once.

Joshua inquired of God, why trouble had befallen Israel, but God
refused to reply. He was no tale-bearer; the evil-doer who had
caused the disaster would have to be singled out by lot. (27)
Joshua first of all summoned the high priest from the assembly of
the people. It appeared that, while the other jewels in his
breastplate gleamed bright, the stone representing the tribe of
Judah was dim. (28) By lot Achan was set apart from the members
of his tribe. Achan, however, refused to submit to the decision by
lot. He said to Joshua: "Among all living men thou and Phinehas
are the most pious. Yet, if lots were cast concerning you two, one
or other of you would be declared guilty. Thy teacher Moses has
been dead scarcely one month, and thou has already begun to go
astray, for thou hast forgotten that a man's guilt can be proved only
through two witnesses."

Endued with the holy spirit, Joshua divined that the land was to be
assigned to the tribes and families of Israel by lot, and he realized
that nothing ought to be done to bring this method of deciding into
disrepute. He, therefore, tried to persuade Achan to make a clean
breast of his transgression. (29) Meantime, the Judeans, the
tribesmen of Achan, rallied about him, and throwing themselves
upon the other tribes, they wrought fearful havoc and bloodshed.
This determined Achan to confess his sins. (30) The confession
cost him his life, but it saved him from losing his share in the
world to come. (31)

In spite of the reverses at Ai, (32) the terror inspired by the
Israelites grew among the Canaanitish peoples. The Gibeonites