John Gill Commentary Joshua 8:11

"And all the people, [even] the [men of] war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and encamped on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between him and Ai." — Joshua 8:11 (ASV)

And all the people, [even the people] of war that [were] with
him, and went up, and drew nigh
To the city of Ai:

and came before the city ;
as if they intended to besiege it, storm it, or force an entrance into it:

and pitched on the north side of Ai ;
which was judged fittest for the purpose:

now [there was] a valley between them and Ai ;
which the Rabbins call the valley of Halacah, as Jarchi says; so that they were upon a hill, at least on rising ground, and might the more easily be seen by the inhabitants of Ai, whom they wanted to draw out of their city.