1But the Israelites committed a trespass regarding the accursed (or forbidden) things; when Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the accursed things; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the Israelites.

2And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and view the country.” And they went up and viewed Ai. 3And they returned to Joshua, and said, “Do not send all the people up; but only about two or three thousand, to attack Ai; and not weary the whole army there; for they are but few.” 4So about three thousand men went up there; and they were routed by the men of Ai. 5The men of Ai chased them from the city gate as far as the stone quarries at Shebarim, and killed about thirty-six Israelites as they retreated. Therefore, the hearts of the people melted like water. 6And Joshua tore his clothes, and fell down upon his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 7And Joshua said, “Alas, O LORD God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been content, and stayed on the other side of the Jordan! 8O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel runs from their enemies? 9Now the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, surround us, and wipe our name from the earth: and what will You do for Your Own great name?” 10And the LORD said to Joshua, “Get up; why lie upon your face? 11Israel has sinned, and violated My covenant which I commanded them; for they have taken some of the accursed things; they have stolen, and they have hidden them among their own possessions. 12That is why the Israelite men could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before them, because they were accursed. I will not be with you any more, unless you destroy those things among you that were destined for destruction. 13Go, consecrate the people, and say, “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies, until you remove them from among you. 14In the morning present yourselves, by your tribes; and the tribe which the LORD chooses shall come forward by its clans; and the clans which the LORD shall take shall come forward by its family; and the family which the LORD shall select shall come forward, man by man. 15And whoever has taken the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has violated the covenant of the LORD, and brought folly upon Israel.’”

16So Joshua rose early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken: 17And he brought the tribe of Judah; and the clan of the Zerahites was taken; and he brought the clan of the Zerahites, and the family of Zabdi was taken. 18And he brought his family, man by man; and Achan, son of Carmi, of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19And Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20And Achan answered Joshua, “Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 21When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold fifty shekels in weight, I coveted them, and took them; and they are buried in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it.” 22So Joshua sent messengers, who ran to his tent; and, indeed, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. 23And they brought them from the tent to Joshua, and before all the Israelites, and laid them out before the LORD. 24And Joshua, and all Israel, took Achan, son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, and the wedge of gold, his sons, daughters, oxen, donkeys, sheep, tent, and all that he had: and they brought them to the valley of Achor. 25And Joshua said, “Why have you brought all this trouble upon us? The LORD shall trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned him and his family with stones, and burned their bodies, after they had stoned them. 26And they piled a great heap of stones over him which remains until this day. And so the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. And the name of that place is called, “The valley of Achor (trouble)” until this day.