The Defeat at Ai
The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. 1 Achan 2son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, 3 the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites. Jos 22:20Ecc 9:181Ch 2:6-71Ch 21:7Jos 22:18Jos 7:20-21Jon 1:7Jos 22:16
Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. Jos 18:121Sa 13:51Sa 14:23Hos 4:15Gen 12:8Mat 10:16Pro 20:18Pro 24:6
On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.” Heb 6:11-122Pe 1:102Pe 1:5Heb 4:11Luk 13:24Pro 13:4Pro 21:25
So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. Deu 28:25Lev 26:17Deu 32:30Isa 30:17Isa 59:2 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries 4and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Jos 2:11Jos 2:9Lev 26:36Deu 1:44Ezk 21:7Isa 13:7Jos 5:1Nam 2:10
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads. Gen 37:29Gen 37:342Sa 13:31Lam 2:10Num 14:6Rev 18:19Act 14:14Est 4:1
“O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Heb 12:52Ki 3:10Exo 14:11-12Exo 16:3Exo 17:3Exo 5:22-23Jer 12:1-2Jos 1:2-4 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? Rom 3:5-6Ezr 9:10Hab 2:1 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?” Exo 32:12Ezk 36:22-23Psa 83:4Jhn 12:28Deu 9:28Jol 2:17Num 14:13Psa 124:2-3
But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? 1Sa 16:1Exo 14:151Ch 22:161Sa 15:22 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions. Act 5:1-2Heb 4:13Jos 6:17-19Act 5:9Jos 7:20-212Ki 18:122Ki 5:25-26Deu 17:2 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction. Psa 5:4-5Isa 59:2Jdg 2:14Jos 6:18Num 14:45Deu 7:26Hag 2:13-14Hab 1:13
Get up and consecrate the people, saying, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Among you, O Israel, there are things devoted to destruction. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. Lam 3:40-41Jos 3:51Co 5:11-13Mat 7:5Jos 6:18Jos 7:111Co 5:1-62Ch 28:10 In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man. Pro 16:33Jon 1:7Jos 7:17-181Sa 10:19-211Sa 14:38-42Act 1:24-26 The one who is caught with the things devoted to destruction must be burned, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.’” Gen 34:71Sa 14:38-39Jdg 20:6Deu 13:15-16Jos 7:25-261Sa 26:212Sa 13:13Jos 7:11
The Sin of Achan
So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. Ecc 9:10Gen 22:3Jos 3:1Psa 119:60 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected. Num 26:201Ch 2:4-7Gen 38:30 And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected. Num 32:23Act 5:1-101Sa 14:42Jer 2:26Pro 13:21
So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 1Sa 6:5Jer 13:16Jhn 9:241Sa 14:432Ch 30:22Dan 9:4Num 5:6-71Jn 1:8-10
“It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: Psa 38:181Sa 15:241Sa 15:30Exo 10:16Gen 42:21Job 33:27Job 7:20Mat 27:4 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, 5 two hundred shekels of silver, 6 and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, 7 I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” Jas 1:151Jn 2:15-16Luk 12:15Psa 119:372Pe 2:15Deu 7:251Ti 6:9-102Ki 5:20-27
So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD.
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor. Pro 15:271Ti 6:9-10Exo 20:5Hos 2:15Isa 65:10Jos 15:7Jos 7:26Num 16:27-31
“Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies. Jos 6:181Ch 2:7Deu 17:5Lev 24:14Jos 7:11-13Lev 20:21Ki 18:17-182Th 1:6 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor 8to this day. Hos 2:15Isa 65:10Deu 13:172Sa 18:17Jos 7:24Jos 8:29Lam 3:532Sa 21:14