The Defeat at Ai

1  וַיִּמְעֲל֧וּ (And acted unfaithfully) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) מַ֖עַל (an unfaithfulness) בַּחֵ֑רֶם (against a devoted thing). וַיִּקַּ֡ח (And for took) עָכָ֣ן (Achan), בֶּן־ (son) כַּרְמִי֩ (of Carmi), בֶן־ (son) זַבְדִּ֨י (of Zabdi), בֶן־ (son) זֶ֜רַח (of Zerah), לְמַטֵּ֤ה (of the tribe) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah), מִן־ (of) הַחֵ֔רֶם (the devoted thing). וַיִּֽחַר־ (And burned) אַ֥ף (the anger) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) בִּבְנֵ֥י (against the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

2  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (And sent) יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ (Joshua) אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (men) מִֽירִיח֗וֹ (from Jericho) הָעַ֞י (to Ai)— אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which is) עִם־ (is near) בֵּ֥ית (Beth-) אָ֙וֶן֙ (aven) מִקֶּ֣דֶם (on the east side) לְבֵֽית־ (of Beth-) אֵ֔ל (el)— וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and spoke) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), עֲל֖וּ (Go up) וְרַגְּל֣וּ (and spy out) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land). וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ (And went up) הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men) וַֽיְרַגְּל֖וּ (and spied out) אֶת־ (-) הָעָֽי׃ (Ai).

3  וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ (And they returned) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ (Joshua) וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and said) אֵלָיו֮ (to him), אַל־ (Not) יַ֣עַל (do let go up) כָּל־ (all) הָעָם֒ (the people), כְּאַלְפַּ֣יִם (but about two thousand) אִ֗ישׁ (men) א֚וֹ (or) כִּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) אֲלָפִ֣ים (thousand) אִ֔ישׁ (men) יַעֲל֖וּ (let go up) וְיַכּ֣וּ (and attack) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֑י (Ai). אַל־ (Not) תְּיַגַּע־ (do weary) שָׁ֙מָּה֙ (there) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people), כִּ֥י (for) מְעַ֖ט (few) הֵֽמָּה׃ (they are).

4  וַיַּעֲל֤וּ (And went up) מִן־ (from) הָעָם֙ (the people) שָׁ֔מָּה (there) כִּשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (about three) אֲלָפִ֖ים (thousand) אִ֑ישׁ (men); וַיָּנֻ֕סוּ (and they fled) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (the men) הָעָֽי׃ (of Ai). 5  וַיַּכּ֨וּ (And struck down) מֵהֶ֜ם (from them) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) הָעַ֗י (of Ai) כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים (about thirty) וְשִׁשָּׁה֙ (and six) אִ֔ישׁ (men), וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֞וּם (and they chased them) לִפְנֵ֤י (from the face) הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ (of the gate) עַד־ (as far as) הַשְּׁבָרִ֔ים (Shebarim), וַיַּכּ֖וּם (and they struck them down) בַּמּוֹרָ֑ד (on the descent). וַיִּמַּ֥ס (And melted) לְבַב־ (the hearts) הָעָ֖ם (of the people) וַיְהִ֥י (and became) לְמָֽיִם׃ (water).

6  וַיִּקְרַ֨ע (And tore) יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ (Joshua) שִׂמְלֹתָ֗יו (his clothes) וַיִּפֹּל֩ (and fell) עַל־ (on) פָּנָ֨יו (his face) אַ֜רְצָה (to the earth) לִפְנֵ֨י (before the face of) אֲר֤וֹן (the ark) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) עַד־ (until) הָעֶ֔רֶב (the evening), ה֖וּא (he) וְזִקְנֵ֣י (and the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וַיַּעֲל֥וּ (and they put) עָפָ֖ר (dust) עַל־ (on) רֹאשָֽׁם׃ (their heads).

