CHAPTER 7
The Israelites,
however,
acted
unfaithfully
regarding the devoted things.
Achan
son
of Carmi,
the son
of Zabdi,
the son
of Zerah,
of the tribe
of Judah,
took
some of what was set apart.
So the LORD’s
anger
burned
against the Israelites.
Meanwhile, Joshua
sent
men
from Jericho
to Ai,
which
is near
Beth-aven,
east
of Bethel,
and told them,
“Go up
and spy out
the land.”
So the men
went up
and spied out
Ai.
On returning
to
Joshua,
they reported,
“There is no need
to send all
the people;
two
or
three
thousand
men are enough
to go up
and attack
Ai.
Since
the people of Ai
are so few,
you need not
wear out
all
our people
there."
And the men
of Ai
struck down
about thirty-six of them
and chased
them from
the gate
as far as
the quarries,
striking them down
on the slopes.
So the hearts
of the people
melted
and became
like water.
Then Joshua
tore
his clothes
and fell
facedown
before
the ark
of the LORD
until
evening,
as did the elders
of Israel;
and they all sprinkled
dust
on
their heads.
“O,
Lord
GOD,”
Joshua
said,
“why
did You ever bring these
people
across
the Jordan
to hand us over to
the Amorites
to be destroyed?
If only
we had been content
to stay
on the other side
of the Jordan!
When the Canaanites
and all
who live
in the land
hear about this,
they will surround
us
and wipe out
our name
from
the earth.
Then what
will You do
for Your great
name?”
Israel
has sinned;
they have transgressed
My covenant
that
I commanded
them,
and they
have taken
some of
what was devoted.
Indeed,
they have stolen
and
lied about it,
and
they have put these things
with their own possessions.
This is why the Israelites
cannot
stand
against
their enemies.
They will turn
their backs
and run from
their enemies,
because
they have been
set apart for destruction.
I will no
longer
be
with
you unless
you remove
from among you
whatever is devoted to destruction.
Get up
and consecrate
the people,
saying,
‘Consecrate yourselves
for tomorrow,
for
this is what
the LORD,
the God
of Israel,
says:
That which is devoted
is among you,
O Israel.
You cannot
stand
against
your enemies
until
you remove
it.
In the morning
you must present yourselves
tribe by tribe.
The tribe
that
the LORD
selects
shall come forward
clan by clan,
and the clan
that
the LORD
selects
shall come forward
family by family,
and the family
that
the LORD
selects
shall come forward
man by man.
The one who is caught
with the devoted things
must be burned,
along with all
that belongs to him,
because
he has transgressed
the covenant
of the LORD
and
committed
an outrage
in Israel.”
So Joshua
arose early
the next morning
and had Israel
come forward
tribe by tribe,
and the tribe
of Judah
was selected.
He had the clans
of Judah
come forward,
and the clan
of the Zerahites
was selected.
He had the Zerahite
clan
come forward
by families,
and Zabdi
was selected.
And he had Zabdi’s family
come forward
man by man,
and Achan
son
of Carmi,
the son
of Zabdi,
the son
of Zerah,
of the tribe
of Judah,
was selected.
So Joshua
said
to
Achan,
“My son,
give
glory
to the LORD,
the God
of Israel,
and make
a confession
to Him.
I urge you
to tell
me
what
you have done;
do not
hide it
from me.”
“It is true,”
Achan
replied,
“I
have sinned
against the LORD,
the God
of Israel.
This
is what I did:
When I saw
among the spoils
a
beautiful
cloak
from Shinar,
two hundred
shekels
of silver,
and a
bar
of gold
weighing
fifty
shekels,
I coveted
them and took them.
They are
hidden
in the ground
inside
my tent,
with the silver
underneath."
So Joshua
sent
messengers
who ran
to the tent,
and there was the cloak,
hidden
in his tent,
with the silver
underneath.
They took the things
from inside
the tent,
brought
them to
Joshua
and all
the Israelites,
and spread them out
before
the LORD.
Then Joshua,
together with
all
Israel,
took
Achan
son
of Zerah,
the silver,
the cloak,
and the bar
of gold,
his sons
and daughters,
his oxen,
donkeys,
and sheep,
his tent,
and everything else
he owned,
and brought them
to the Valley
of Achor.
“Why
have you brought this trouble upon us?”
said
Joshua.
“Today
the LORD
will bring trouble upon you!”
And all
Israel
stoned him to death.
Then they stoned the others
and burned their bodies.
And they heaped
over Achan
a large
pile
of rocks
that remains to
this
day.
So the LORD
turned
from His burning anger.
Therefore
that
place
is called
the Valley
of Achor
to
this
day.