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this is an iheart podcast guaranteed human
Bethenny Frankel
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code audio previously on the chosen people the booming of forty thousand pairs of feet marching forward was punctuated by sharp spears hammering into the gravel everything thrummed to the rhythm of war drums tribe
Joshua
of judah forward they marched until they
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neared an archer's bow range from the city and then halted and turned to
Joshua
face north priests of yahweh forward the
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unit of priests moved together the seven priests at the front carrying shofars the ark of the covenant and its priestly guardians crossed the plains of jericho before
Joshua
the great army tribes of israel forward
Narrator
all of israel's enemies needed to know who their real adversary was it wasn't joshua nor was it the armies under his command it was the lord who challenged it was the lord who marched it was the lord who would carry out his plans for his chosen people
Joshua
today you will again see the wonders of the lord the mighty walls of jericho will fall before you again i tell you keep yourself from the things set apart or you will be set apart for destruction if you take any of those things you will set apart the camp of israel for destruction and make trouble for it all silver and gold and the articles of bronze and silver are dedicated to the lord and must go into the lord's treasury their
Narrator
cries drowned in the sound and chaos of the fallen stones bricks and mud the inner wall deteriorated first the debris tumbled down the corridor between the two city walls and into the sloped rampart and then collided spectacularly with the outer wall the force of the rubble hitting the base brought down the already crumb heavy walls with an enormous crash then all went silent click the link in the description to grow closer to god there you'll find daily prayers bible plans sleep stories and so much more all on the pray dot com app click the link in the description to get
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Bethenny Frankel
this is bethenny frankel from just be with bethenny frankel most dog food is marketing not nutrition that is why biggie and smalls eat just food for dogs real one hundred percent human grade food with ingredients i actually recognize and yes i do see the difference better digestion healthier skin more energy dogs that feel better my babies if you've been on the fence about switching stop overthinking it what's more important than your furry babies and their health go to justfoodfordogs dot com right now and get fifty percent off your first box no code needed just try it you ever wonder how
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the air hung thick with the scent of crumbling stone and burnt cedar a city unmade by the breath of god himself dust swirled in golden shafts of afternoon light curling and drifting like ash from a funeral pyre the walls of jericho lay in ruin their shattered bones scattered across the earth israel moved among them like kings surveying a conquered realm they were victorious more than victorious they were unstoppable the soldiers laughed as they walked the streets where canaanite guards once stood watch their shields clanged together like symbols of celebration young men lifted their voices in wild cheers fathers embraced sons brothers clasped one another's arms with the fierce joy of men who had tasted death but found life instead victory swirled in their chests like a song that could not be silenced joshua stood among them his face a canvas of raw emotion pride relief and awe all tangled together dust clung to the lines of his face but his eyes shone with a light that was not his own he raised his hands calling for quiet and the men stilled
Joshua
what did i tell you the lord has given us this victory not i not you not any man among us it is the lord's hand that brought jericho down he told you to be strong he told you to be courageous look now at what is possible when you trust in him look at these walls cast down like chaff before the
Narrator
wind the men shouted their agreement their voices rising like a war chant the
Joshua
lord is our strength the lord is
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our shield they beat their chests and raised their fists to the sky joshua's gaze swept over the wreckage his heart full and steady for the first time in weeks for all his doubts since the death of moses here at last was proof proof that god's favor had not departed with his master he had walked in the shadow of moses for so long wondering if he could fill such a place but here was the answer the same power that parted the sea had brought down these walls and joshua had been chosen to lead them not for his strength but his obedience he breathed deep filling his lungs with
Joshua
the air of victory take nothing for yourselves but what is set aside for the lord the idols of this city are filth the shrines the false gods burn them all let no man be tempted by their craft or their beauty do not let greed undo what the
