But Achan, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. When the armies of Israel went out to fight against the enemy, they were repulsed and driven back, and some of them were slain. This brought great discouragement upon the people. Joshua, their leader, was perplexed and confounded. In the greatest humiliation he fell upon his face and prayed: “Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt Thou do unto Thy great name?” {4T 491.2}

Men Akan, af Johas stamme, tog af de forbandede sager og Herrens vrede blev optændt mod Israels børn. Da Israels hære gik ud for at kæmpe mod fjenden, blev de slået og drevet tilbage og nogle af dem faldt. Dette gjorde folket meget modløst. Josua, deres leder, var rådvild og forvirret. I sin største ydmygelse faldt han på sit ansigt og bad: »Ak, Herre, Herre! Hvorfor lod du dette folk gå over Jordan, når du ville give os i amoritternes hånd og lade os gå til grunde? Havde vi dog blot besluttet os til at blive hinsides Jordan! Ak, herre! Hvad skal jeg sige, nu Israel har måttet tage flugten for sine fjender? Når Kana'anæerne og alle landets indbyggere hører det, falder de over os fra alle sider og udsletter vort navn af (492) jorden; hvad vil du da gøre for dit store navns skyld?"