Joshua then began a diligent search to find out the guilty one. He took Israel by their tribes, then by their families, and next individually; and Achan was designated as the guilty one. But that the matter might be plain to all Israel, that there should be no occasion given them to murmur and to say that the guiltless was made to suffer, Joshua used policy. He knew Achan was the transgressor and that he had concealed his sin and provoked God against His people. Joshua discreetly induced Achan to make confession of his sin, that God’s honor and justice might be vindicated before Israel. “And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto Him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. {3T 268.1}

Josua begyndte nu en flittig undersøgelse for at finde den skyldige. Han tog Israel efter deres stammer, derpå efter deres familier og så enkeltvis og Akan blev udpeget som den skyldige. Men for at sagen kunne blive klar for hele Israel, så der ikke kunne blive nogen anledning for dem til at knurre og sige, at de uskyldige kom til at lide, gik Josua varsomt frem. Han vidste, at Akan var overtræderen og at han havde skjult sin synd og gjort Gud fortørnet på sit folk. Forsigtigt formanede Josua Akan til at bekende sin synd, for at Guds ære og retfærdighed måtte blive hævdet over for Israel. »Da sagde Josua til Akan »Min søn, giv Herren, Israels Gud, ære og pris og fortæl mig, hvad du har gjort, dølg ikke noget for mig!«