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we have been brought very low.

Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance.

And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them.

Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD;