7:1 But the Israelites disobeyed the command about the city’s riches. 1 Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, 2 son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches. 3 The Lord was furious with the Israelites. 4
7:2 Joshua sent men from Jericho 5 to Ai (which is located near Beth Aven, east of Bethel 6 ) and instructed them, “Go up and spy on the land.” So the men went up and spied on Ai. 7:3 They returned and reported to Joshua, 7 “Don’t send the whole army. 8 About two or three thousand men are adequate to defeat Ai. 9 Don’t tire out the whole army, for Ai is small.” 10
7:4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the men of Ai. 7:5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from in front of the city gate all the way to the fissures 11 and defeated them on the steep slope. 12 The people’s 13 courage melted away like water. 14
7:6 Joshua tore his clothes; 15 he and the leaders 16 of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening 17 and threw dirt on their heads. 18 7:7 Joshua prayed, 19 “O, Master, Lord! Why did you bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us? 7:8 If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated 20 before its enemies? 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will turn against us and destroy the very memory of us 21 from the earth. What will you do to protect your great reputation?” 22
7:10 The Lord responded 23 to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there face down? 24 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment! 25 They have taken some of the riches; 26 they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions. 27 7:12 The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. 28 I will no longer be with you, 29 unless you destroy what has contaminated you. 30 7:13 Get up! Ritually consecrate the people and tell them this: ‘Ritually consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because the Lord God of Israel says, “You are contaminated, 31 O Israel! You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove what is contaminating you.” 32 7:14 In the morning you must approach in tribal order. 33 The tribe the Lord selects 34 must approach by clans. The clan the Lord selects must approach by families. 35 The family the Lord selects must approach man by man. 36 7:15 The one caught with the riches 37 must be burned up 38 along with all who belong to him, because he violated the Lord’s covenant and did such a disgraceful thing in Israel.’”
7:16 Bright and early the next morning Joshua made Israel approach in tribal order 39 and the tribe of Judah was selected. 7:17 He then made the clans of Judah approach and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He made the clan of the Zerahites approach and Zabdi 40 was selected. 41 7:18 He then made Zabdi’s 42 family approach man by man 43 and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was selected. 7:19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, honor 44 the Lord God of Israel and give him praise! Tell me what you did; don’t hide anything from me!”
1 tn Heb “But the sons of Israel were unfaithful with unfaithfulness concerning what was set apart [to the
2 tn 1 Chr 2:6 lists a “Zimri” (but no Zabdi) as one of the five sons of Zerah (cf. also 1 Chr 7:17, 18).
3 tn Heb “took from what was set apart [to the
4 tn Heb “the anger of the
5 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
6 map For the location of Bethel see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
7 tn Heb “and they returned to Joshua and said to him.”
8 tn Heb “Don’t let all the people go up.”
9 tn Heb “Let about two thousand men or about three thousand men go up to defeat Ai.”
10 tn Heb “all the people for they are small.”
11 tn The meaning and correct translation of the Hebrew word שְׁבָרִים (shÿvarim) is uncertain. The translation “fissures” is based on usage of the plural form of the noun in Ps 60:4 HT (60:2 ET), where it appears to refer to cracks in the earth caused by an earthquake. Perhaps deep ravines or gorges are in view, or the word is a proper noun (“all the way to Shebarim”).
12 sn The precise geographical location of the Israelite defeat at this “steep slope” is uncertain.
13 tn Or “army’s.”
14 tn Heb “and the heart of the people melted and became water.”
15 sn Tearing one’s clothes was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Gen 37:34; 44:13).
16 tn Or “elders.”
17 tn Heb “and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the
18 sn Throwing dirt on one’s head was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Lam 2:10; Ezek 27:30).
19 tn Heb “said.”
20 tn Heb “turned [the] back.”
21 tn Heb “and cut off our name.”
22 tn Heb “What will you do for your great name?”
23 tn Heb “said.”
24 tn Heb “Why are you falling on your face?”
25 tn Heb “They have violated my covenant which I commanded them.”
26 tn Heb “what was set apart [to the
27 tn Heb “and also they have stolen, and also they have lied, and also they have placed [them] among their items.”
28 tn Heb “they turn [the] back before their enemies because they are set apart [to destruction by the
29 tn The second person pronoun is plural in Hebrew, indicating these words are addressed to the entire nation.
30 tn Heb “what is set apart [to destruction by the
31 tn Heb “what is set apart [to destruction by the
32 tn Heb “remove what is set apart [i.e., to destruction by the
33 tn Heb “by your tribes.”
34 tn Heb “takes forcefully, seizes.”
35 tn Heb “houses.”
36 tn Heb “by men.”
37 tn Heb “with what was set apart [to the
38 tn Heb “burned with fire.”
39 tn Heb “by tribes.”
40 tn See the note on “Zabdi” in 1 Chr 7:1.
41 tn Heb “and he selected Zabdi.” The
42 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Zabdi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
43 tn Heb “by men.”
44 tn Heb “give glory to.”