Joshua 8:24

“And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai, etc.] That came out against them: in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them; both in the arable lands that were sown with corn, and now clothed with it, the wheat especially, not being gathered in, as not yet ripe, and in the pasture ground, designed by the wilderness, (see <060815>Joshua 8:15); so Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it: and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword; and were slain by it: until they were consumed; and not one left: that all the Israelites returned unto Ai; both the ambush that came out of it, and the army that came against it: and smote it with the edge…”

“all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword--the women, children, and old persons left behind, amounting, in all, to twelve thousand people [Jos 8:25].”

“Smote it - That is, the inhabitants of it, the men, who through age or infirmity were unfit for war, and the women, Jos 8:25. Joshua 8:25”

“returned unto Ai: This must refer to the women, children, and old persons left behind; for it seems that all the effective men had sallied out when they imagined the Israelites had fled ( Jos 8:16). Jos 10:30-41, Jos 11:10-14; Num 21:24 Joshua 8:26”