¹⁸ But keep away from the devoted things,^(A) so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction^(B) and bring trouble^(C) on it.

²⁰ When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,^[a](A) did not wrath^(B) come on the whole community^(C) of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”^(D)

²⁵ Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble^(A) on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him,^(B) and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.^(C)

¹¹ Israel has sinned;^(A) they have violated my covenant,^(B) which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied,^(C) they have put them with their own possessions.^{(D) 12} That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies;^(E) they turn their backs^(F) and run^(G) because they have been made liable to destruction.^(H) I will not be with you anymore^(I) unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

¹³ “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves^(J) in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

¹⁴ “‘In the morning, present^(K) yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses^(L) shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. ¹⁵ Whoever is caught with the devoted things^(M) shall be destroyed by fire,^(N) along with all that belongs to him.^(O) He has violated the covenant^(P) of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”^(Q)

Achan’s Sin

7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things^[a];^(A) Achan^(B) son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,^[b] the son of Zerah,^(C) of the tribe of Judah,^(D) took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned^(E) against Israel.^(F)

² Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai,^(G) which is near Beth Aven^(H) to the east of Bethel,^(I) and told them, “Go up and spy out^(J) the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

³ When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” ⁴ So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai,^{(K) 5} who killed about thirty-six^(L) of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear^(M) and became like water.

¹⁷ and none of the condemned things^[a] are to be found in your hands. Then the Lord will turn from his fierce anger,^(A) will show you mercy,^(B) and will have compassion^(C) on you. He will increase your numbers,^(D) as he promised^(E) on oath to your ancestors—

²⁶ Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction.^(A) Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.

Other Clans of Judah

4 The descendants of Judah:^(A)