Saul chose 3,000 of Israel’s men. Two thousand of them were with him at Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel. One thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul sent the rest back to their homes.
The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel. They had 3,000 chariots and 6,000 chariot drivers. Their soldiers were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash. It was east of Beth Aven.
They put their little children and their livestock in front of them. They also put everything else they owned in front of them. And they turned and went on their way.
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai. Ai is near Beth Aven east of Bethel. Joshua told the men,“ Go up and check out the area around Ai.” So the men went up and checked it out.