1
But the sons of Yisra’el acted unfaithfully concerning what was devoted to destruction. And Akhan son of Karmi, son of Zavdi, son of Zerach, from the tribe of Yehudah, took from what was devoted to destruction. And the anger of Yahuah burned against the sons of Yisra’el.
2
And Yehoshua sent men from Yericho to Ai, which is beside Beit-Aven, east of Beit-El, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and search out the land.” And the men went up and searched out Ai.
3
And they returned to Yehoshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up. Let about two thousand men, or about three thousand men, go up and strike Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for they are few.”
4
And about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled before the men of Ai.
5
And the men of Ai struck about thirty-six men from them, and pursued them from before the gate as far as Shevarim, and struck them on the descent. And the heart of the people melted and became as water.
6
And Yehoshua tore his garments and fell upon his face to the earth before the ark of Yahuah until evening, he and the elders of Yisra’el. And they caused dust to go up upon their heads.
7
And Yehoshua said, “Ah, Adonai Yahuah, why did You bring this people across the Yarden at all, to give us into the hand of the Emori, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Yarden!
8
Please, Adonai, what shall I say after Yisra’el has turned his back before his enemies?
9
For the Kena’ani and all the inhabitants of the land will hear and surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”
10
And Yahuah said to Yehoshua, “Rise! Why is this that you have fallen upon your face?
11
Yisra’el has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant that I commanded them. And they have also taken from what is devoted to destruction, and have also stolen, and have also deceived, and have also placed it among their own vessels.
12
Therefore the sons of Yisra’el are not able to stand before the face of their enemies. They turn their back before the face of their enemies, because they have become devoted to destruction. I will not continue to be with you unless you destroy what is devoted to destruction from your midst.
13
Rise, set the people apart, and say, ‘Set yourselves apart for tomorrow, for thus says Yahuah, Elohim of Yisra’el: There is something devoted to destruction in your midst, Yisra’el. You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove what is devoted to destruction from your midst.’
14
And in the morning you shall draw near according to your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe that Yahuah takes shall draw near according to families, and the family that Yahuah takes shall draw near according to houses, and the house that Yahuah takes shall draw near ish by ish.
15
And it shall be that the one who is taken with what is devoted to destruction shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of Yahuah and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Yisra’el.”
16
And Yehoshua rose early in the morning and brought Yisra’el near according to his tribes, and the tribe of Yehudah was taken.
17
And he brought near the families of Yehudah, and the family of the Zarchi was taken. And he brought near the family of the Zarchi ish by ish, and Zavdi was taken.
18
And he brought near his house ish by ish, and Akhan son of Karmi, son of Zavdi, son of Zerach, from the tribe of Yehudah, was taken.
19
And Yehoshua said to Akhan, “My son, please give glory to Yahuah, Elohim of Yisra’el, and give praise to Him. And declare to me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.”
20
And Akhan answered Yehoshua and said, “Truly I have sinned against Yahuah, Elohim of Yisra’el, and thus and thus I have done.
21
And I saw among the spoil one good mantle of Shinar, and two hundred sheqels of silver, and one wedge of gold, fifty sheqels its weight. And I desired them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver beneath it.”
22
And Yehoshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. And see, it was hidden in his tent, and the silver beneath it.
23
And they took them from the midst of the tent and brought them to Yehoshua and to all the sons of Yisra’el, and poured them out before Yahuah.
24
And Yehoshua took Akhan son of Zerach, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his donkeys, and his flock, and his tent, and all that belonged to him. And all Yisra’el with him brought them up to the valley of Akhor.
25
And Yehoshua said, “Why have you troubled us? Yahuah shall trouble you this day.” And all Yisra’el stoned him with stones, and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
26
And they raised over him a great heap of stones, which remains to this day. And Yahuah turned from the burning of His anger. Therefore the name of that place was called the valley of Akhor, to this day.