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lord has done the soldiers obeyed they overturned graven images of baal and asherah they hurled them into the flames black smoke coiled into the sky blotting out the sun the sweet stink of burning wood and melting gold filled the air silver plates were shattered copper and bronze effigies crumbled into molten ruin they kept only what was pure unmarked gold raw silver precious stones offerings for the treasury of the lord the rest was cast into the fire joshua watched it all in silence his eyes shadowed but sharp the burden of command was heavy on his shoulders but it sat easier now thank you lord joshua turned walking toward the heart of the city where the temple of jericho still loomed its roof had caved in and its facade was cracked but it stood proudly among the rubble its pillars were gilded with gold and twin bronze statues guarded its entrance eyes blank and unseen even now in defeat it had the air of defiance joshua frowned another soldier was standing near the temple's threshold joshua called to him achan come here achan a broad shouldered man with quick restless eyes stood at attention his sword hung at his side blood still drying on the leather of his gloves i'm here at your will general joshua gestured toward the temple come
Joshua
with me i don't like the look
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of this place they entered together their shadows long in the flickering torchlight the air inside was thick with old rot and the sour tang of spoiled wine broken vessels lay scattered across the floor the remains of sacrifices blackened bones and decaying flames fruit lay in piles near the altar the cloying smell of incense lingered still stubborn as sin joshua grimaced and handed achan a torch this whole
Joshua
place is tainted there's nothing here we need no treasure worth touching burn it
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all don't linger but achan lingered he stood before the altar his breath shallow his eyes locked on the treasures laid out before him a cloak of deep red embroidered with gold thread folded neatly as if waiting for him beside it a pile of shining coins not copper or bronze but gold bright as the sun a bar of silver lay half buried beneath them thick and heavy his heart began to thud in his chest loud as a war drum no one would know the thought slithered through his mind like a snake through grass his breath quickened and his hands twitched at his sides he could feel it the weight of it in his hands the smooth cool press of the silver the rough weave of the cloak on his skin you fought for this you deserve it you risked your life for it he stepped forward slowly like a man wading into a pool knowing it would be cold but helpless to stop his fingers hovered over the cloak he glanced over his shoulder joshua's voice echoed from the temple doors aiken are you coming aiken jerked back his breath hitching yeah
Joshua
yes general right behind you his voice
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cracked he coughed cleared his throat and forced a smile just gathering oil for
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the fire good burn it all every
Joshua
last piece will not carry jericho's filth
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with us as you say sir as the lord commands but his eyes had already returned to the altar aiken exited the temple joshua had departed back to caleb he glanced back at the temple the flames behind him rose high casting long twisting shadows on the ground like writhing serpents achan stood alone a torch in one hand a satchel slung over his back the fire danced in his eyes his face split with a grin that showed too many teeth he glanced left glanced right no one came no one watched he slipped his hand into the satchel the gold was cool in his hand he squeezed it let it roll over his knuckles the silver bar pressed against his back like a brand hot as shame but he ignored it his breath hissed out in a low chuckle no one will know no one will ever the flames consumed jericho's temple but could not burn away the sin hidden in achan's heart the gold remained the silver remained the curse remained and in the quiet of the night while others slept the weight of stolen treasure lay heavy on achan's soul
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Bethenny Frankel
bethany frankel from just be with bethany frankel let me be blunt most dog food is junk it just is and i'm not feeding junk to biggie and smalls that is why they eat just food for dogs it's real one hundred doll one hundred percent human grade food with ingredients i actually recognize not mystery pellets pretending to be healthy and once i switched the difference was obvious better digestion better skin more energy dogs who actually feel good instead of just surviving dinner here's the thing you care about quality you make an intentional choice to be healthy so why are you gambling with your dog's health so let's think about our furry babies go to justfood four dogs dot com right now and get fifty percent off your first box no code just try it because once you see the difference you're not going
