“Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
“Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, âConsecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.
“âIn the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the Lord takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the Lord takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the Lord takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!'”
As always, when Joshua heard the voice of the Lord, he was stunned and could not move for a long time. Finally he got to his feet. Caleb had been standing at some distance, and now he came forward and studied Joshua's face. “What is it, my lord?” he asked quietly.
“The Lord has spoken, Caleb.”
“And what has the Lord God said?”
“Someone in Israel has sinned and has taken part of the spoils of Jericho for his own use.”
“Who would do such a shameful thing!” Caleb exclaimed.
“We shall know in the morrow. In the morning we will call all the people together, and God will show us who has brought disgrace and shame upon Israel.”
****
Rahab was mystified at what had happened. She had listened to the reports of the soldiers who had returned and finally had sought out Othniel. She listened as he told the story of defeat, and when he had finished, Othniel spread his hands. “I don't know what's going to happen, Rahab, but something is. Joshua has commanded that the whole nation be assembled this morning.”
“What about the strangers, like myself?”
“He didn't say anything about that, and I don't understand what's happening.”
Ariel and Ardon approached then, and Othniel asked at once, “Did your father say what's going to happen?”
“He didn't say a word,” Ardon replied. “Joshua just told him to have all the people ready.”
“Somehow I'm afraid,” Ariel said, “but I don't know why.”
“No need to be afraid,” Ardon assured her. He turned to Rahab and asked, “Are all your needs being met?”
“Yes. Thank you so much.”
“I understand you're studying with Phinehas about the things of God,” Ariel said.
“Oh yes.” Rahab's face was radiant, and all three of the Israelites wondered at it. It was strange to see someone grow so excited about the worship of Jehovahâespecially one of the strangers in Israel. “The God of Israel is so wonderful,” Rahab said. “He's full of mercy and love. That's what Phinehas tells me.”
“Well, he's right. He's always right,” Ardon said.
Suddenly Ariel turned. “Look. There's Joshua and Father.”
Joshua and Caleb had mounted a small hill, and Caleb cried out with a loud voice. “Let all the tribes separate themselves one from another!”
There was some shifting around while those who had wandered from their place reassembled with others. All of the tribes were separated then, with Joshua, Caleb, and the high priest in the center.
Joshua began to pray, and Othniel asked, “What's he doing, Ardon?”
“I have no idea, but something is happening.”
“Look. He's coming toward our tribe, the tribe of Judah.”
Joshua came and stood before the assembled tribe of Judah. Caleb was beside him, and Joshua turned and said, “Caleb, the offender is in your tribe.”
“Death be to him!” Caleb exclaimed, his face pale. “Woe that a man of my own tribe would defy the God of Israel.”
“Separate them by families,” Joshua commanded. This took some time, but finally each household was separated. Joshua prayed again and stood silently, and finally he lifted his head and everyone knew that God had spoken to him. “Let the family of the Zerahites come forward, for within them is the guilty man.”
The other members of Judah drew aside, their faces pale. The other tribes kept their distance, for they knew that something terrible was happening.
Othniel stood beside Ariel and whispered, “This is bad, cousin.”
“Yes it is. What's going to happen?”
“I don't know.”
Joshua prayed again, and the family of Zimri was taken.
When Joshua announced that the household of Zimri contained the guilty party, Othniel felt a wave of fear go through him. He stared at all the members of that tribe and saw his friend Achan standing. Something in the man's posture warned Othniel. He began to pray,
God, don't let it be Achan!
But after Joshua had prayed again, he came and stood directly before Achan and said loudly, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give Him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
Achan was trembling then from head to foot. His face was ashen, and he lifted his hands, which were shaking violently. “It is true!” he cried out. “I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel.”
“What have you done, my son?” Joshua asked. His voice was quiet, but there was a deadly quality in it.
Othniel wanted to run and pull Achan away, but there was no hope of that now.
Achan could barely speak. Finally he cried out, “This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
Joshua pointed to some of his officers. “Go see.”
The men left immediately, and whispers ran throughout all of the camp. But Achan fell on his face, weeping and crying. His wife and children were with him.
“It looks bad for your friend Achan, Othniel,” Ardon whispered.
Othniel could not even answer. He had been afraid when charging into the line of battle, but it was nothing like this. His legs felt so weak he thought he might collapse. Finally the officers came back. “The things are there, my lord,” they reported. One of them held out the exquisite garment and said, “The silver and gold are there too.”
“Bring all those things to the Valley of Achor,” Joshua said sternly.
Joshua led the way, and soldiers had to pick up Achan, who was crying and could not seem to walk. His family was brought too, and others went to get all of his livestock.
“Surely they aren't going to kill them!” Othniel cried out to Ariel, who was walking beside him.
Ariel could not say a word. She knew a great deal of the history of the Hebrews, and she knew that men had been executed for lesser offenses than this. “I don't think you ought to watch this, Othniel,” she said.
But Othniel paid no attention. He walked along stiff-legged, as if unable to hear. His eyes were fixed on the pitiful form of his friend Achan, and he kept muttering, “They can't kill himâthey can't.”
