Achan's Sin and the Fall of Ai

Following the destruction of Jericho, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai to view the country. These men returned and advised Joshua that only two or three thousand men were needed to smite Ai because the inhabitants were few (Joshua 7:2-3). Approximately three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai, who struck down about thirty-six Israelites. Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until eventide. The Lord informed Joshua that Israel had sinned and taken of the accursed thing, specifically items from the spoils of Jericho (Joshua 7:6-11).

The Lord commanded Joshua to sanctify the people and identify the transgressor by lot. Achan, the son of Carmi, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Joshua exhorted Achan to give glory to the Lord and make confession. Achan admitted he had seen among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight. He stated he coveted them and hid them in the earth in the midst of his tent (Joshua 7:19-21). Messengers found the items as Achan described. Joshua and all Israel took Achan, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his asses, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had to the valley of Achor. The text does not say why his family was included. There, all Israel stoned them with stones and burned them with fire (Joshua 7:24-25).

After the execution, the Lord told Joshua not to fear. Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night to lie in wait behind the city. He commanded another group to approach the gate and then flee to draw the men of Ai out. The plan succeeded, and when Joshua stretched out the spear in his hand toward the city, the ambush arose and set Ai on fire (Joshua 8:1-19). The Israelites turned back and slew the men of Ai, and the text says twelve thousand men and women fell that day. The king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua, who commanded he be hanged on a tree until eventide (Joshua 8:23-29).