God's Word Translation

Joshua 7:15-26 God's Word Translation (GW)

15. The man who is selected, along with everything he has, must be burned because he has ⌊stolen⌋ what the Lord has claimed. He has ignored the Lord’s requirements and done a godless thing in Israel.’ ”

16. Joshua got up early in the morning. He had Israel come forward by tribes. The tribe of Judah was selected.

17. Then he had the families of Judah come forward, and the family of Zerah was selected. Then he had the family of Zerah come forward man by man, and Zabdi was selected.

18. Then he had Zabdi’s household come forward man by man, and Achan was selected. Achan from the tribe of Judah was the son of Carmi, grandson of Zabdi, and great-grandson of Zerah.

19. Joshua said to Achan, “Son, give honor and praise to the Lord God of Israel! Tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.”

20. Then Achan answered Joshua, “It’s true. I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel. This is what I did:

21. I saw a fine robe from Babylonia, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing about one pound among the loot. I wanted them, so I took them. You will find them buried inside my tent with the silver beneath them.”

22. Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. The loot was buried inside with the silver beneath it.

23. They took the loot from the tent and brought it to Joshua and all the people of Israel. Then they laid it out in the presence of the Lord.

24. Joshua and all Israel took Achan (son of Zerah), the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, and his tent—everything he had—and brought them to the valley of Achor [Disaster].

25. Then Joshua said, “Why did you bring this disaster on us? The Lord will bring disaster on you today!” And all Israel stoned Achan and his family to death. Then they burned the bodies and piled stones over them.

26. They made such a large pile of stones over Achan that it is still there today. Then the Lord withdrew his burning anger. For this reason that place is still called the valley of Achor today.