7  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ (Joshua), אֲהָ֣הּ׀ (Alas), אֲדֹנָ֣י (O Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH), לָ֠מָה (why) הֵעֲבַ֨רְתָּ (passing over) הַעֲבִ֜יר (did you cause to pass over) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֤ם (the people) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (the Jordan), לָתֵ֥ת (to deliver) אֹתָ֛נוּ (us) בְּיַ֥ד (into the hand) הָאֱמֹרִ֖י (of the Amorite), לְהַאֲבִידֵ֑נוּ (to destroy us)— וְלוּ֙ (and if only) הוֹאַ֣לְנוּ (we had been content) וַנֵּ֔שֶׁב (and had stayed) בְּעֵ֖בֶר (on the other side) הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (of the Jordan)! 8  בִּ֖י (O my) אֲדֹנָ֑י (Lord), מָ֣ה (what) אֹמַ֔ר (shall I say) אַ֠חֲרֵי (after) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) הָפַ֧ךְ (has turned) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (Israel) עֹ֖רֶף (its back) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) אֹיְבָֽיו׃ (its enemies)! 9  וְיִשְׁמְע֣וּ (And for will hear it) הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗י (the Canaanite) וְכֹל֙ (and all) יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (the dwellers) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land), וְנָסַ֣בּוּ (and they will surround) עָלֵ֔ינוּ (us) וְהִכְרִ֥יתוּ (and cut off) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמֵ֖נוּ (our name) מִן־ (from) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the earth). וּמַֽה־ (And what) תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה (will You do) לְשִׁמְךָ֥ (for Your name) הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ס (great)?

10  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua), קֻ֣ם (Get up) לָ֑ךְ (for you)! לָ֣מָּה (Why) זֶּ֔ה (is this)— אַתָּ֖ה (you) נֹפֵ֥ל (are falling) עַל־ (on) פָּנֶֽיךָ׃ (your face)? 11  חָטָא֙ (Has sinned) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) וְגַם֙ (and also) עָבְר֣וּ (they have transgressed) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִיתִ֔י (My covenant) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) צִוִּ֖יתִי (I commanded) אוֹתָ֑ם (them). וְגַ֤ם (And also) לָֽקְחוּ֙ (they have taken) מִן־ (from) הַחֵ֔רֶם (the devoted thing), וְגַ֤ם (and both) גָּֽנְבוּ֙ (have stolen) וְגַ֣ם (and) כִּֽחֲשׁ֔וּ (deceived), וְגַ֖ם (and also) שָׂ֥מוּ (they have put it) בִכְלֵיהֶֽם׃ (among their vessels). 12  וְלֹ֨א (And not) יֻכְל֜וּ (are able) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) לָקוּם֙ (to stand) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the faces) אֹיְבֵיהֶ֔ם (of their enemies); עֹ֗רֶף (the backs) יִפְנוּ֙ (are turned) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the faces) אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם (of their enemies), כִּ֥י (because) הָי֖וּ (they have become) לְחֵ֑רֶם (set apart for destruction). לֹ֤א (Not) אוֹסִיף֙ (anymore) לִֽהְי֣וֹת (will I be) עִמָּכֶ֔ם (with you⁺), אִם־ (in) לֹ֥א (not) תַשְׁמִ֛ידוּ (you⁺ destroy) הַחֵ֖רֶם (the devoted thing) מִֽקִּרְבְּכֶֽם׃ (from among you⁺).

