Joshua 7

Israel Breaks Faith in the Devoted Things

1But the children of Israel acted unfaithfully concerning what was devoted. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took from what was devoted, and the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.

Israel Is Defeated at Ai

2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-Aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” The men went up and spied out Ai. 3They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up. Let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for they are few.” 4So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them. They pursued them from before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them on the descent. Then the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

Joshua Falls Before the Ark

6Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel. They put dust on their heads. 7Joshua said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan, only to give us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to remain beyond the Jordan! 8Please, Lord, what can I say after Israel has turned its back before its enemies? 9The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear and surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”

The LORD Reveals Israel’s Sin

10The LORD said to Joshua, “Rise! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? 11Israel has sinned. They have also transgressed my covenant that I commanded them. They have taken from what was devoted, and they have stolen, and they have deceived, and they have put it among their own goods. 12Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies because they have become devoted to destruction. I will not continue to be with you unless you destroy what is devoted from among you. 13Rise, consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: There is something devoted in your midst, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you remove what is devoted from your midst. 14In the morning you shall draw near by your tribes. The tribe that the LORD takes shall draw near by clans; the clan that the LORD takes shall draw near by households; and the household that the LORD takes shall draw near man by man. 15The one who is taken with what is devoted shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’”

Achan Is Identified

16So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17He brought the clans of Judah near, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. He brought the clan of the Zerahites near man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18He brought his household near man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him praise. Tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21When I saw among the plunder a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and one bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I desired them and took them. Look, they are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” 22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. Look, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23They took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the children of Israel, and poured them out before the LORD.

The Valley of Achor

24Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen, donkeys, sheep, tent, and all that he had, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25Joshua said, “Why have you brought trouble upon us? The LORD will bring trouble upon you this day.” Then all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore the name of that place was called the Valley of Achor to this day.