Got ready translates the Hebrew verb “rise” (see Revised Standard Version). This verb is often used in the Old Testament as an auxiliary which means to prepare to do something or to begin doing something; it does not mean, as the English verb “arise” implies, that the subject has been sitting or lying down (see also in verse 1 “and arise, go up to Ai,” Revised Standard Version; Good News Translation go on up to Ai). See 1.2.

So Joshua got ready to go to Ai with all his soldiers may give two false implications: (1) got ready to go may imply that he made preparations but did not go; and (2) with all his soldiers could suggest that Joshua himself was leading the entire force as a unit to attack the city. Since, as indicated in the previous paragraph, the Hebrew verb rendered got ready frequently functions merely as an auxiliary of the main verb, it is not necessary always to represent it in translation. Therefore “got ready to go up” may even mean “went up” (see the comment on “go up” in verse 1). These two potential problems may be resolved, and a smooth transition made from the previous verse, if this verse is begun as follows: “So before Joshua went up against Ai with his main force, he picked out thirty thousand of his best troops. Then he sent them out at night 4 and told them….”

Joshua selects thirty thousand of his best soldiers and tells them to lie in ambush west of the city, not very far from it. This seems to be a very large number (see in verse 12 where only about five thousand men are actually stationed there). Gray thinks that thirty thousand may be a scribal error for three thousand, and a few translations place three thousand in the text, with a footnote: “Hebrew thirty thousand.” From the Israelite camp at Gilgal to Ai was about 25 kilometers.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .