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.
Ver. 2. To Ai.] Called elsewhere Hai, and Aija; Gen 12:8 Neh 11:31 by the Septuagint, Gae; by Sulpitius, Geth.
Which is beside Bethavon, on the east side of Bethel.] This Bethel, when Jeroboam had defiled it with his idolatry, is in scorn called Bethaven, the house of vanity. Hosea 4:15 ; Hosea 10:5 ; 2Ki 23:13 Har hamishca, Mount Olivet, is for the like cause called in derision Har hamaschith, the Mount of Corruption.