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org the sun bled over the eastern horizon its red light seeping through the mist that clung to the lowlands of the jordan shadows stretched long and lean across the riverbank where joshua sat alone knife in hand a gnarled branch slowly taking shape beneath the edge of his blade shavings of pale wood curled and fell to the earth his gaze flicked to the river now and again he enjoyed the ceaseless hush of it it was the sort of sound that could lull a man into forgetting time altogether which perhaps was why he sat there so long joshua was anxious he had sent a company of men into battle but hadn't heard back they should have returned by now they had gone up to ai over dawn the day before it was meant to be a simple campaign ai was a city of little renown perched on its hill like a cockerel on a dung heap three thousand men had been sent to crack its gates that should have been more than enough better to spare the whole army from weariness when a small company would suffice jericho had already fallen and fallen with such thunder that all of canaan now trembled behind their stone walls but jericho had been a miracle jericho had been the lord's work joshua's eyes rested on the river but his mind drifted far from it his chest rose and fell with a slow measured breath as he tried to untangle his thoughts was it pride to believe success had become a certainty he had watched the earth earth split beneath korah and his rebels had heard the thunder of sinai and lived to tell of it victories could be sudden yes but so too could calamity one moment honey on the tongue the next the taste of ashes joshua was still in the grip of such musings when the snap of a branch pulled him from his thoughts he rose in an instant his eyes sharp as a fountain a runner emerged from the brush panting face slick with sweat eyes wild with urgency general the men have
Joshua
returned and what news they taking the
Narrator
city well i think you should hear their report yourself joshua dropped the branch he'd been carving he drew a deep breath preparing for the worst the camp was alive with the low murmured of men too exhausted to speak yet too ashamed to remain silent the stink of blood and sweat lay heavy in the air and the soldiers sat scattered like broken pottery dirty battered hollow eyed they drank deep from water skins but did not meet joshua's eyes as he approached not a word not a glance the stink of defeat was more potent than the blood of on them his eyes swept over them and found caleb and salmon caleb's brow was split open and blood had streaked down the side of his face in a thick crusted line salmon leaned heavily on his spear his face a mess of swelling bruises his lower lip split and caked with dried blood what happened caleb exhaled through his nose eyes fixed on the ground as he wiped the blood from his brow we lost how we underestimated them salmon his pride more bruised than his flesh lifted his head and spoke we reached
Joshua
the gates they drove us back then they chased us down the ridge and caught us at the stone quarries that's
Narrator
where the worst of it happened how
Joshua
many dead thirty six it would have
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been more if it weren't for salman's quick thinking i was too disoriented to
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take charge the number hung in the air sharp as the clang of steel on steel thirty six men gone joshua winced at the amount it was not an astronomical loss but considering the miraculous victory of jericho with no casualties casualties it was still unsettling joshua did not understand had not the conquest of canaan been divinely orchestrated caleb seemed to agree and displaying a rare bout of frustration
Joshua
continued i don't understand the numbers were in our favor we should have overtaken them easily after what the lord did for us at jericho jericho what happened has he abandoned us and we need the control of the ridge route without it our way to the north or south of canaan will be blocked ai is not a city we can lose if we want to win the land
Narrator
joshua nodded the young lieutenant was correct aye was meant to be the easy target after jericho but its loss could not be overstated just then rahab ran up to their group from the crowds of injured soldiers in a frenzy she reached salman and embraced him with a thud she frantically assessed his wounds and tore away part of her garment she gently pressed it against his split lip
Joshua
it looks worse than it is my
Narrator
love how live salman pressed his hand over rahab's on his cheek and smiled warmly at her the two had married shortly after their victory at jericho apparently having taken joshua's speech about chosen family to heart the newlyweds murmured softly to each other as rahab continued to tend to salmon's wounds sensing the need to give them some privacy joshua steered caleb away caleb grasped joshua by the forearm and drew him close so only he could hear the fear in his eyes in intensifying joshua if the people lose
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heart we lose the war you know
Joshua
this we did everything that was asked
Narrator
of us joshua looked beyond caleb's shoulder and his stomach twisted tighter as he saw fear sweep through the camp he heard it in their whispers he saw it in their shaking heads white hot fear grew gripped joshua and his pulse began to race had god changed his mind what had gone so terribly wrong the hours passed and night came heavy with silence within the shadowed confines of the tabernacle joshua lay face down before the ark of the covenant his clothes torn his hair and beard coated with dust the air smelled of incense and old smoke the priests and his elders knelt outside their silence as heavy as stone joshua's voice was hoarse as he cried out his face pressed to the
Joshua
ground o lord god why have you brought our people across the jordan only to hand us to our enemies his
Narrator
words echoed in the hollow space of the tabernacle his breath was ragged his
Joshua
