Joshua 7

Israel is Defeated at Ai

7Later, the Israelites broke their promise regarding the things that had been turned over to destruction. Carmi's son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah from the tribe of Judah, appropriated some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. As a result, the Lord became angry with the Israelites.H1121H3478H4603H4604H2764H5912H1121H3756H1121H2067H1121H2226H4294H3063H3947H2764H639H3068H2734H1121H34782Meanwhile, Joshua had sent some soldiers from Jericho to Ai, which was near Beth-aven, east of Bethel. He ordered them, "Go up and scout the land." So the soldiers went up and scouted Ai andH3091H7971H582H3405H5857H5973H1007H6924H1008H559H559H5927H7270H776H582H5927H7270H58573returned to Joshua. "Not all of the people need to go up," they reported. "Only about two or three thousand men should attack Ai. Since they are so few, don't make all of the army work hard up there."H7725H3091H559H5971H5927H7969H505H376H5927H5221H5857H5971H3021H45924So about three thousand went up there, but they ran away from the men of Ai.H5927H5971H7969H505H376H5127H6440H582H58575The men of Ai killed about 36 of them, pursuing them outside the city gates as far as Shebarim, killing them as they descended. As a result, the army became terrified and lost their confidence.H582H5857H5221H7970H8337H376H7291H6440H8179H7671H5221H4174H3824H5971H4549H43256At this, Joshua tore his clothes, fell down to the ground on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening - he and the leaders of Israel - and they covered their heads with dust.H3091H7167H8071H5307H776H6440H6440H727H3068H6153H2205H3478H5927H6083H72187"Lord God," Joshua asked, "Why have you brought this people across the Jordan River?To hand us over to the Amorites so we'll be destroyed?Wouldn't it have been better for us to be content to settle on the other side of the Jordan?H3091H559H162H136H3069H5674H5674H5971H5674H3383H5414H3027H567H6H3863H2974H3427H5676H33838Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has run away from its enemies?H994H136H559H310H3478H2015H6203H6440H3419The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, will surround us, and eliminate us from the earth! Then what will you do about your great reputation?"5H3669H3427H776H8085H5437H3772H8034H776H6213H1419H8034

The Lord Rebukes Joshua

10"Get up!" the Lord replied to Joshua. "Why have you fallen on your face?H3068H559H3091H6965H5307H644011Israel has sinned. They broke my covenant that I commanded them by taking some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. They have stolen, have been deceitful, and have stored what they stole among their own belongings.H3478H2398H5674H1285H6680H3947H2764H1589H3584H7760H362712The Israelites have been unable to stand before their enemies. They're turning their backs and running from their enemies because they themselves have been turned over to destruction. I will not be with you any more unless you destroy these things that have been turned over to destruction.H1121H3478H3201H6965H6440H341H6437H6203H6440H341H2764H3254H3808H8045H2764H713013So get up and sanctify the people. Tell them, 'Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, because this is what the Lord God of Israel, says: "There are things turned over to destruction among you, Israel. You won't be able to defeat your enemies until you remove what has been turned over to destruction."'H6965H6942H5971H559H6942H4279H559H3068H430H3478H2764H7130H3478H3201H6965H6440H341H5493H2764H713014"Tomorrow morning you are to come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe that the Lord selects shall come forward by clans, the clan that the Lord selects shall come forward by households, and the household that the Lord selects shall come forward one by one.H1242H7126H7626H7626H3068H3920H7126H4940H4940H3068H3920H7126H1004H1004H3068H3920H7126H1397H139715The one selected as having taken what has been turned over to destruction shall be cremated, along with everything that pertains to him, because he has transgressed against the covenant of the Lord and committed an outrageous thing in Israel."H3920H2764H8313H784H5674H1285H3068H6213H5039H3478

Achan’s Sin Revealed

16So Joshua got up early that morning, brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.H3091H7925H1242H7126H3478H7626H7626H3063H392017He brought near the clans of Judah, and the Zerahite clan was selected. Then he brought near the Zerahite clan family by family, and the household of Zabdi was selected.H7126H4940H3063H3920H4940H2227H7126H4940H2227H1397H1397H2067H392018ext, he brought near his household one by one, and Carmi's son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah, was selected from the tribe of Judah.177H7126H1004H1397H1397H5912H1121H3756H1121H2067H1121H2226H4294H3063H392019Joshua then spoke to Achan, "My son, give glory and praise to the Lord God of Israel. Tell me right now what you did. Don't hide anything."H3091H559H5912H1121H7760H3519H3068H430H3478H5414H8426H5046H6213H358220Achan answered Joshua, "It's true. I'm the one who sinned against the Lord God of Israel.H5912H6030H3091H559H546H2398H3068H430H3478H621321I noticed among the war spoils a beautiful mantle from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. Because I wanted them, I took them, and they're buried in the ground inside my tent. The silver is underneath."H7200H7998H259H2896H8152H155H3967H8255H3701H259H3956H2091H2572H8255H4948H2530H3947H2934H776H8432H168H370122So Joshua sent some messengers, who ran to the tent. And there it was, hidden in the tent with the silver underneath.H3091H7971H4397H7323H168H2934H168H370123They took the things from the tent that had been turned over to destruction, brought them to Joshua and all of the Israelites, and lay them out in the presence of the Lord.H3947H8432H168H935H3091H1121H3478H3332H6440H306824Then Joshua, with all Israel accompanying him, took Zerah's son Achan, along with the silver, the mantle, the gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything that belonged to him to the Valley of Achor.H3091H3478H3947H5912H1121H2226H3701H155H3956H2091H1121H1323H7794H2543H6629H168H5927H6010H591125Joshua announced, "Why did you bring trouble to us?Today the Lord is bringing trouble to you!" So all Israel stoned him to death, cremated them, buried them with stones,H3091H559H4100H5916H3068H5916H3117H3478H7275H68H8313H784H5619H6826piling up a large mound of boulders that remains to this day. After this, the Lord turned his burning anger away, and that is why that place is called "the Valley of Achor" to this day.H6965H1419H1530H68H3117H3068H7725H2740H639H8034H4725H7121H6010H5911H3117