11But the sons of Israelactedunfaithfully in regard to the thingsunder the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, tooksome of the thingsunder the ban, therefore the anger of the LORDburned against the sons of Israel.
2
Now Joshuasentmen from Jericho to Ai, which is near2Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." So the menwent up and spied out Ai.
3
They returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the peoplego up; only about two orthreethousandmen need go up to Ai; do not make all the peopletoil up there, for they are few."
4
So about threethousandmen from the peoplewent up there, but 3they fled from the men of Ai.
5
The men of Aistruckdown about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the 4hearts of the peoplemelted and became as water.
6
Then Joshua5tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his facebefore the ark of the LORDuntil the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and 6they putdust on their heads.
7
Joshuasaid, "Alas, O LordGOD, why did You everbringthispeopleover the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Ifonly we had been willing to dwellbeyond the Jordan!
8
"OLord, what can I saysinceIsrael has turned their backbefore their enemies?
9
"7For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cutoff our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your greatname?"
10
So the LORDsaid to Joshua, "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?
11
"Israel has sinned, and 8they have alsotransgressed My covenantwhich I commanded them. And they have eventakensome of the thingsunder the ban and have bothstolen and deceived. Moreover, they have alsoput them among their own things.
12
"Therefore the 9sons of Israelcannot*standbefore their enemies; they turn their backsbefore their enemies, for they have becomeaccursed. I will not be with you anymoreunless* you destroy the thingsunder the ban from your midst.
13
"Rise up! 10Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the LORD, the God of Israel, has said, "11There are thingsunder the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot*standbefore your enemiesuntil you have removed the thingsunder the ban from your midst."
14
'In the morning then you shall comenear by your tribes. And it shall be that the tribewhich12the LORDtakes by lot shall comenear by families, and the familywhich the LORDtakes shall comenear by households, and the householdwhich the LORDtakes shall comenearman by man.
15
'13It shall be that the one who is taken with the thingsunder the ban shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he 14has committed a disgracefulthing in Israel.' "
The Sin of Achan
16 So Joshuaaroseearly in the morning and broughtIsraelnear by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken.
17
He brought the family of Judahnear, and he took the family of the Zerahites; and he brought the family of the Zerahitesnearman by man, and Zabdi was taken.
18
He brought his householdnearman by man; and 15Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was taken.
19
Then Joshuasaid to Achan, "My son, I implore you, 16giveglory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and givepraise to Him; and tell me nowwhat you have done. Do not hide it from me."
20
So AchanansweredJoshua and said, "Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did:
21
when I saw among the spoil a beautifulmantle from Shinar and two hundredshekels of silver and a bar of goldfiftyshekels in weight, then I 17coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earthinside my tent with the silverunderneath it."
22
So Joshuasentmessengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was concealed in his tent with the silverunderneath it.
23
They took them from inside the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel, and they poured them out before the LORD.
24
Then Joshua and allIsrael with him, tookAchan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to 18the valley of Achor.
25
Joshuasaid, "Why have you 19troubled us? The LORD will trouble you thisday." And allIsraelstoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
26
They raisedover him a greatheap of stones that stands to thisday, and the LORDturned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore* the name of that place has been called20the valley of Achor to thisday.