# let themselves be defeated before them

"let themselves be defeated before the people of Ai." The phrase "before them" represents what the people of Ai would see and think. AT: "let the people of Ai think that the Israelites were defeated" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# let themselves be defeated before them

The phrase "be defeated" can be stated in active form. AT: "let the people of Ai think that they had defeated the Israelites" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# before them ... they went after ... they were drawn away

The words "them" and "they" here refer to the army of Ai.

# they fled ... go after them

The words "they" and "them" here refer to the army of Isreal.