« | Joshua 7 | » |
1 But the children of Israel committed a great trespass, and kept back [part] of the accursed thing; and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zambri, the son of Zabdi, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing; and the Lord was very angry with the children of Israel.
2 And Joshua sent men to Ai, which is by Beth Aven, saying, Spy out Ai. 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 take the city by siege; for [they] are few.
4 And there went up about three thousand men, and they fled from before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, and they pursued them from the gate, and destroyed them from the steep hill; and the heart of the people was alarmed and became as water.
6 And Joshua tore his clothes. And Joshua fell on the earth on his face before the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they cast dust on their heads.
7 And Joshua said, I pray, O Lord, why has Your servant brought this people over the Jordan to deliver them to the Amorite to destroy us? If only we would had remained, and settled ourselves beyond the Jordan!
8 And what shall I say since Israel has turned his back before his enemy?
9 And when the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land hear it, they shall compass us round about and destroy us from off the land: and what will You do [for] Your great name?
10 And the Lord said to Joshua, Rise up; why have you fallen upon your face?
11 The people have sinned, and transgressed the covenant which I made with them; they have stolen from the accursed thing, and put it into their store.
12 And the children of Israel will not be able to stand before their enemies; they will turn their back before their enemies, for they have become an accursed thing: I will no longer be with you, unless you remove the accursed thing from yourselves.
13 Rise, sanctify the people, and tell them to sanctify themselves for tomorrow. Thus says the Lord God of Israel: The accursed thing is among you; you shall not be able to stand before your enemies, until you shall have removed the accursed thing from among you.
14 And you shall all be gathered together by your tribes in the morning, and it shall come to pass that the tribe which the Lord shall show, you shall bring by families; and the family which the Lord shall show, you shall bring by households; and the household which the Lord shall show you shall bring, man by man.
15 And the man who shall be pointed out shall be burned with fire, and all that he has; because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and has done wickedness in Israel.
16 And Joshua rose up early, and brought the people by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was pointed out.
17 And it was brought by their families, and the family of the Zarhites was pointed out.
18 And it was brought man by man, and Achan the son of Zabdi the son of Zerah was pointed out.
19 And Joshua said to Achan, Give glory this day to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession; and tell me what you have done, and do not hide it from me.
20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel; thus and thus have I done.
21 I saw in the spoil an embroidered mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and one golden wedge of fifty shekels, and I desired them and took them; and behold, they are hid in my tent, and the silver is hid under them.
22 And Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent into the camp; and these things were hidden in his tent, and the silver under them.
23 And they brought them out of the tent, and brought them to Joshua and the elders of Israel, and they laid them before the Lord.
24 And Joshua took Achan the son of Zerah, and brought him to the valley of Achor, and his sons, his daughters, his calves, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all his property, and all the people with him; and he brought them to the valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said to Achan, Why have you destroyed us? The Lord destroy you this day! And all Israel stoned him with stones.
26 And they set up over him a great heap of stones; and the Lord ceased from His fierce anger. Therefore he called the place the Valley of Achor to this day.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.