1 But the people of Israel acted unfaithfully concerning what was devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was devoted to destruction, and the LORD’s anger burned against the people of Israel. 2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel. He said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up. Let about two thousand or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people by sending them there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them. They pursued them from before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent. The people’s hearts melted and became water. 6 Joshua tore his clothes. He and the elders of Israel fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening. They put dust on their heads. 7 Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan, to give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to remain beyond the Jordan! 8 Please, Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back before its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it. They will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?”

10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying facedown like this? 11 Israel has sinned. They have also broken my covenant that I commanded them. They have also taken some of what was devoted to destruction. They have also stolen, also lied, and also put it among their own belongings. 12 The people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies because they have become devoted to destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you destroy what is devoted to destruction from among you. 13 Get up, consecrate the people, and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There is something devoted to destruction among you, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you remove what is devoted to destruction from among you. 14 In the morning you must come forward by your tribes. The tribe the LORD selects must come forward by clans; the clan the LORD selects must come forward by households; and the household the LORD selects must come forward man by man. 15 The one caught with what is devoted to destruction must be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has broken the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.’ ” 16 Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel forward by its tribes, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 17 He brought the family of Judah forward and selected the Zerahite clan. He brought the Zerahite clan forward man by man, and Zabdi was selected. 18 He brought his household forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected. 19 Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Please tell me what you have done. Do not hide it from me.” 20 Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 I saw among the plunder a fine robe from Shinar, about five pounds of silver, and a gold bar weighing about twenty ounces. I coveted them and took them. There they are, hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver beneath the robe.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. There was the robe, hidden in his tent, with the silver beneath it. 23 They took the things from the middle of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the people of Israel. They laid them out before the LORD. 24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons, his daughters, his ox, his donkey, his flock, his tent, and all that belonged to him, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today.” All Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 They raised a great heap of stones over him, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. For this reason that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.