Yahusha Ba'Nun (Joshua) — 7

Ah Defeats the Yasharalym 

1 Yashar'AL violated the instructions about the things set apart for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, a man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH was very angry with the Yasharalym. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zarah, of the tribe of Yahudah.

2 Yahusha Ba'Nun sent some of his men from Yarichu to spy out the town of Ah, east of Bathal, near Bath-aban. 

3 When they returned, they told Yahusha, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ah. Since there are so few of them, do not make all our people struggle to go up there.”

4 So approximately three thousand warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated, the men of Ah

5 chased the Yasharalym from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Yasharalym were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.

6 Yahusha Ba'Nun and the elders of Yashar'AL tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH until evening. 

7 Then Yahusha Ba'Nun cried out, “Oh,  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut, why did you bring us across the Yurdan River if you are going to let the Amurites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! 

8 O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, what can I say now that Yashar'AL has fled from its enemies? 

9 For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the Arath, and then what will happen to the honor of your great Name?”

10 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to Yahusha, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 

11 Yashar'AL has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. 

12 That is why the Yasharalym are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Yashar'AL itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.

13 “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, says: Hidden among you, O Yashar'AL, are things set apart for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.

14 “In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one by one. 

15 The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and has done a horrible thing in Yashar'AL.”

Achan’s Sin

16 Early the next morning Yahusha Ba'Nun brought the tribes of Yashar'AL before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and the tribe of Yahudah was singled out. 

17 Then the clans of Yahudah came forward, and the clan of Zarah was singled out. Then the families of Zarah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. 

18 Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.

19 Then Yahusha said to Achan, “My son, give Kabad to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Do not hide it from me.”

20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL. 

21 Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylun, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”

22 So Yahusha sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest.

23 They took the things from the tent and brought them to Yahusha and all the Yasharalym. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

24 Then Yahusha and all the Yasharalym took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achur. 

25 Then Yahusha said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us?  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Yasharalym stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. 

26 They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH was no longer angry.