Finally they reached the Valley of Achor, a small valley between two small hills where refuse had been thrown. Now Joshua turned, his face stern. “Why have you brought this trouble on us?” he cried. “The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then he moved away and said, “Carry out the commandments of Jehovah.”
Othniel wanted to tear his gaze away, but he seemed to be frozen, turned to stone. He saw men and women pick up stones, and he heard the cry of Achan and his family as the stones hit them. He saw a large stone strike Achan on the forehead, opening up an awful wound, and he fell with a cry that Othniel knew he would never forget if he lived to be an old man.
Caleb then came and held out a stone. “You must take part, Othniel.”
Othniel stared at him and said, “No. I will never do such a thing!” He turned and fled, his eyes blinded with tears.
Ardon and Ariel were standing near their father. They watched Othniel as he ran, and Ariel said, “I think this is wrong, Father.”
“No, it is right. The God of Israel never does anything wrong.” He turned to his daughter and stared at her. “It is hard, but the judgment of God is hard.”
“I was right about Othniel. He is too soft to be a soldier.”
Ariel had turned away from the execution. The victims were silent now. She was thinking of the boy who could never stand to see an animal slaughtered, and now to see his best friend and the family he loved dearly battered into bloody corpsesâ¦it was no wonder he ran.
“I don't know if Othniel will ever get over this,” she said.
“He'll have to,” Caleb said grimly. “If he's going to be a man and follow God, he's got to learn to do as God commands.”
After the execution, the bodies were burned and a great heap of stones was raised over them while Joshua wept for Israel. But the Lord spoke to him and comforted his heart.
“Do not be afraid,”
He said.
“Do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”
Joshua was encouraged. He began to give orders, but he saw that Caleb looked sad.
“What's wrong? God will surely give us the victory, brother.”
“It's Othniel.”
“What's wrong with him?”
“He hasn't gotten over the execution of Achan and his family. He loved them, especially Achan. It was hard for him. I have tried to get him to take part, but he will not.”
“Where is he now?”
“He's drunk. You know that band of wanderers that lives out north of the camp?”
“They're a rough bunch. Mostly harlots and thieves.”
“That's where he is. They've got plenty of wine. I had him followed. I even tried to get him to come back, but he wouldn't even talk to me, he was so drunk.”
Joshua laid his hand on Caleb's shoulder. “I know this is grievous to you, my brother, but we must go on. We have Israel to think about.”
“I know, Joshua. It is grievous. I loved his father dearly and promised to do my best for his son, but it seems nothing will touch Othniel. He's a weak man.”
****
Ariel looked up and saw that Rahab was waiting to speak to her. The woman was very modest, she had to admit, not like she had always thought a harlot would be. Now she said, “What is it, Rahab?”
“I came to ask about Othniel.”
“What do you want to know?” Ariel said sharply. She was ashamed of Othniel and didn't particularly want to talk about him.
“I came to ask you if you would go and try to talk to him,” Rahab said.
“I'm not going over to that camp,” Ariel snapped. “It's full of thieves and robbers and evil women.”
“I will go with you, mistress. And surely your brother will go.”
“No he won't. We're all disgusted with Othniel. He's no good.”
“I think he loves you,” Rahab said.
Ariel was startled. “That's foolishness!”
“I don't think it is. I've watched his eyes always go to you.”
“He's fond of meâwe were children together. But now he's ruined his life, and he's blamed his family. He's the nephew of Caleb. My father is the second in command in Israel, the head of the tribe of Judah. And now his own nephew is pouting and crying like a child.”
“Have you ever lost a dear one to death, Ariel?”
“My mother, when I was very youngâ¦butâ¦no.”
“I didn't think so.”
“That's neither here nor there. Othniel is a bad man. He's no good.”
Rahab was silent for a moment; then she faced Ariel. Her eyes were clear, and she held her head high. “There's good in all of us,” she said quietly, “and there's bad in all of us too.”
Ariel could not face the young woman. “I'm not going to argue about this. Othniel has got to grow up. Now, don't come to me anymore about this matter.”
“I won't,” Rahab said. She turned abruptly and went away, leaving Ariel to stare after her.
Who does she think she is?
Ariel thought.
She's not a member of our family. It's none of her business
. The thought came to her then,
Unless he's been sleeping with her. She's pretty enough
. That thought troubled her even more, and she could not shake it out of her head as she went about her work that day.
****
Phinehas had listened to Rahab as she made her case. She had come to him and asked him in a straightforward fashion to help Othniel. She had not begged outwardly, but there had been a pleading in her eyes.
Phinehas listened until she fell silent; then he said at once, “I love Othniel. I think he has great potential.”
“Will you help him?”
“I'm not sure that I can.”
“Surely, sir, if anyone can, it's you. He respects you greatly.”
“Sometimes a man reaches a point when he won't listen to anyone. I think Othniel is there. It's as if he's on the edge of a narrow wall. If he falls one way, he'll be saved and make a life for himself. If he falls the other way, he'll be ruined.” Phinehas considered the young woman. He had come to know her better than most. Despite her past, he sensed goodness in her, and her hunger for God warmed his heart.