Places of the Bible

Ai

Central hill country (near Bethel) · Old Testament · 2 verses

Ai was a city in the hill country near Bethel. Its name means the ruin. The name appears in Genesis in the King James text.

About Ai

Ai was a city in the hill country near Bethel. Its name means the ruin.

Its place in the story

Israel was first defeated at Ai because of Achan's sin at Jericho, and after the matter was dealt with the city was taken and destroyed. The account is one of the key episodes of the conquest under Joshua.

Ai in Scripture (KJV)

“And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.”
Genesis 12:8 (KJV)
“And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;”
Genesis 13:3 (KJV)

Where it leads

The defeat and victory at Ai show how sin brings loss and how obedience brings blessing, part of the long story that points to the perfect obedience of Christ.

Who is Jesus? · Places of the Bible

People also ask

Where is Ai in the Bible?

Ai was a city in the hill country near Bethel. Its name means the ruin. The name appears in Genesis in the King James text.

What happened at Ai?

Israel was first defeated at Ai because of Achan's sin at Jericho, and after the matter was dealt with the city was taken and destroyed. The account is one of the key episodes of the conquest under Joshua.

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Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).

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