Joshua 7:1-12 (ESV)

1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things,

for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah,
of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things.
And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven,

east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land."

And the men went up and spied out Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have

all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men

go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people

toil up there, for they are few."

4 So about 3,000 men went up there from the people.

And they fled before the men of Ai,
5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and
chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and
struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people
melted and became as water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face

before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and

the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.

7 And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought

this people over the Jordan at all, to give us

into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us?

Would that we had been content

to dwell beyond the Jordan!

8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned
their backs before their enemies!
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land
will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name
from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?"

10 The LORD said to Joshua,

"Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?

11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant

that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things;
they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies.
They turn their backs before their enemies, because

they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you

no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.