Joshua 7

1

But the Israelites acted unfaithfull in regard to the devoted things;

Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah,

took some of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel.

2

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven

to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region."

So the men went up and spied out Ai.

3

When they returned to Joshua, they said,

"Not all the people will have to go up against Ai.

Sent two or three thousand men to take it and

do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there."

4

So about three thousand men went up;

but they were routed by the men of Ai,

5

who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites

from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down

on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

6

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground

before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening.

The eleders of Israel did the same, and sprinked dust on their heads.

7

And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people

across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?

If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

8

O LORD, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?

9

The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this

and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What

then will you do for your own great name?"

10

The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on

your face?

11

Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded

them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have

stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.

12

That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they

turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to

destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy

whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

13

"Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in

preparation for; for this is what the LORD, God of Isarael,

says: That which is devoted is among you, O Isarael. You cannot

stand against your enemies until you remove it.  

14

" 'In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the

LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD

takes shall come forward family by family; and the family the LORD

takes shall come forward man by man.

15

He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire,

along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of

the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!' "

16

Early the next morning, Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes,

and Judah was taken.

17

The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He

had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and

Zimri was taken.

18

Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan

son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of

Judah, was taken.

19

Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD,

the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you

have done; do not hide it from me."

20

Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the

God of Israel. This is what I have done:

21

When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia,

two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing

fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden

in the ground inside my tent with the silver underneath.

22

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and

there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.

23

They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua

and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD.

24

Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah,

the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters,

his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had,

to the Valley of Achor.

25

Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us?

The Lord will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel

stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.

26

Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which

remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger.

Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever sinece.