Joshua 7:1-3

Expanded Bible

The Sin of Achan

7 But the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel] ·did not obey the Lord [^Lacted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; 6:17]. There was a man from the tribe of Judah named Achan. (He was the son of Carmi and grandson of Zabdi, who was the son of Zerah.) Because Achan kept some of the ·things that were to be given to the Lord [^Ldevoted things], the ·Lord became very angry [^LLord’s anger burned] at the Israelites.

² Joshua sent some men from Jericho to Ai [^Cthe name means “dump,” indicating that it should have been an easy military target], which was near Beth Aven, east of Bethel. He told them, “Go to Ai and spy out the area.” So the men went to spy on Ai.

³ Later they came back to Joshua and said, “There are ·only a few people [few soldiers] in Ai, so we will not need all our people to defeat them. Send only two or three thousand men to fight. ·There is no need to send [or Don’t tire out] all of our people.”