Israel Defeated at Ai

Joshua 7

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?"

  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.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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