Joshua 7:1-5 ▼

1 Later, the Israelis broke their promise regarding the things that had been turned over to destruction. Carmi's son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah from the tribe of Judah, appropriated some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. As a result, the LORD became angry with the Israelis.

2 Meanwhile, Joshua had sent some soldiers from Jericho to Ai, which was near Beth-aven, east of Bethel. He ordered them, |Go up and scout the land.| So the soldiers went up and scouted Ai and

3 returned to Joshua. |Not all of the people need to go up,| they reported. |Only about two or three thousand men should attack Ai. Since they are so few, don't make all of the army work hard up there.|

4 So about three thousand went up there, but they ran away from the men of Ai.

5 The men of Ai killed about 36 of them, pursuing them outside the city gates as far as Shebarim, killing them as they descended. As a result, the army became terrified and lost their confidence.