1 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.
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
3 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 labor thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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!
8 O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
9 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?
10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
17 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:
18 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.
19 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.
20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
21 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.
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 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 chapter 7 is a continuation of the conquest of the Promised Land by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua. This chapter tells the story of Achan's sin and the consequences it brought upon the Israelite camp. It also highlights the importance of obedience and the severity of sin in the eyes of God.
1. Disobedience and its Consequences
The main theme of Joshua chapter 7 is disobedience and the consequences it brings. After the miraculous victory at Jericho, the Israelites were instructed by God to destroy everything in the city and not to take any of the spoils for themselves. However, one man, Achan, disobeyed this command and took some of the forbidden items for himself, causing the anger of God to be kindled against the Israelites. This disobedience not only brought punishment upon Achan but also affected the entire camp of Israel, resulting in their defeat at the city of Ai.
2. The Severity of Sin
Another prominent theme in this chapter is the severity of sin in the eyes of God. The sin of Achan may seem small and insignificant, but it had far-reaching consequences. It not only resulted in the defeat of the Israelites but also brought the wrath of God upon them. This shows that even the smallest of sins can have serious consequences and should not be taken lightly.
3. The Importance of Obedience
Joshua chapter 7 also emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands. The Israelites were given specific instructions on how to conquer Jericho, and they were warned not to take any of the spoils for themselves. However, Achan's disobedience not only showed a lack of trust in God's commands but also brought harm to the entire nation. This serves as a reminder that obedience to God is crucial for the success and well-being of His people.
The chapter begins with the Israelites preparing to attack the city of Ai. Joshua sent out a group of spies to assess the strength of the city, and they returned with a report that it would be an easy victory. However, the Israelites were defeated, and Joshua was troubled and questioned God about their failure. God revealed to Joshua that someone in the camp had sinned and brought trouble upon them.
Through the process of casting lots, God revealed that Achan had taken some of the forbidden spoils from Jericho. Joshua confronted Achan, and he confessed to taking a beautiful cloak, some silver, and a bar of gold. These items were hidden in Achan's tent, and he thought he could keep them without anyone knowing. However, God knew and brought judgment upon Achan and his family for their disobedience.
The judgment for Achan's sin was severe. He and his family were stoned to death, and their possessions were destroyed by fire. This may seem harsh, but it serves as a reminder of the seriousness of disobeying God's commands and the consequences it brings.
1. The Importance of Obedience
The story of Achan's sin and its consequences serve as a warning to the Israelites and to us today about the importance of obedience to God's commands. Achan's disobedience not only affected him but also brought harm to the entire nation. This shows that our actions, whether good or bad, can have an impact on those around us. Therefore, it is crucial to follow God's instructions and trust in His plan, even if it may not make sense to us.
2. The Severity of Sin
Achan's sin may seem small and insignificant, but it had far-reaching consequences. This shows that even the smallest of sins can have serious consequences and should not be taken lightly. This is a reminder that sin is a serious offense in the eyes of God and should not be treated casually.
3. The Need for Accountability
Achan's sin was not just his own, but it affected the entire camp of Israel. This highlights the need for accountability in our actions. We are responsible not only for ourselves but also for those around us. This is why it is essential to have accountability partners who can help us stay on the right path and hold us accountable for our actions.
4. The Grace and Mercy of God
Despite the severity of Achan's sin, we see the grace and mercy of God in this chapter. God could have wiped out the entire nation for their disobedience, but He showed mercy by only punishing Achan and his family. This is a reminder that even in our moments of disobedience, God is merciful and willing to forgive us when we confess and repent of our sins.
Joshua chapter 7 is a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the severity of sin in His eyes. It also highlights the need for accountability and the grace and mercy of God. The story of Achan's sin serves as a warning to us to be careful of our actions and to trust in God's plan, even when it may not make sense to us. It is a reminder that our obedience to God is crucial for our success and well-being as His people.
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