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1 BUT the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achar, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things, and hid them; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aon, on the east side of Beth-el, and said to them, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up, and destroy Ai; and do not send all the people there, for the men of Ai are but few. 4 So there went up about three thousand men; and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai smote thirty-six of the Israelites; and they chased them from before the gate until they were defeated, and they smote them with a great slaughter; wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. 6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, why hast thou brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites? Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Now, what shall I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall gather together against us, and cut off our name from the face of the earth; and what wilt thou do to thy great name? Joshua 7:1-9, Lamsa Bible. Public domain.
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