We use cookies to collect general visitor statistics but not personal information. Privacy policy

Achan disobeys and brings defeat

Achan disobeys and the army are defeated at Ai.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German, Hindi, Simplified Chinese
1
When the Israelites conquered Jericho God gave instructions that no one was to plunder anything or there would be trouble in the camp. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron was brought to the Lord and put in His treasury. However, unknown to anyone, one man had secretly taken plunder and hidden it. – Slide 1
2
Joshua sent men to spy out the next town they needed to capture. It was a town west of Jericho called Ai. – Slide 2
3
When they returned, they told Joshua, ‘There’s no need for the whole army to capture Ai. There are so few of the enemy, it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai.’ – Slide 3
4
So Joshua sent around 3,000 men to take the town. – Slide 4
5
But men of Ai chased the Israelites from the town gate, killing about thirty-six as they retreated in defeat. – Slide 5
6
The Israelites were overcome with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away. – Slide 6
7
Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down before the Ark of the Lord until evening.  – Slide 7
8
Then Joshua cried out, ‘Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you let the Amorites kill us? When the Canaanites and others hear about our defeat, they will surround us and destroy us forever. And then what will happen to the honour of your great name?’ – Slide 8
9
The Lord replied, ‘Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. They have not only stolen things and lied about it but hidden the plunder among their own belongings. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.’ – Slide 9
10
The next morning Joshua ordered the Israelites to present themselves before the Lord tribe by tribe. The tribe of Judah was singled out. Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. – Slide 10
11
Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.Joshua told Achan to tell the truth and confess what he had done. – Slide 11
12
‘It is true! I have sinned,’ Achan confessed. ‘Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.’ – Slide 12
13
Joshua sent men to make a search and they found the stolen goods. They laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord. – Slide 13
14
Joshua and the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had. They brought them to the valley of Achor where they stoned them to death. – Slide 14
15
They piled a great heap of stones over Achan. The place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. After this the Lord was no longer angry with the Israelites. – Slide 15
16
Slide 16