Joshua chapter 7

After reading chapter 7:

*Here we have an interesting and instructive side story, meant to show that when Yahweh says he wants all the valuable objects for himself, he means it. They are called "devoted things" because they were to be devoted to Yahweh's treasury, of which the priests were in charge. After the storming of Jericho, there was a pile of plunder, which contained gold, silver, and a beautiful Babylonian robe. One wonders what a robe was doing in the plunder, it wasn't made of valuable metals and Yahweh couldn't wear it. One also wonders how a travelling nomadic herdsman is up on Babylonian fashion. Apparently, Achan, from the tribe of Judah, coveted that robe, along with some gold and silver. So, he took them and hid them under the ground in his tent. This was a big no-no. In the last chapter the people had been told trouble and destruction would come to them if they took any of the devoted things for themselves.

*Meanwhile, another battle was at hand. Joshua sent some men to spy out the lay of the land at a place called Ai, which according to archaeological evidence, may not have even been occupied at the time. When the spies came back, they were supremely confident and said there was no need to send everyone, the place had very few men. So, only 3,000 men went to take Ai. Wonder of wonders, Ai fought back and thirty six Israelites were killed. The Israelites hearts "melted like water" after this event. Awww. Joshua and the elders of Israel were devastated. They tore their clothes, fell on the ground, and sprinkled dust on their heads. That was to prove how upset they were. Then Joshua complained to Yahweh and told him Yahweh's reputation among the Canaanites would suffer because of this and the Israelites would be wiped out.

*Yahweh told Joshua to stand up then informed him that there was a thief and a liar among the Israelites. That was why they lost the battle with Ai. Joshua was to tell the people that they would not be able to stand against their enemies unless they removed the devoted objects from the camp. The perpetrator and all his possessions were to be burned. The next morning each tribe was called forth and examined. Joshua managed to separate out Achan. Joshua called Achan "my son" and told him not to hide what he had done. Joshua knew what the punishment was going to be, Achan didn't. Achan confessed; the objects were found and spread out before the lord. Achan, his children,  his livestock, and the loot, were taken to the valley of Achor. There, all the living beings that belonged to Achan were stoned and then burned. Afterward, a bunch of rocks was piled on the site, which "remains to this day." In reality no one is certain where the site would have been.

*Why did Yahweh require the children and livestock to be stoned and burned (tortured) for what one man had done? What happened to the valuable objects?