heart raw when the canaanites hear of this they will wipe out our name from the earth and then what will happen to your great name silence for
Narrator
a long terrible moment there was nothing then the air shifted the flames of the sacred lamps flickered wildly though no wind stirred them the voice came like thunder beneath the earth stand up joshua why have you fallen on your face
Joshua
israel has sinned they have violated my
Narrator
covenant they have stolen what was set apart that is why you cannot stand against your enemies joshua's blood went cold his mind raced a thief a traitor the lord's voice grew hard as iron until you remove what is set apart i will not be with you joshua rose slowly to his knees dust falling from his face in little rivulets his heart beat hard in his chest fury burned in his blood slow at first then hot as molten iron his eyes burned like embers disobedience rebellion treachery from within he knew now someone had stolen from the lord taken from the spoils of jericho joshua's lips pursed inward and his jaw clenched his tone was joyless and sharp as a whetstone's edge we will find them and when they did there would be no mercy the morning sun beat down on israel its searing rays like a mighty hand of justice seeking to burn out the traitor fear was still heightened at camp but it also made way for a tense silence as they waited to see how the leaders of israel would assess the guilty and flush them out eleazar the high priest presided over the casting of lots eliezer prayed and reached into the pouch sewn into the breastplate of his priestly garment that contained a lot for each of the twelve tribes of israel together they had called all the heads of families of each of the twelve tribes to come to the courtyard and before all of israel eleazar had drawn the tribe of judah the lord was guiding this elimination process to identify the guilty party joshua now stood looking out at all of them his blood still boiled with righteous fury the traitor of the lord was standing hidden among them in the tribe of judah eliezer poured over the names of the clans of tribe judah eliezer used the divine gemstone tool the thumb the tool of truth and considered each clan until he finally made his next selection again he was guided by the lord through the divine tools that the appointed craftsman bezalel had made when he crafted the garments according to divine direction the clan of zerahite hesitantly the heads of the families of clan zerahite towed forward again eleazar consulted the records in ithamar's hands and used the gemstone to guide his selection zabdi son of zerah zabdi's face was drained of color but he had no choice but to step forward his children grandchildren and great grandchildren were with him joshua surveyed the group of men he had anticipated that the wrongdoer would have confessed israel did not know the full intent of the lord's plan to expose the sin among them but joshua knew that a truly repented heart before the lord could stay his hand of justice none of zabdi's sons met his eyes and none confessed their silence was damning of their guilt joshua nodded to eliezer to continue eliezer consulted the names again and flipped the inscribed gemstone in his hand for each until he reached a verdict kami son of zabdi joshua waved zabdi back to stand with the rest of his clan within the tribe of judah kami and his children were positively sweating now but still no one confessed someone in this group knew something and yet stayed silent joshua fixed carmi with a stare the man seemed terrified and confused but not defiant joshua's eyes slid to the man beside him one of his sons this man looked anywhere but at joshua he had an air of indignance to him disbelief verging on defensiveness this was their rebel joshua waited another moment before giving eleazar the signal to continue the man stayed silent and joshua's heart sank his silence sealed his fate joshua nodded for eliezer to cast what joshua knew would be the final lot aiken son of kami kami looked at his son in surprise suspicion beginning to form on his face in a frown but he returned to their clan and left his son achan and achan's children standing alone before joshua it was then that achan met joshua's eyes the defiance there was fierce and wild a snapping animal backed into a corner his intensity had a calming effect on joshua my son give
Joshua
glory to the lord the god of israel and confessed to him i urge you to tell me what you've done
Narrator
don't hide anything from me aiken surprised joshua by reacting to his measured response like a slap in the face frantically aiken lashed out at his frightened children standing beside him what general joshua you
Joshua
stopped drawing your lots with me you
Narrator
don't need to question my children aiken's children looked bewildered at their father's willingness to rat them out joshua's heart sank as he realized that betrayal was the look on their faces not anger it seemed that achan had not quite acted alone in his trespasses against the lord he had stolen it but they had hoarded it no i am asking you aegon tell me what you've done defiance hung in the air brittle as ice between the two men with each second that ticked by joshua felt certain that a confession of true repentance would not come an admission of guilt perhaps but not one of regret it's true i've sinned against the lord the god of israel when i saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from babylon five pounds of silver and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter it's true i coveted them so i took them you can see for yourself they're concealed in the ground beside my tent with the silver under the cloak thank you my son joshua then turned to finnehas who was standing beside his father
