Joshua 7
The Sin of Achan
1But the ⌞Israelites⌟ ▼▼Literally “sons/children of Israel”
broke faith concerning the devoted things. ▼▼Or “consecrated possessions”
Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took from the devoted things; ▼▼Hebrew “thing” or “consecrated possession”
and ⌞Yahweh’s anger was kindled⌟ ▼▼Literally “the nose of Yahweh became hot”
against the ⌞Israelites⌟. ▼▼Literally “sons/children of Israel”
2Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven, east of Bethel, and he said to them, “Go up and spy out Ai.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up and attack Ai; only two or three thousand men should go up because they ▼▼That is, the people of Ai
are few. Do not make all the people weary up there.” 4So about three thousand from the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai. 5The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, and they chased them from the gate up to Shebarim and killed them on the slope. And the hearts ▼▼Hebrew “heart”
of the people melted and became like water. 6And Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. ▼▼Hebrew “head”
7And Joshua said, “Ah, my Lord! Why did you bring this people across the Jordan to give us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content and stayed beyond the Jordan. 8Please, my Lord! What can I say after ⌞Israel has fled from its enemies⌟? ▼▼Literally “Israel has turned its neck before its enemies”
9The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the land. What will you do, for your great name?” 10And Yahweh said to Joshua, “Stand up! ⌞Why⌟ ▼▼Literally “For what this”
have you fallen on your face? 11Israel has sinned and ⌞transgressed my covenant⌟ ▼▼Literally “crossed my covenant”
that I commanded them. They have taken from the devoted things; ▼▼Hebrew “thing” or “from the consecrated possession”
they have stolen and acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their belongings. 12The ⌞Israelites⌟ ▼▼Literally “sons/children of Israel”
were unable to stand before their enemies; ⌞they fled from their enemies⌟ ▼▼Literally “they turned their neck before their enemies”
because they have become a thing devoted ▼▼Or “consecrated”
for destruction. ⌞I will be with you no more⌟ ▼▼Literally “I will not do again to be with you”
unless you destroy the devoted things ▼▼Hebrew “thing” or “consecrated possession”
from among you. 13Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow. Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel: “There are devoted things ▼▼Hebrew “thing” or “consecrated possession”
in your midst, O Israel. You will be unable to stand before you enemies until you remove the devoted things ▼▼Hebrew “thing” or “consecrated possession”
from your midst.” 14In the morning you will come forward, ⌞tribe by tribe⌟, ▼▼Literally “according to your tribes”
and the tribe that Yahweh will select by lot will come forward by clans, and the clan that Yahweh selects by lot will come forward by families, and the family that Yahweh selects by lot will come forward one by one. 15The one caught with the devoted things ▼▼Hebrew “thing” or “consecrated possession”
will be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because ⌞he transgressed the covenant⌟ ▼▼Literally “he crossed the covenant”
of Yahweh, and because he did a disgraceful thing in Israel.” ’ ” 16So ▼▼Or “And”
Joshua rose early in the morning and brought forward Israel, ⌞tribe by tribe⌟, ▼▼Literally “according to its tribes”
and the tribe of Judah was selected by lot. 17And he brought forward the clans of Judah and selected the clan of the Zerahites ▼▼Hebrew “Zerahite”
by lot. Then he brought forward the clan of the Zerahites, ▼▼Hebrew “Zerahite”
one by one, and Zabdi was selected by lot. 18He brought forward his family, one by one, and Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected by lot. 19And Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please, give glory to Yahweh the God of Israel, and give him a doxology in court. ▼▼Some interpret “make a confession”
Tell me, please, what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20And Achan answered Joshua and said, “It is true. I have sinned against Yahweh the God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21I saw among the spoil a beautiful robe from Shinar, ▼▼“Shinar” refers to Babylonia
two hundred shekels of silver, and one bar of gold that weighed fifty shekels; I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, and the silver is under it.” 22Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there they were, hidden in his tent, and the silver was under it. 23And they took them from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the ⌞Israelites⌟. ▼▼Literally “sons/children of Israel”
And they spread them out before the presence of Yahweh. 24Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his cattle and donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything that was his, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. ▼▼Hebrew “trouble”; a valley in the Jericho region
25And Joshua said, “Why did you bring us trouble? Yahweh will bring you trouble on this day.” And all Israel stoned them ▼▼Hebrew “him”
with stones; ▼▼Hebrew “stone”
and they burned them with fire after they stoned them with stones. 26Then ⌞they placed⌟ ▼▼Literally “they raised up”
on top of him a great pile of stones that remains to this day. And Yahweh ⌞turned from his burning anger⌟, ▼▼Literally “turned from his burning nose”
and thus the name of that place to this day is called the valley of Achor. ▼▼Hebrew “trouble”; a valley in the Jericho region
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