Preparing for the conquest of Ai involves a complex military operation that blends tactical deception with intimate leadership. Setting an ambush requires exact planning to prevent early discovery, while the nighttime preparations before the battle ensure the fighters are physically and mentally ready.
The soldiers are sent to position themselves to the west, at a point closer to Ai than to the neighboring city of Bethel [רש"י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This specific location raises a practical military question: how could such a large force remain hidden without being spotted by the people of Bethel, who were coming to assist Ai? The solution lies in their timing and route. The force is dispatched two days prior to the battle, circling the region through fields and deserts to stay completely out of sight. They settle in the southwestern corner of the city, placing themselves off the main roads so they do not collide with enemy reinforcements arriving in a straight line [מלבי"ם]. Furthermore, the troops are stationed in the broader surrounding area rather than pressing directly against the city walls. This distance ensures that the sheer size of the army does not arouse the suspicion of the city's inhabitants [אלשיך].
As the battle approaches, Joshua spends the night directly among the people. The primary approach among commentators is that Joshua chooses to sleep in the middle of the camp to maintain high readiness, to wake the soldiers early the next morning, and to share in the tense moments of preparation. Beyond practical readiness, his presence serves a crucial psychological purpose. The soldiers remaining at the front lines are still disheartened and fearful from their previous defeat at Ai. By sleeping among them, Joshua seeks to strengthen their resolve, prove that God is with him, and dispel their lingering fears [אלשיך]. Adding another dimension to his actions, a tradition from the Sages connects his movement through the camp and the valley to a spiritual focus, suggesting that Joshua spends that night deeply immersed in the study of Jewish law [חומת אנך].