WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.807 Day 100 and 66 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:09.930 but Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. 00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:15.720 A man named Aiken had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:17.610 was very angry with the Israelites. 00:00:18.450 --> 00:00:22.440 Aiken was the son of Carmine, a descendant of Zimri, son of 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:24.090 zero of the tribe of Judah. 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:29.580 Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of ai, 00:00:29.970 --> 00:00:32.100 east of Bethel, near Beth Haven. 00:00:32.940 --> 00:00:36.210 When they returned, they told Joshua, there's no need for 00:00:36.210 --> 00:00:37.410 all of us to go up there. 00:00:37.590 --> 00:00:43.170 It won't take more than two or 3000 men to attack ai since there are so few of them. 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:45.660 Don't make all our people struggle to go up there. 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:51.510 So approximately 3000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. 00:00:51.885 --> 00:00:56.295 The men of AI chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the 00:00:56.295 --> 00:01:00.615 quarries, and they killed about 36 who were retreating down the slope. 00:01:01.425 --> 00:01:04.755 The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, 00:01:04.875 --> 00:01:06.615 and their courage melted away. 00:01:07.815 --> 00:01:12.675 Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their 00:01:12.675 --> 00:01:17.655 heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening. 00:01:18.375 --> 00:01:21.495 Then Joshua cried out, oh, sovereign Lord. 00:01:21.945 --> 00:01:24.165 Why did you bring us across the Jordan River? 00:01:24.315 --> 00:01:28.155 If you are going to let the Amorites kill us, if only we had been 00:01:28.155 --> 00:01:29.955 content to stay on the other side. 00:01:30.915 --> 00:01:32.205 Lord, what can I say? 00:01:32.205 --> 00:01:36.435 Now that Israel has fled from its enemies for when the Canaanites and all the 00:01:36.435 --> 00:01:40.695 other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and 00:01:40.695 --> 00:01:42.765 wipe our name off the face of the Earth. 00:01:43.485 --> 00:01:47.325 And then what will happen To the honor of your great name, but 00:01:47.325 --> 00:01:49.845 the Lord said to Joshua, get up. 00:01:50.265 --> 00:01:52.365 Why are you lying on your face like this? 00:01:53.025 --> 00:01:55.875 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant. 00:01:56.595 --> 00:02:00.045 They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart 00:02:00.045 --> 00:02:05.385 from me, and they have not only stolen them, but have lied about it and hidden 00:02:05.385 --> 00:02:07.215 the things among their own belongings. 00:02:07.995 --> 00:02:11.175 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. 00:02:11.775 --> 00:02:15.255 For now, Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. 00:02:16.140 --> 00:02:20.610 I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you 00:02:20.790 --> 00:02:22.560 that were set apart for destruction. 00:02:23.760 --> 00:02:24.270 Get up. 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:28.590 Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. 00:02:29.070 --> 00:02:33.840 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, hidden among you. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:36.960 Oh, Israel are things set apart for the Lord. 00:02:37.410 --> 00:02:41.880 You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. 00:02:43.095 --> 00:02:47.115 In the morning, you must present yourselves by tribes and the 00:02:47.115 --> 00:02:50.565 Lord will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. 00:02:51.105 --> 00:02:54.585 That tribe must come forward with its clans and the Lord 00:02:54.585 --> 00:02:56.175 will point out the guilty clan. 00:02:56.805 --> 00:03:00.975 That clan will then come forward and the Lord will point out the guilty family. 00:03:01.695 --> 00:03:06.075 Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one by 00:03:06.075 --> 00:03:10.125 one, the one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction. 00:03:10.410 --> 00:03:15.360 Will himself be burned with fire along with everything he has for, he has 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:19.560 broken the covenant of the Lord and has done a horrible thing in Israel. