1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to A´i, which is beside Beth–a´ven, on the east side of Beth–el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed A´i.
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite A´i; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men; and they fled before the men of A´i.
5 And the men of A´i smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Sheba´rim, and smote them in the going down: 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 eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord [God], wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!