1 But the children of Israel were unfaithful with regard to the devoted things. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was devoted, and the LORD's anger blazed against the children of Israel.
2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which lies near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and scout the land." So the men went up and scouted Ai.
3 When they came back to Joshua, they told him, "There is no need for all the people to go up. Have about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not wear out the whole army going up there, because the people of Ai are few."
4 So about three thousand men from the army went up there, but they ran from the men of Ai.
5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from the city gate as far as Shebarim, striking them down on the slope. The hearts of the people melted and turned to water.
6 Joshua tore his clothes and lay facedown on the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel, and they threw dust on their heads.
7 Joshua said, "Oh, Lord GOD, why did you bring this people across the Jordan at all, only to hand us over to the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been willing to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
8 Please, Lord, what can I say now that Israel has turned and run from its enemies?
9 When the Canaanites and everyone else in the land hear of it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the earth. Then what will you do for your great name?"
10 The LORD answered Joshua, "Stand up! Why are you lying on your face?
11 Israel has sinned. They have broken my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, and they have put them with their own possessions.
12 That is why the children of Israel cannot stand up to their enemies. They turn and run from their enemies, because they themselves have become devoted to destruction. I will not be with you any longer unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted.
13 Go, sanctify the people. Tell them, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand up to your enemies until you remove the devoted things from among you.'
14 In the morning come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe the LORD selects is to come forward clan by clan; the clan the LORD selects is to come forward family by family; and the family the LORD selects is to come forward man by man.
15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things is to be burned with fire, along with all that belongs to him, for he has broken the covenant of the LORD and committed a disgraceful act in Israel."
16 Joshua got up early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
17 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward man by man, and Zabdi was selected.
18 He had Zabdi's family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."
20 Achan replied to Joshua, "It is true. I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
21 Among the spoil I saw a beautiful robe from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are buried in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
22 Joshua sent messengers, who 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 children of Israel, and spread them out before the LORD.
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen, donkeys, and sheep, his tent, and everything he owned, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.
25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought disaster on us? Today the LORD will bring disaster on you." Then all Israel stoned him. They burned them with fire and pelted them with stones.
26 Over him they piled up a large heap of stones, which is still there today. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. That is why that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.