Joshua
phineas take a few men and go to ekin's tent to confirm his story the stolen items are there bring them
Narrator
back akin's children looking uncertain started to edge back to their grandfather and the other members of their clan joshua held up a hand to stop them no
Joshua
my children you will wait here until this matter is brought fully to light
Narrator
as he had said the stolen plunder was found in aiken's tent phinehas and the others brought and spread them out in the courtyard in the lord's presence the scene was sobering achan and his children rebelled against their lord's commands they had not wronged joshua they had wronged the lord and stolen what should have been laid aside for him achan son
Joshua
of gami i sentence you to die for your crimes against the lord you and yours will pay the ultimate penalty for your open rebellion it is because of you that the lord's anger burns against us you have single handedly cost us the victory against ai it is because of you that thirty six israelite men are dead it is because of you that the presence of the lord almost left us this matter must be set right why have you brought this trouble today the lord will bring you trouble we will mark the place of your execution as a place of trouble let no one in israel forget this
Narrator
day they bound aiken in the middle of the valley each tribe member picked up stones tears of rage and sorrow dripping from their chins one by one they hurled stones at him blood and screams scattered across the the field achan writhed before them bound and unable to free himself stone after stone struck achan until he breathed his last joshua took achan along with his idols and burned them everyone looked at achan melted with his idols he shared their fate destined to become nothing
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foreign if today's reading
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moved you the pray dot com app is where you can go deeper with daily prayers bible plans and more download it free link in the description this pray dot com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents steve katina max bard zach shellevaga and ben gammon are the executive producers of the chosen people narrated by paul coltofianu characters are voiced by jonathan cotton aaron salvato sarah seltz mike reagan steven ringwald sylvia zaradoc thomas copeland junior rosanna pilcher and mitch leschinsky music by andrew morgan smith written by aaron salvato bree rosely and chris baig you can hear more prey dot com productions on the prey dot com app available on the apple app store and google play store if you enjoyed the chosen people please rate and leave a review this is
Bethenny Frankel
bethany frankel from just be with bethany frankel most dog food is marketing not nutrition that is why biggie and smalls eat just food for dogs real one hundred percent human grade food with ingredients i actually recognize and yes i do see the difference better digestion healthier skin more energy dogs that feel better my babies if you've been on the fence about switching stop overthinking it what's more important than your furry babies and their health go to justfoodfordogs dot com right now and get fifty percent off your first box no code needed just try
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org
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Bethenny Frankel
back for season four to talk to some incredible small business owners the big
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month this is an iheart podcast guaranteed human
“Achan’s Greed” immerses listeners in the Old Testament story of Israel’s conquest of Jericho, centering on the devastating consequences of hidden sin within the camp. With cinematic narration and dramatic dialogue, the episode explores how the greed of one man—Achan—led to defeat, divine judgement, and tragic loss, illuminating sobering lessons about obedience, community, and the cost of unfaithfulness to God’s commandments.
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 00:33 | Recounting the fall of Jericho and God’s command | | 06:38 | Joshua credits victory to God, admonishing greed | | 10:35 | Achan’s temptation and theft | | 16:13 | Defeat at Ai; Joshua’s confusion | | 23:22 | Joshua pleads with God; the reason is revealed | | 24:20 | The casting of lots to find the guilty party | | 29:42 | Joshua confronts Achan; confession follows | | 32:12 | Achan’s sentence and communal execution |
The storytelling is rich, cinematic, and contemplative. The narrator evokes the sights, sounds, and emotions of ancient Israel, from victory’s euphoria to the heaviness of shame and divine wrath. Joshua’s leadership is portrayed with humility and intensity, while Achan’s internal struggle is depicted through atmosphere and introspective moments. The gravity of sin and its communal implications are at the episode’s core.
“Achan’s Greed” is a powerful meditation on integrity, the destructive potential of hidden sin, and the necessity of collective faithfulness. Through evocative dramatization, it brings to life the immediacy of ancient lessons—reminding listeners that unfaithfulness can unravel a community, and that true victory hinges not on human power, but on obedience to the divine.