Biblical places
Ai
Joshua's second conquest target, a town near Bethel. After an initial failed assault, Israel captured it with an ambush tactic (Joshua 7-8). Its exact location is still debated among archaeologists — et-Tell is the majority view, but some scholars favor Khirbet el-Maqatir since et-Tell lacks clear evidence of Late Bronze Age settlement.
Sources and location confidence
- Location confidence
- Disputed
- et-Tell / Khirbet el-Maqatir
- 31.9167, 35.2883
OpenBible.info assigns et-Tell about 55% confidence and treats it as the majority view, but a minority school supporting Khirbet el-Maqatir also exists, and the debate over its identity continues.
Related Bible passages
These are selected indexed references, not an exhaustive list of every mention in the Bible.
Joshua 7:2
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
Ezra 2:28
The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
Nehemiah 7:32
The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
Jeremiah 49:3
Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.
Joshua 7:3
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
Joshua 7:4
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
Joshua 7:5
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
Joshua 8:1
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: