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Ai

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

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Ai (Joshua 7:2; Genesis 12:8; Nehemiah 11:31; Isaiah 10:28), a royal city of the Canaanites, which lay east of Bethel. It existed in the time of Abraham, who pitched his tent between the two cities (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3); but it is chiefly noted for its capture and destruction by Joshua (Joshua 7:2-5; Joshua 8:1-29). At a later period Ai was rebuilt, and is mentioned by Isaiah (Isaiah 10:28) and also after the Captivity. The site was known, and some scanty ruins still existed in the time of Eusebius and Jerome, but Dr. Robinson was unable to discover any certain traces of either.