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:25.080 Early the next morning, Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord 00:03:25.350 --> 00:03:27.600 and the tribe of Judah was singled out. 00:03:28.410 --> 00:03:32.910 Then the clans of Judah came forward and the clan of Zera was singled out. 00:03:33.690 --> 00:03:38.370 Then the families of Zera came forward and the family of Zimri was singled out. 00:03:39.195 --> 00:03:42.495 Every member of Zimm RA's family was brought forward, person by 00:03:42.495 --> 00:03:45.555 person, and Acan was singled out. 00:03:46.545 --> 00:03:51.825 Then Joshua said to Acan, my son, give glory to the Lord, the God 00:03:51.825 --> 00:03:53.715 of Israel by telling the truth. 00:03:54.315 --> 00:03:57.135 Make your confession and tell me what you have done. 00:03:57.555 --> 00:03:58.755 Don't hide it from me. 00:04:00.165 --> 00:04:02.115 AAN replied, it is true. 00:04:02.655 --> 00:04:05.235 I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:04:05.895 --> 00:04:12.225 Among the plunder, I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a 00:04:12.225 --> 00:04:14.535 bar of gold weighing more than a pound. 00:04:15.465 --> 00:04:19.545 I wanted them so much that I took them, they are hidden in the 00:04:19.550 --> 00:04:23.685 ground beneath my tent with the silver buried deeper than the rest. 00:04:25.185 --> 00:04:27.765 So Joshua sent some men to make a search. 00:04:28.320 --> 00:04:31.620 They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:35.850 just as Aiken had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest. 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:39.060 They took the things from the tent and brought them to 00:04:39.065 --> 00:04:40.920 Joshua and all the Israelites. 00:04:41.580 --> 00:04:44.280 Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord. 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:48.690 Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Aiken, the 00:04:48.690 --> 00:04:51.240 silver, the robe, the bar of gold. 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:56.790 His sons daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats. 00:04:57.150 --> 00:05:01.650 Tent and everything he had and they brought them to the valley of aor. 00:05:02.550 --> 00:05:06.300 Then Joshua said to Aiken, why have you brought trouble on us? 00:05:06.930 --> 00:05:09.060 The Lord will now bring trouble on you. 00:05:10.110 --> 00:05:15.420 And all the Israelites, stoned Aiken and his family and burned their bodies. 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:21.270 They piled a great heap of stones over Acan, which remains to this day. 00:05:22.200 --> 00:05:26.190 That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.340 So the Lord was no longer angry. 00:05:30.780 --> 00:05:34.860 Then the Lord said to Joshua, do not be afraid or discouraged. 00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:39.780 Take all your fighting men and attack ai for I have given you the king of 00:05:39.785 --> 00:05:43.110 ai, his people, his town, and his land. 00:05:43.770 --> 00:05:47.010 You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. 00:05:47.760 --> 00:05:51.930 But this time you may keep the plunder and the livestock for yourselves. 00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:54.660 Set an ambush behind the town. 00:05:56.010 --> 00:05:59.520 So Joshua and all the fighting men set out to attack ai. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:04.980 Joshua chose 30,000 of his best warriors and sent them out at night with these 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:10.260 orders, hide in ambush close behind the town, and be ready for action. 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:15.390 When our main army attacks, the men of AI will come out to fight as they did 00:06:15.390 --> 00:06:17.730 before, and we will run away from them. 00:06:18.330 --> 00:06:22.020 We will let them chase us until we have drawn them away from the town 00:06:22.350 --> 00:06:26.430 for they will say, The Israelites are running away from us as they did before. 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:32.190 Then while we are running from them, you will jump up from your ambush and 00:06:32.190 --> 00:06:36.300 take possession of the town for the Lord your God will give it to you. 00:06:37.050 --> 00:06:41.850 Set the town on fire as the Lord has commanded you have your orders. 