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APRIL 9
about three thousand men went up there from because he has transgressed the covenant of
the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. the LORD, and because he has done a dis-
5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty- graceful thing in Israel.’ ”
six men, for they chased them from before the 16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and
gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of
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down on the descent; therefore the hearts of Judah was taken. He brought the clan of
the people melted and became like water. Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites;
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the and he brought the family of the Zarhites man
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earth on his face before the ark of the LORD by man, and Zabdi was taken. Then he
until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and brought his household man by man, and
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they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the
“Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us 19 Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg
into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and
Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on make confession to Him, and tell me now what
the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
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shall I say when Israel turns its back before its 20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, “In-
enemies? For the Canaanites and all the deed I have sinned against the LORD God of
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inhabitants of the land will hear it, and sur- Israel, and this is what I have done: When I
round us, and cut off our name from the earth. saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian
Then what will You do for Your great name?” garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a
wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I cov-
eted them and took them. And there they are,
hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent,
with the silver under it.”
7:9 what will You do for Your great name?
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran
The main issue is the glory and honor of God
(see Daniel’s prayer in Dan. 9:16–19). to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent,
with the silver under it. And they took them
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from the midst of the tent, brought them to
Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and
10 So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why laid them out before the LORD. Then Joshua,
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do you lie thus on your face? Israel has and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of
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sinned, and they have also transgressed My Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of
covenant which I commanded them. For they gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his
have even taken some of the accursed things, donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he
and have both stolen and deceived; and they had, and they brought them to the Valley of
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have also put it among their own stuff. Achor. And Joshua said, “Why have you trou-
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not bled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.”
stand before their enemies, but turned their So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they
backs before their enemies, because they burned them with fire after they had stoned
have become doomed to destruction. Neither them with stones.
will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy 26 Then they raised over him a great heap of
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the accursed from among you. Get up, sanc- stones, still there to this day. So the LORD
tify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves turned from the fierceness of His anger.
for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD Therefore the name of that place has been
God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in called the Valley of Achor to this day.
your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before Now the LORD said to Joshua: “Do not be
your enemies until you take away the 8 afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the peo-
accursed thing from among you.” In the ple of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See,
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morning therefore you shall be brought I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his
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according to your tribes. And it shall be that people, his city, and his land. And you shall do
the tribe which the LORD takes shall come to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its
according to families; and the family which king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take
the LORD takes shall come by households; and as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the
the household which the LORD takes shall city behind it.”
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come man by man. Then it shall be that he 3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war,
who is taken with the accursed thing shall be to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty
burned with fire, he and all that he has, thousand mighty men of valor and sent them
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