Joshua 7

Israel Defeated at Ai

1 But the children of Israel 1 committed a a trespass regarding the b accursed 2 things, for c Achan the son of Carmi, the son of 3 Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and spy out the country." So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few." 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, d but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore e the 4 hearts of the people melted and became like water.

6 Then Joshua f tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they g put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord 5 GOD, h why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all - to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 "O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its 6 back before its enemies? 9 "For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and i cut off our name from the earth. Then j what will You do for Your great name?"

The Sin of Achan

10 So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. k For they have even taken some of the 7 accursed things, and have both stolen and l deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 m "Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because n they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 "Get up, o sanctify 8 the people, and say, p 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." 14 'In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which q the LORD takes shall come according to families; and the family which the LORD takes shall come by households; and the household which the LORD takes shall come man by man. 15 r 'Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has s transgressed 9 the covenant of the LORD, and because he t has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.' "

16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, u was taken. 19 Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, v give glory to the LORD God of Israel, w and make confession to Him, and x tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me." 20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed y I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 21 "When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I 10 coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it."

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. 23 And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 24 Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and z all that he had, and they brought them to a the Valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, b "Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day." c So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. 26 Then they d raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So e the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called f the Valley of 11 Achor 12 to this day.

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 7:20
    And Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done:
    Joshua 7:21
    "When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it."
  2. Cross References
    Joshua 6:17 - 19
    Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
  3. Cross References
    Joshua 22:20
    'Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.'"
  4. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:17
    I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you.
    Deuteronomy 28:25
    The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth.
  5. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:36
    And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a shaken leaf shall cause them to flee; they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues.
    Joshua 2:9
    And said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
    Joshua 2:11
    And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 37:29
    Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
    Genesis 37:34
    Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 4:12
    Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 17:3
    And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?
    Numbers 21:5
    And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:26
    I would have said, "I will dash them in pieces, I will make the memory of them to cease from among men.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 32:12
    Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, 'He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people.
    Numbers 14:13
    And Moses said to the LORD: "Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them.
  11. Cross References
    Joshua 6:17 - 19
    Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
  12. Cross References
    Acts 5:1
    But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
    Acts 5:2
    And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
  13. Cross References
    Judges 2:14
    And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
  14. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:26
    Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.
    Haggai 2:13
    And Haggai said, "If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?" So the priests answered and said, "It shall be unclean.
    Haggai 2:14
    Then Haggai answered and said, " 'So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,' says the LORD, 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.
  15. Cross References
    Exodus 19:10
    Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
  16. Cross References
    Joshua 3:5
    And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
  17. Cross References
    Proverbs 16:33
    The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
  18. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:38
    And Saul said, "Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.
    1 Samuel 14:39
    For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But not a man among all the people answered him.
  19. Cross References
    Joshua 7:11
    Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 34:7
    And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.
    Judges 20:6
    So I took hold of my concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because they committed lewdness and outrage in Israel.
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:42
    And Saul said, "Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me." So Jonathan was taken.
  22. Cross References
    1 Samuel 6:5
    Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.
    Jeremiah 13:16
    Give glory to the LORD your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death And makes it dense darkness.
    John 9:24
    So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.
  23. Cross References
    Numbers 5:6
    Speak to the children of Israel: 'When a man or...
    Numbers 5:7
    Then he shall confess the sin which he has comm...
    2 Chronicles 30:22
    And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levi...
    Ezra 10:10
    Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them,...
    Ezra 10:11
    "Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God...
    Psalms 32:5
    I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I...
    Proverbs 28:13
    He who covers his sins will not prosper, But wh...
    Jeremiah 3:12
    Go and proclaim these words toward the north, a...
    Jeremiah 3:13
    Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have t...
    Daniel 9:4
    And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confe...
  24. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:43
    Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, and said, "I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!
  25. Cross References
    Numbers 22:34
    And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.
    1 Samuel 15:24
    Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
  26. Cross References
    Numbers 16:32
    And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.
    Numbers 16:33
    So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
    Daniel 6:24
    And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions - them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
  27. Cross References
    Joshua 7:26
    Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.
    Joshua 15:7
    Then the border went up toward Debir from the Valley of Achor, and it turned northward toward Gilgal, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. The border continued toward the waters of En Shemesh and ended at En Rogel.
  28. Cross References
    Joshua 6:18
    And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
    1 Chronicles 2:7
    The son of Carmi was Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the accursed thing.
    Galatians 5:12
    I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
  29. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 17:5
    Then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman with stones.
  30. Cross References
    Joshua 8:29
    And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raise over it a great heap of stones that remains to this day.
    2 Samuel 18:17
    And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.
    Lamentations 3:53
    They silenced my life in the pit And threw stones at me.
  31. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 13:17
    So none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers.
  32. Cross References
    Joshua 7:24
    Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
    Isaiah 65:10
    Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, And the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, For My people who have sought Me.
    Hosea 2:15
    I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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