13  קֻ֚ם (Get up), קַדֵּ֣שׁ (sanctify) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people), וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ (and say), הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ (Sanctify yourselves) לְמָחָ֑ר (for tomorrow), כִּ֣י (because) כֹה֩ (thus) אָמַ֨ר (says) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel): חֵ֤רֶם (A devoted thing) בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙ (is among you), יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (O Israel). לֹ֣א (Not) תוּכַ֗ל (are you able) לָקוּם֙ (to stand) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the faces) אֹיְבֶ֔יךָ (of your enemies) עַד־ (until) הֲסִירְכֶ֥ם (your⁺ turning aside) הַחֵ֖רֶם (of the devoted thing) מִֽקִּרְבְּכֶֽם׃ (from among you⁺). 14  וְנִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם (And you⁺ shall be brought near) בַּבֹּ֖קֶר (in the morning) לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֑ם (according to your⁺ tribes). וְהָיָ֡ה (And it shall come to pass that) הַשֵּׁבֶט֩ (the tribe) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יִלְכְּדֶ֨נּוּ (takes) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) יִקְרַ֣ב (shall come) לַמִּשְׁפָּח֗וֹת (according to the clans), וְהַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֞ה (and the family) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (that) יִלְכְּדֶ֤נָּה (takes) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) תִּקְרַ֣ב (shall come) לַבָּתִּ֔ים (by the houses), וְהַבַּ֙יִת֙ (and the house) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יִלְכְּדֶ֣נּוּ (takes) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) יִקְרַ֖ב (shall come) לַגְּבָרִֽים׃ (by the man). 15  וְהָיָה֙ (And it shall be that) הַנִּלְכָּ֣ד (he who is taken) בַּחֵ֔רֶם (with the devoted thing) יִשָּׂרֵ֣ף (shall be burned) בָּאֵ֔שׁ (with the fire), אֹת֖וֹ (he) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) ל֑וֹ (he has), כִּ֤י (because) עָבַר֙ (he has transgressed) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִ֣ית (the covenant) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְכִֽי־ (and because) עָשָׂ֥ה (he has done) נְבָלָ֖ה (a disgraceful thing) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel).

The Sin of Achan

16  וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֤ם (And rose early) יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ (Joshua) בַּבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning), וַיַּקְרֵ֥ב (and brought) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) לִשְׁבָטָ֑יו (by their tribes), וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד (and was taken) שֵׁ֥בֶט (the tribe) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah). 17  וַיַּקְרֵב֙ (And He brought) אֶת־ (-) מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת (the clan) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וַיִּלְכֹּ֕ד (and he took) אֵ֖ת (-) מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת (the family) הַזַּרְחִ֑י (of the Zerahites), וַיַּקְרֵ֞ב (and he brought) אֶת־ (-) מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת (the family) הַזַּרְחִי֙ (of the Zerahites) לַגְּבָרִ֔ים (by the man), וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד (and was taken) זַבְדִּֽי׃ (Zabdi). 18  וַיַּקְרֵ֥ב (And he brought) אֶת־ (-) בֵּית֖וֹ (his house) לַגְּבָרִ֑ים (by the man). וַיִּלָּכֵ֗ד (And was taken) עָכָ֞ן (Achan), בֶּן־ (son) כַּרְמִ֧י (of Carmi), בֶן־ (son) זַבְדִּ֛י (of Zabdi), בֶּן־ (son) זֶ֖רַח (of Zerah), לְמַטֵּ֥ה (of the tribe) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah).

19  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ (Joshua) אֶל־ (to) עָכָ֗ן (Achan), בְּנִי֙ (My son), שִֽׂים־ (give), נָ֣א (please), כָב֗וֹד (glory) לַֽיהוָ֛ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), וְתֶן־ (and make) ל֣וֹ (to Him) תוֹדָ֑ה (confession) וְהַגֶּד־ (and tell) נָ֥א (now) לִי֙ (me) מֶ֣ה (what) עָשִׂ֔יתָ (you have done). אַל־ (Not) תְּכַחֵ֖ד (do hide it) מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (from me).

