1But the people of Israel did wrong by taking some of the things that were set apart for destruction. Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of these forbidden items. As a result, Yahweh became very angry with the people of Israel.
2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven, east of Bethel. He told them, "Go up and explore the land." So the men went up and explored Ai.
3They returned to Joshua and told him, "Not all the people need to go. Send only about two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Don't make everyone work hard there, because there are only a few people in Ai."
4So about three thousand men from the Israelite army went up to Ai, but they ran away from the men of Ai.
5The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from the city gate all the way to Shebarim, attacking them on the way down. The Israelites lost all courage and their hearts melted with fear.
6Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down on the ground before Yahweh's Ark until evening. He and the elders of Israel put dust on their heads.
7Joshua said, "Oh, Lord Yahweh, why did you bring us across the Jordan River at all? Was it to hand us over to the Amorites to be destroyed? I wish we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!"
8"Oh, Lord, what can I say now that Israel has run away from its enemies!"
9"The Canaanites and all the other people living in this land will hear about it. They will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What will you do then to protect your great name?"
10Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying there on your face?"
11Israel has sinned. They have broken the agreement I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the things that were set apart for destruction, and they have stolen them, lied about it, and hidden them among their own possessions.
12That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They turn their backs and run because they themselves have become subject to destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove the devoted things from among you.
13"Get up! Prepare the people and tell them, 'Cleanse yourselves for tomorrow, because Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove these devoted things from among you.'
14"So in the morning you will be brought forward by your tribes. The tribe that Yahweh chooses will come forward by families. The family that Yahweh chooses will come forward by households. The household that Yahweh chooses will come forward one man at a time.
15It will happen that the person caught with the forbidden goods, along with everything he owns, will be burned with fire. This is because he has broken Yahweh's agreement and has done a shameful thing in Israel."
16So Joshua got up early in the morning and brought Israel forward by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was chosen.
17He brought forward the families of Judah, and the family of the Zerahites was chosen. He brought forward the families of the Zerahites one man at a time, and Zabdi was chosen.
18He brought forward Zabdi's household one man at a time, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was chosen.
19Joshua said to Achan, "My son, please honor Yahweh, the God of Israel, and confess to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don't hide it from me!"
20Achan answered Joshua, "I have truly sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and this is what I did.
21Among the loot, I saw a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred units of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty units. I wanted them, so I 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. Indeed, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.
23They took the items from the middle of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the people of Israel. They laid them down before Yahweh.
24Joshua and all of Israel with him took Achan, the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything he owned; and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
25Joshua said, "Why have you brought trouble on us? Yahweh will bring trouble on you today." Then all of Israel stoned him with stones, and they burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
26They piled a large heap of stones over him, which is still there today. Then Yahweh turned from his burning anger. That is why that place has been called "The Valley of Achor" to this day.