Joshua 7

7 ¹ Israel broke faith with what was devoted to destruction: Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of Judah's tribe, took some of it. So our Father's anger burned against Israel. ^a a v1 When something was 'devoted to destruction,' it was entirely claimed by God — no one was permitted to keep any part of it for themselves. ² Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, saying, "Go up and scout the land." They went up and scouted Ai.

³ They returned and told Joshua, "Not everyone needs to go up. Send about two or three thousand men to attack Ai; don't wear out all the people—they are few." ⁴ So about three thousand of the people went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. ⁵ Ai's men struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate to the quarries, striking them on the descent. The people's hearts melted, turning to water. ⁶ Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of our Father until evening, he and Israel's elders, and they threw dust on their heads. ⁷ Joshua said, "Oh, Sovereign Father, why did you bring this people across the Jordan, only to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us? If only we'd been content to stay beyond the Jordan!" ⁸ Please, Sovereign Father, what can I say, now that Israel has turned and fled from its enemies? ⁹ The Canaanites and all who live in the land will hear, surround us, and erase our name from the earth. Then what will you do for your great name?

¹⁰ Our Father said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned, breaking my covenant I commanded them. They took some devoted things, stole, lied, and put them among their own belongings. ¹² So Israel can't stand before its enemies—they turn their backs before them, because they are now devoted to destruction. I won't be with you again unless you destroy what is devoted to destruction among you. ¹³ Get up! Dedicate the people. Tell them: Dedicate yourselves for tomorrow, for our Father, the God of Israel, says: Devoted things are among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. ¹⁴ In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe our Father selects comes forward clan by clan; the clan he selects comes forward family by family; the family he selects comes forward man by man. ¹⁵ Whoever is caught with the devoted things will be burned with fire—him and all he has—for violating our Father's covenant and doing a disgraceful thing in Israel.'"

¹⁶ Joshua rose early and brought Israel near by tribes; Judah's tribe was picked. ¹⁷ He brought Judah's clans forward; the Zerahite clan was taken. He brought the Zerahite clan forward, family by family; Zabdi was taken. ¹⁸ Joshua brought his household forward, man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of Judah's tribe, was caught. ¹⁹ Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to our Father, the God of Israel, and give him praise. Tell me now what you've done—don't hide it from me."

²⁰ Achan answered Joshua, "Truly, I have sinned against our Father, the God of Israel. This is what I did: ²¹ Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Shinar, about five pounds of silver, and a gold bar weighing about 1.2 pounds. I wanted them and took them; they're hidden in my tent floor, the silver underneath.

²² Joshua sent messengers; they ran to the tent and found it hidden in his tent, silver underneath. ²³ They took them from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all Israel's sons, and set them out before our Father. ²⁴ Joshua and all Israel took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, tent, and all he owned, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor. ²⁵ Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? Our Father will trouble you today." And all Israel stoned Achan with stones, then burned him and his possessions with fire, and stoned them with stones. ²⁶ They piled a great heap of stones over him, there to this day. Then our Father turned from his burning anger. So that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day. ^b b v26 'Achor' means 'trouble' — the valley was named to mark the disaster Achan's sin brought on Israel.