Joshuachapter 7
26 verses · BSBJoshua book hub →
Achan Is Stoned to Death — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
A.Routed at little Ai — hearts melt like watervv. 1-9
1 The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites. 2 Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.” 4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 “O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? 9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”
B.Israel hath sinned: get thee upvv. 10-15
10 But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions. 12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction. 13 Get up and consecrate the people, saying, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Among you, O Israel, there are things devoted to destruction. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. 14 In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man. 15 The one who is caught with the things devoted to destruction must be burned, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.’”
C.Achan's mantle, silver, and wedge of goldvv. 16-26
16 So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 17 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected. 18 And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected. 19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD. 24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor. 25 “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies. 26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
Chapter summary
Devoted spoil hidden in one tent undoes a nation.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Chapter summary
Devoted spoil hidden in one tent undoes a nation.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Devoted spoil hidden in one tent undoes a nation. Israel is routed at little Ai, thirty-six men fall, 'and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.' Joshua tears his clothes before the ark till evening, and Jehovah answers not with comfort but with diagnosis: 'Israel hath sinned; yea, they have even transgressed my covenant.' The lot narrows by tribe, family, and household to Achan, who confesses the goodly Babylonish mantle, the two hundred shekels of silver, and the wedge of gold hidden in the earth of his tent. Judgment falls in the valley of Achor, the valley Hosea 2 will later name a door of hope.
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.
Context
History · Joshua — Joshua overview
- A. 1–9 Routed at little Ai — hearts melt like water
- B. 10–15 Israel hath sinned: get thee up
- C. 16–26 Achan's mantle, silver, and wedge of gold
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
1 Chronicles 23 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:4Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.
- 1 Chronicles 2:6The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all.
- 1 Chronicles 2:7The son of Carmi: Achar, who brought trouble upon Israel by violating the ban on devoted things.
- Read 1 Chronicles 2 →
Joshua 62 verses
- Joshua 6:17Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.
- Joshua 6:18But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.
- Read Joshua 6 →
Ecclesiastes 92 verses
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
- Read Ecclesiastes 9 →
1 Samuel 142 verses
- 1 Samuel 14:23So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
- 1 Samuel 14:38Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
- Read 1 Samuel 14 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
Hebrews 42 verses
- Hebrews 4:11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
- Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Read Hebrews 4 →
Leviticus 262 verses
- Leviticus 26:17And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
- Leviticus 26:36As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them.
- Read Leviticus 26 →
Joshua 22 verses
- Joshua 2:9and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
- Joshua 2:11When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.
- Read Joshua 2 →
Genesis 372 verses
- Genesis 37:29When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,
- Genesis 37:34Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
- Read Genesis 37 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.