The Sin of Achan and Its Punishment

7 But the Israelites broke faith in regard to the devoted things: Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things, and the anger of the Lord burned against the Israelites.^(A)

²⁰ Did not Achan son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity!”^(A)

⁶ The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Darda,^[a] five in all.^{(A) 7} The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the matter of the devoted thing;^(B)

⁷ But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.

¹⁸ that you must turn away today from following the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel tomorrow.

²⁰ And Achan answered Joshua, “It is true; I am the one who sinned against the Lord God of Israel. This is what I did:^{(A) 21} when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. They now lie hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

¹⁶ “Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord: What is this treachery that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away today from following the Lord, by building yourselves an altar today in rebellion against the Lord?^(A)

¹⁷ The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent.^{(A) 18} As for you, keep away from the things devoted to destruction, so as not to covet^[a] and take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel an object for destruction, bringing trouble upon it.^(B)

¹⁵ See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and through it many become defiled.^{(A) 16} See to it that no one becomes an immoral and godless person, as Esau was, who sold his birthright for a single meal.^(B)