But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth–aven, on the east side of Beth–el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
And Joshua said, 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?
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man.
And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:
And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord.
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Joshua 7 stands as a stark reminder that even after great victories, disobedience can lead to devastating consequences. Following the triumphant capture of Jericho, this chapter details Israel's humbling defeat at Ai, revealing the hidden sin that brought God's judgment upon the entire nation. The chapter serves as a powerful lesson about corporate responsibility, the seriousness of sin, and the importance of obedience to God's commands.
The Sin of Achan (Joshua 7:1)
The chapter opens with a jarring contrast to the previous one. After the miraculous victory at Jericho, we are immediately confronted with the reality of sin within the camp of Israel. Joshua_7:1 states, "But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things." The Hebrew word translated as "unfaithful" carries the weight of treachery and betrayal. The verse identifies Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, as the culprit. He took some of the devoted things, those items specifically designated for the Lord's treasury (Joshua 6:19, 24).
Achan's seemingly isolated act had far-reaching implications. God’s anger burned against the Israelites, not just Achan. This highlights the concept of corporate responsibility within the covenant community. Like a sports team penalized for the actions of one player, the entire nation suffered the consequences of Achan's transgression. The New Testament echoes this principle in 1 Corinthians 12:26, "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." Similarly, Hebrews 3:13 urges believers to encourage one another daily, preventing the hardening effect of sin's deception. Achan's sin wasn't just a personal failing; it was a breach of the covenant that affected the entire nation's relationship with God.
The Defeat at Ai (Joshua 7:2-5)
Unaware of Achan's transgression, Joshua prepared for the next conquest: the city of Ai. Based on a scouting report suggesting Ai's small size, Joshua sent only a fraction of his army, believing a small contingent could easily secure victory. The scouts advised, "Do not weary the whole people over there, for they are few" (Joshua_7:3). This overconfidence, fueled by the recent triumph at Jericho, proved disastrous.
The Israelites were routed, and thirty-six soldiers lost their lives (Joshua_7:4-5). This unexpected defeat shattered their morale and raised serious questions about God's presence and favor. The swift transition from victory to defeat underscores the precarious nature of relying on past successes and the ever-present need for humility and dependence on God.
Joshua's Lament and God's Response (Joshua 7:6-12)
Deeply distressed by the defeat, Joshua tore his clothes, fell facedown on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and put dust on his head—classic expressions of mourning and lament (Joshua_7:6). He questioned God, lamenting, "Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?" (Joshua_7:7-9). Joshua’s words reveal his confusion and fear that God had abandoned them.
God's response was direct and unwavering. He commanded Joshua to rise and revealed the root cause of the defeat: "Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings" (Joshua_7:10-11). God made it clear that their covenant relationship had been violated. By disobeying His explicit command regarding the devoted things, they had broken faith with Him. God’s presence and protection are contingent upon obedience to His covenant. Joshua would have to deal with the sin in order for God to reverse their circumstances and fight for them again (Joshua_7:12).
Identifying and Punishing the Sinner (Joshua 7:13-26)
God instructed Joshua to consecrate the people and prepare for a process of divine selection to identify the guilty party (Joshua_7:13-14). This process, moving from tribe to clan to family to individual, served several purposes. First, it emphasized the gravity of the sin, demonstrating its impact on the entire nation. Second, it highlighted God's intimate knowledge of each individual and their actions. Third, it provided Achan with an opportunity to confess his sin before being publicly exposed.
The selection process led to Achan, who finally confessed his transgression (Joshua_7:20-21). He admitted to coveting a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. He had hidden them in the ground inside his tent.
Achan, along with his children (who were likely complicit in his crime), were stoned to death and burned in the Valley of Achor (Joshua_7:24-26). While some may view this punishment as harsh, it underscores the seriousness of Achan's sin. He had deliberately disobeyed God's command, stolen what belonged to Him, and brought a curse upon the entire nation, resulting in the death of innocent soldiers. Furthermore, his actions were a direct challenge to God’s holiness and authority. Joshua erected a pile of stones over Achan's remains as a memorial, a constant reminder of the consequences of rebellion against the Lord (Joshua_7:26).
The lesson is clear: sin, even when seemingly hidden, has devastating consequences. While God's judgment may not always be as immediate or dramatic today, Romans 1:18-32 reminds us that He still demonstrates His wrath against sin by allowing people to experience the natural consequences of their sinful choices. We must be careful not to take our own sin lightly.
