Joshua 7

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 But the Israelites were unfaithful to the curse of destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son ofZerah, of the tribe of Judah, took something that fell under the curse of destruction, and the anger of Yahwehwas aroused against the Israelites.	1 But the Israelites violated the ban; Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zerah, son of Zara of the tribe of Judah, took goods that were under the ban, and the anger of the LORD flared up against the Israelites.
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (which is near Beth-Aven), to the east of Bethel, having said tothem, 'Go up and reconnoitre the country.' They went up and reconnoitred Ai.	2 Joshua next sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Bethel on its eastern side, with instructions to go up and reconnoiter the land. When they had explored Ai,
3 Coming back to Joshua, they said, 'There is no need for the whole people to go up; let some two orthree thousand go and attack Ai. Spare the whole people such an effort; there are only a few of them!'	3 they returned to Joshua and advised, "Do not send all the people up; if only about two or three thousand go up, they can overcome Ai. The enemy there are few; you need not call for an effort from all the people."
4 Of the people, some three thousand marched up, but these broke before the people of Ai,	4 About three thousand of the people made the attack, but they were defeated by those at Ai,
5 who killed some thirty-six of them and pursued them from the town gate as far as Shebarim, and on theslope cut them to pieces. The hearts of the people melted away and turned to water.	5 who killed some thirty-six of them. They pressed them back across the clearing in front of the city gate till they broke ranks, and defeated them finally on the descent, so that the confidence of the people melted away like water.
6 Joshua then tore his clothes and prostrated himself before the ark of Yahweh til nightfal ; the elders ofIsrael did the same, and all poured dust on their heads.	6 Joshua, together with the elders of Israel, rent his garments and lay prostrate before the ark of the LORD until evening; and they threw dust on their heads.
7 And Joshua said, 'Alas, Lord Yahweh, why did you bother to bring this nation across the Jordan, if it wasonly to put us at the mercy of the Amorites and destroy us? If only we could have settled down on the other sideof the Jordan!	7 "Alas, O Lord GOD," Joshua prayed, "why did you ever allow this people to pass over the Jordan, delivering us into the power of the Amorites, that they might destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell on the other side of the Jordan.
8 Forgive me, Lord, but what can I say, now that Israel has turned tail on the enemy?	8 Pray, Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back to its enemies?
9 The Canaanites, al the inhabitants of the land, wil hear of it; they wil unite against us to wipe our namefrom the earth. And what wil you do about your great Name then?'	9 When the Canaanites and the other inhabitants of the land hear of it, they will close in around us and efface our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?"
10 Yahweh said to Joshua, 'Stand up! Why are you lying prostrate like this?	10 The LORD replied to Joshua: "Stand up. Why are you lying prostrate?
11 Israel has sinned; they have violated the covenant which I imposed on them. They have gone so far asto take what was under the curse of destruction, they have even stolen it; they have actual y hidden it; they have put it in their baggage.	11 Israel has sinned: they have violated the covenant which I enjoined on them. They have stealthily taken goods subject to the ban, and have deceitfully put them in their baggage.
12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand up to their foes, why they have turned tail on their enemies:because they have come under the curse of destruction themselves. Unless you get rid of the object among youwhich has been put under the curse of destruction, I shal be with you no longer.'	12 If the Israelites cannot stand up to their enemies, but must turn their back to them, it is because they are under the ban. I will not remain with you unless you remove from among you whoever has incurred the ban.
13 'Get up, sanctify the people and say, "Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, since Yahweh, the God ofIsrael, declares: The curse of destruction has now fal en on you, Israel; you wil not be able to stand up to yourenemies, until you have rid yourselves of that object which has been put under the curse of destruction.	13 Rise, sanctify the people. Tell them to sanctify themselves before tomorrow, for the LORD, the God of Israel, says: You are under the ban, O Israel. You cannot stand up to your enemies until you remove from among you whoever has incurred the ban.
14 Tomorrow morning, therefore, you wil come forward tribe by tribe, and then the tribe which Yahwehselects by lot will come forward clan by clan, and the clan which Yahweh selects by lot will come forward familyby family, and the family which Yahweh selects by lot wil come forward man by man.	14 In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes. The tribe which the LORD designates shall come forward by clans; the clan which the LORD designates shall come forward by families; the family which the LORD designates shall come forward one by one.
15 And the man indicated by lot as regards the object which has been put under the curse of destructionwil be delivered to the flames, he and al his possessions, for having violated the covenant with Yahweh and forhaving committed an infamy in Israel." '	15 He who is designated as having incurred the ban shall be destroyed by fire, with all that is his, because he has violated the covenant of the LORD and has committed a shameful crime in Israel."
16 Joshua got up early; he made Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the lot indicated the tribe ofJudah.	16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was designated.
17 He summoned the clans of Judah, and the lot indicated the clan of Zerah. He summoned the clan ofZerah, family by family, and the lot indicated Zabdi.	17 Then he had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of Zerah was designated. He had the clan of Zerah come forward by families, and Zabdi was designated.
18 Joshua then summoned the family of Zabdi, man by man, and the lot indicated Achan son of Carmi,son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.	18 Finally he had that family come forward one by one, and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, was designated.
19 Joshua then said to Achan, 'My son, give glory to Yahweh, God of Israel, and confess; tel me whatyou have done and hide nothing from me.'	19 Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give to the LORD, the God of Israel, glory and honor by telling me what you have done; do not hide it from me."
20 Achan replied to Joshua, 'Yes, I am the man who has sinned against Yahweh, God of Israel, and thisis what I have done.	20 Achan answered Joshua, "I have indeed sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done:
21 In the loot, I saw a fine robe from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and an ingot of goldweighing fifty shekels, I set my heart on them and I took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, withthe silver underneath.'	21 Among the spoils, I saw a beautiful Babylonian mantle, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight; in my greed I took them. They are now hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
22 Joshua sent messengers; they ran to the tent, and the robe was indeed hidden in the tent, with thesilver underneath.	22 The messengers whom Joshua sent hastened to the tent and found them hidden there, with the silver underneath.
23 They took the things out of the tent and, bringing them to Joshua and all the Israelites, laid them outbefore Yahweh.	23 They took them from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD.
24 Joshua then took Achan son of Zerah and led him up to the Vale of Achor, with the silver and the robeand the ingot of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his goats, his tent and al hisbelongings. Al Israel went with him.	24 Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, with the silver, the mantle, and the bar of gold, and with his sons and daughters, his ox, his ass and his sheep, his tent, and all his possessions, and led them off to the Valley of Achor.
25 Joshua said, 'Why have you brought misfortune on us? Today may Yahweh bring misfortune on you!'And all Israel stoned him to death (and they burned them and threw stones at them).	25 Joshua said, "The LORD bring upon you today the misery with which you have afflicted us!" And all Israel stoned him to death
26 Over him, they raised a great mound of stones, which is still there today. Yahweh then relented fromhis fierce anger. That was why the place was cal ed the Vale of Achor, as it stil is today.	26 and piled a great heap of stones over him, which remains to the present day. Then the anger of the LORD relented. That is why the place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.