00:06:42.810 --> 00:06:47.100 So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:51.690 side of ai, but Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night. 00:06:52.725 --> 00:06:57.195 Early the next morning, Joshua aroused his men and started toward ai 00:06:57.585 --> 00:06:59.475 accompanied by the elders of Israel. 00:07:00.225 --> 00:07:04.005 All the fighting men who were with Joshua marched in front of the town 00:07:04.185 --> 00:07:08.535 and camped on the north side of AI with a valley between them and the town. 00:07:08.905 --> 00:07:15.045 That night, Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel 00:07:15.045 --> 00:07:17.025 and AI on the west side of the town. 00:07:17.730 --> 00:07:22.740 So they stationed the main army north of the town and the ambush west of the town. 00:07:23.550 --> 00:07:29.250 Joshua himself spent that night in the valley when the king of AI saw 00:07:29.250 --> 00:07:30.960 the Israelites across the valley. 00:07:31.140 --> 00:07:35.490 He and all his army hurried out early in the morning and attacked the 00:07:35.520 --> 00:07:40.440 Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley, but he didn't realize 00:07:40.440 --> 00:07:42.270 there was an ambush behind the town. 00:07:43.110 --> 00:07:47.130 Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as 00:07:47.130 --> 00:07:48.450 though they were badly beaten. 00:07:49.140 --> 00:07:52.080 Then all the men in the town were called out to chase after them. 00:07:52.950 --> 00:07:55.920 In this way, they were lured away from the town. 00:07:56.700 --> 00:08:00.750 There was not a man left in AI or Bethel who did not chase After the 00:08:00.810 --> 00:08:06.720 Israelites and the town was left wide open, then the Lord said to Joshua 00:08:07.410 --> 00:08:12.090 Point the spear in your hand toward ai for I will hand the town over to you. 00:08:13.185 --> 00:08:14.955 Joshua did as he was commanded. 00:08:15.405 --> 00:08:20.115 As soon as Joshua gave this signal, all the men in ambush jumped up from 00:08:20.115 --> 00:08:22.515 their position and poured into the town. 00:08:23.175 --> 00:08:26.055 They quickly captured it and set it on fire. 00:08:27.315 --> 00:08:31.245 When the men of AI looked behind them, smoke from the town was filling 00:08:31.245 --> 00:08:33.645 the sky and they had nowhere to go. 00:08:34.395 --> 00:08:37.365 For the Israelites who had fled in the direction of the wilderness 00:08:37.485 --> 00:08:39.165 now turned on their pursuers. 00:08:39.825 --> 00:08:44.295 When Joshua and all the other Israelites saw that the ambush had succeeded and 00:08:44.295 --> 00:08:49.005 that smoke was rising from the town, they turned and attacked the men of ai. 00:08:49.995 --> 00:08:53.925 Meanwhile, the Israelites who were inside the town came out and 00:08:53.925 --> 00:08:55.485 attacked the enemy from the rear. 00:08:56.325 --> 00:09:01.065 So the men of AI were caught in the middle with Israelite fighters on both sides. 00:09:01.605 --> 00:09:05.865 Israel attacked them and not a single person survived or escaped. 00:09:06.765 --> 00:09:10.485 Only the king of AI was taken alive and brought to Joshua. 00:09:11.955 --> 00:09:15.105 When the Israelite army finished chasing and killing all the men of 00:09:15.105 --> 00:09:19.905 AI in the open fields, they went back and finished off everyone inside. 00:09:20.685 --> 00:09:26.655 So the entire population of ai, including men and women, was wiped out that day. 00:09:27.345 --> 00:09:33.465 12,000 in all for Joshua, kept holding out his spear until everyone who had 00:09:33.465 --> 00:09:35.685 lived in AI was completely destroyed. 00:09:36.405 --> 00:09:40.455 Only the livestock and the treasures of the town were not destroyed for. 00:09:40.455 --> 00:09:43.845 The Israelites kept these as plunder for themselves as the 00:09:43.850 --> 00:09:45.435 Lord had commanded Joshua. 00:09:46.275 --> 00:09:50.715 So Joshua burned the town of AI and it became a permanent mound of 00:09:50.715 --> 00:09:53.175 ruins desolate to this very day. 00:09:54.585 --> 00:09:58.665 Joshua impaled the king of AI on a sharpened pole and 00:09:58.665 --> 00:10:00.075 left him there until evening. 00:10:01.185 --> 00:10:05.895 At sunset, the Israelites took down the body as Joshua commanded and 00:10:05.895 --> 00:10:07.545 threw it in front of the town gate. 00:10:08.085 --> 00:10:12.855 They piled a great heap of stones over him that can still be seen today. 00:10:14.805 --> 00:10:17.685 This concludes today's immerse reading experience. 00:10:17.805 --> 00:10:19.035 Thank you for joining us.