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth–aven, on the east side of Beth–el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
And Joshua said, 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?
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man.
And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:
And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord.
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Joshua 7 stands as a stark reminder that even after great victories, disobedience can lead to devastating consequences. Following the triumphant capture of Jericho, this chapter details Israel's humbling defeat at Ai, revealing the hidden sin that brought God's judgment upon the entire nation. The chapter serves as a powerful lesson about corporate responsibility, the seriousness of sin, and the importance of obedience to God's commands.
The Sin of Achan (Joshua 7:1)
The chapter opens with a jarring contrast to the previous one. After the miraculous victory at Jericho, we are immediately confronted with the reality of sin within the camp of Israel. Joshua_7:1 states, "But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things." The Hebrew word translated as "unfaithful" carries the weight of treachery and betrayal. The verse identifies Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, as the culprit. He took some of the devoted things, those items specifically designated for the Lord's treasury (Joshua 6:19, 24).
Achan's seemingly isolated act had far-reaching implications. God’s anger burned against the Israelites, not just Achan. This highlights the concept of corporate responsibility within the covenant community. Like a sports team penalized for the actions of one player, the entire nation suffered the consequences of Achan's transgression. The New Testament echoes this principle in 1 Corinthians 12:26, "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." Similarly, Hebrews 3:13 urges believers to encourage one another daily, preventing the hardening effect of sin's deception. Achan's sin wasn't just a personal failing; it was a breach of the covenant that affected the entire nation's relationship with God.
The Defeat at Ai (Joshua 7:2-5)
Unaware of Achan's transgression, Joshua prepared for the next conquest: the city of Ai. Based on a scouting report suggesting Ai's small size, Joshua sent only a fraction of his army, believing a small contingent could easily secure victory. The scouts advised, "Do not weary the whole people over there, for they are few" (Joshua_7:3). This overconfidence, fueled by the recent triumph at Jericho, proved disastrous.
The Israelites were routed, and thirty-six soldiers lost their lives (Joshua_7:4-5). This unexpected defeat shattered their morale and raised serious questions about God's presence and favor. The swift transition from victory to defeat underscores the precarious nature of relying on past successes and the ever-present need for humility and dependence on God.
Joshua's Lament and God's Response (Joshua 7:6-12)
Deeply distressed by the defeat, Joshua tore his clothes, fell facedown on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and put dust on his head—classic expressions of mourning and lament (Joshua_7:6). He questioned God, lamenting, "Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?" (Joshua_7:7-9). Joshua’s words reveal his confusion and fear that God had abandoned them.
God's response was direct and unwavering. He commanded Joshua to rise and revealed the root cause of the defeat: "Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings" (Joshua_7:10-11). God made it clear that their covenant relationship had been violated. By disobeying His explicit command regarding the devoted things, they had broken faith with Him. God’s presence and protection are contingent upon obedience to His covenant. Joshua would have to deal with the sin in order for God to reverse their circumstances and fight for them again (Joshua_7:12).
Identifying and Punishing the Sinner (Joshua 7:13-26)
God instructed Joshua to consecrate the people and prepare for a process of divine selection to identify the guilty party (Joshua_7:13-14). This process, moving from tribe to clan to family to individual, served several purposes. First, it emphasized the gravity of the sin, demonstrating its impact on the entire nation. Second, it highlighted God's intimate knowledge of each individual and their actions. Third, it provided Achan with an opportunity to confess his sin before being publicly exposed.
The selection process led to Achan, who finally confessed his transgression (Joshua_7:20-21). He admitted to coveting a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. He had hidden them in the ground inside his tent.
Achan, along with his children (who were likely complicit in his crime), were stoned to death and burned in the Valley of Achor (Joshua_7:24-26). While some may view this punishment as harsh, it underscores the seriousness of Achan's sin. He had deliberately disobeyed God's command, stolen what belonged to Him, and brought a curse upon the entire nation, resulting in the death of innocent soldiers. Furthermore, his actions were a direct challenge to God’s holiness and authority. Joshua erected a pile of stones over Achan's remains as a memorial, a constant reminder of the consequences of rebellion against the Lord (Joshua_7:26).
The lesson is clear: sin, even when seemingly hidden, has devastating consequences. While God's judgment may not always be as immediate or dramatic today, Romans 1:18-32 reminds us that He still demonstrates His wrath against sin by allowing people to experience the natural consequences of their sinful choices. We must be careful not to take our own sin lightly.