20  וַיַּ֧עַן (And answered) עָכָ֛ן (Achan) אֶת־ (-) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), אָמְנָ֗ה (Truly) אָנֹכִ֤י (I) חָטָ֙אתִי֙ (have sinned) לַֽיהוָה֙ (against YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), וְכָזֹ֥את (and thus) וְכָזֹ֖את (and thus) עָשִֽׂיתִי׃ (have I done): 21  וָאֶרְאֶה (And I saw) בַשָּׁלָ֡ל (among the spoils) אַדֶּ֣רֶת (cloak) שִׁנְעָר֩ (of Shinar) אַחַ֨ת (one) טוֹבָ֜ה (beautiful), וּמָאתַ֧יִם (and two hundred) שְׁקָלִ֣ים (shekels) כֶּ֗סֶף (of silver), וּלְשׁ֨וֹן (and wedge) זָהָ֤ב (of gold) אֶחָד֙ (one) חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים (fifty) שְׁקָלִים֙ (shekels) מִשְׁקָל֔וֹ (weighing), וָֽאֶחְמְדֵ֖ם (and I coveted them) וָֽאֶקָּחֵ֑ם (and took them), וְהִנָּ֨ם (and there they are) טְמוּנִ֥ים (hidden) בָּאָ֛רֶץ (in the earth) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) הָאָֽהֳלִ֖י (of my tent), וְהַכֶּ֥סֶף (and the silver) תַּחְתֶּֽיהָ׃ (is under it).

22  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ (Joshua) מַלְאָכִ֔ים (messengers), וַיָּרֻ֖צוּ (and they ran) הָאֹ֑הֱלָה (to the tent), וְהִנֵּ֧ה (and there it was) טְמוּנָ֛ה (hidden) בְּאָהֳל֖וֹ (in his tent), וְהַכֶּ֥סֶף (and the silver) תַּחְתֶּֽיהָ׃ (under it). 23  וַיִּקָּחוּם֙ (And they took them) מִתּ֣וֹךְ (from the midst) הָאֹ֔הֶל (of the tent) וַיְבִאוּם֙ (and brought them) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (Joshua) וְאֶ֖ל (and to) כָּל־ (all) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וַיַּצִּקֻ֖ם (and poured them out) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

24  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ (Joshua) אֶת־ (-) עָכָ֣ן (Achan) בֶּן־ (son) זֶ֡רַח (of Zerah), וְאֶת־ (and) הַכֶּ֣סֶף (the silver), וְאֶת־ (and) הָאַדֶּ֣רֶת (the cloak), וְֽאֶת־ (and) לְשׁ֣וֹן (the wedge) הַזָּהָ֡ב (of gold), וְֽאֶת־ (and) בָּנָ֡יו (his sons), וְֽאֶת־ (and) בְּנֹתָ֡יו (his daughters), וְאֶת־ (and) שׁוֹרוֹ֩ (his oxen), וְאֶת־ (and) חֲמֹר֨וֹ (his donkeys), וְאֶת־ (and) צֹאנ֤וֹ (his sheep), וְאֶֽת־ (and) אָהֳלוֹ֙ (his tent), וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that was) ל֔וֹ (unto him), וְכָל־ (and all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) עִמּ֑וֹ (with him), וַיַּעֲל֥וּ (and they brought) אֹתָ֖ם (them) עֵ֥מֶק (to the Valley) עָכֽוֹר׃ (of Achor).

25  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ (Joshua), מֶ֣ה (Why) עֲכַרְתָּ֔נוּ (you have troubled us)? יַעְכֳּרְךָ֥ (Will trouble you) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this)! וַיִּרְגְּמ֨וּ (And stoned) אֹת֤וֹ (him) כָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) אֶ֔בֶן (with stones), וַיִּשְׂרְפ֤וּ (and they burned) אֹתָם֙ (them) בָּאֵ֔שׁ (with the fire) וַיִּסְקְל֥וּ (and after they had stoned) אֹתָ֖ם (them) בָּאֲבָנִֽים׃ (with stones). 26  וַיָּקִ֨ימוּ (And they raised up) עָלָ֜יו (over him) גַּל־ (a heap) אֲבָנִ֣ים (of stones) גָּד֗וֹל (great), עַ֚ד (to) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this). וַיָּ֥שָׁב (And turned) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מֵחֲר֣וֹן (from the burning) אַפּ֑וֹ (of His anger). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֠ן (thus) קָרָ֞א (has been called) שֵׁ֣ם (the name) הַמָּק֤וֹם (of place) הַהוּא֙ (that) עֵ֣מֶק (the Valley) עָכ֔וֹר (of Achor), עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃פ (this).