Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1The 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.
2Meanwhile, 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.
3On 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.”
5And 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.
6Then 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!
9When 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?”
11Israel 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.
12This 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.
13Get 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.
14In 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.
15The 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.’”
17He 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.
18And 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.
19So 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.”
21When 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.”
24Then 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.
26And 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.
Joshua 7 presents a dramatic reversal after Israel's miraculous victory at Jericho. Despite God's explicit command to devote all spoils to Him, one man's secret sin—Achan's theft of forbidden items—brings corporate judgment upon the entire nation. This chapter illustrates the serious consequences of disobedience and the necessity of dealing with sin promptly and thoroughly. Through this sobering account, we discover that individual choices affect the community of God's people, and that true victory requires obedience and integrity.
Israel's trespass occurred when Achan, a man from the tribe of Judah, took items that God had commanded be destroyed—items He had declared accursed (Hebrew: cherem, devoted to destruction). Although only one man sinned, verse 1 emphasizes that "the children of Israel committed a trespass," showing how individual sin compromises the whole covenant community. Joshua's spies report that Ai is small and can be easily defeated by a modest force of 2,000–3,000 men. Confident in their recent triumph, Israel sends only three thousand warriors—but they are routed and thirty-six men are killed. This stunning reversal shocks the nation and reveals that God's presence, which brought victory at Jericho, has been withdrawn due to hidden disobedience.
Application: We must remember that sin always separates us from God's blessing. Hidden sin is not truly hidden from the Lord; it undermines our spiritual effectiveness and witness.
Joshua responds with deep distress, tearing his clothes and falling before the ark in prayer. His anguished words—"Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!"—reflect genuine despair. Yet his prayer contains a critical misunderstanding: he focuses on Israel's humiliation and what enemies will say, rather than on God's holiness. The Lord interrupts his prayer with a command: "Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?" God does not comfort; He confronts. The reason for defeat is clear: "Israel hath sinned" and transgressed God's covenant by taking the accursed thing. God declares that Israel cannot stand before enemies until the sin is removed and the sinner destroyed. God's presence—the source of all victory—is withdrawn from a community harboring disobedience.
Application: Prayer without repentance and obedience is incomplete. God values our holiness more than our comfort, and He requires us to deal decisively with sin in our midst.
God commands Israel to sanctify themselves and prepare for a solemn process of discovery. Through a narrowing series of lots—tribe, family, household, and individual—the Lord identifies Achan as the guilty party. This method demonstrates that God's justice is both public and certain; sin cannot remain hidden. Achan is isolated through systematic elimination, and his entire household and possessions are implicated in his transgression.
Application: God sees all things. We cannot hide our disobedience from Him, and we must not attempt to.
Joshua urges Achan to "give glory to the LORD" by confessing. Achan admits he coveted forbidden items—a goodly garment, silver, and gold—then took them and hid them in his tent. His confession reveals that willful desire preceded willful theft. The stolen goods are recovered and displayed before the Lord and all Israel. Then Achan, his entire household, livestock, and possessions are brought to the valley of Achor ("trouble") and destroyed by stoning and burning. This severe judgment—extending to family members who may have been complicit—reflects ancient Near Eastern custom and the gravity of covenant violation. Yet verse 26 notes that after this purge, "the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger," showing that judgment restores covenant relationship and clears the path for future blessing.
Application: God's judgment, though severe, is just and restorative. When sin is dealt with honestly and thoroughly, God's anger turns away and His blessing returns.
Application for Today
Joshua 7 reminds us that in God's covenant community—the Church—individual choices matter. Hidden sin grieves the Holy Spirit and weakens our corporate witness. We are called to pursue holiness, to confess sin openly, and to help one another stand firm. While we live under grace rather than under law, God still takes seriously our obedience and integrity. Let us examine our hearts, remove anything that dishonors God, and trust that confession and repentance restore us to blessing and usefulness in His kingdom.
Study Notes — Joshua 7
5 sectionsJoshua 7 presents a dramatic reversal after Israel's miraculous victory at Jericho. Despite God's explicit command to devote all spoils to Him, one man's secret sin—Achan's theft of forbidden items—brings corporate judgment upon the entire nation. This chapter illustrates the serious consequences of disobedience and the necessity of dealing with sin promptly and thoroughly. Through this sobering account, we discover that individual choices affect the community of God's people, and that true victory requires obedience and integrity.
Israel's trespass occurred when Achan, a man from the tribe of Judah, took items that God had commanded be destroyed—items He had declared accursed (Hebrew: cherem, devoted to destruction). Although only one man sinned, verse 1 emphasizes that "the children of Israel committed a trespass," showing how individual sin compromises the whole covenant community. Joshua's spies report that Ai is small and can be easily defeated by a modest force of 2,000–3,000 men. Confident in their recent triumph, Israel sends only three thousand warriors—but they are routed and thirty-six men are killed. This stunning reversal shocks the nation and reveals that God's presence, which brought victory at Jericho, has been withdrawn due to hidden disobedience.
Application: We must remember that sin always separates us from God's blessing. Hidden sin is not truly hidden from the Lord; it undermines our spiritual effectiveness and witness.
Joshua responds with deep distress, tearing his clothes and falling before the ark in prayer. His anguished words—"Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!"—reflect genuine despair. Yet his prayer contains a critical misunderstanding: he focuses on Israel's humiliation and what enemies will say, rather than on God's holiness. The Lord interrupts his prayer with a command: "Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?" God does not comfort; He confronts. The reason for defeat is clear: "Israel hath sinned" and transgressed God's covenant by taking the accursed thing. God declares that Israel cannot stand before enemies until the sin is removed and the sinner destroyed. God's presence—the source of all victory—is withdrawn from a community harboring disobedience.
Application: Prayer without repentance and obedience is incomplete. God values our holiness more than our comfort, and He requires us to deal decisively with sin in our midst.
God commands Israel to sanctify themselves and prepare for a solemn process of discovery. Through a narrowing series of lots—tribe, family, household, and individual—the Lord identifies Achan as the guilty party. This method demonstrates that God's justice is both public and certain; sin cannot remain hidden. Achan is isolated through systematic elimination, and his entire household and possessions are implicated in his transgression.
Application: God sees all things. We cannot hide our disobedience from Him, and we must not attempt to.
Joshua urges Achan to "give glory to the LORD" by confessing. Achan admits he coveted forbidden items—a goodly garment, silver, and gold—then took them and hid them in his tent. His confession reveals that willful desire preceded willful theft. The stolen goods are recovered and displayed before the Lord and all Israel. Then Achan, his entire household, livestock, and possessions are brought to the valley of Achor ("trouble") and destroyed by stoning and burning. This severe judgment—extending to family members who may have been complicit—reflects ancient Near Eastern custom and the gravity of covenant violation. Yet verse 26 notes that after this purge, "the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger," showing that judgment restores covenant relationship and clears the path for future blessing.
Application: God's judgment, though severe, is just and restorative. When sin is dealt with honestly and thoroughly, God's anger turns away and His blessing returns.
Joshua 7 reminds us that in God's covenant community—the Church—individual choices matter. Hidden sin grieves the Holy Spirit and weakens our corporate witness. We are called to pursue holiness, to confess sin openly, and to help one another stand firm. While we live under grace rather than under law, God still takes seriously our obedience and integrity. Let us examine our hearts, remove anything that dishonors God, and trust that confession and repentance restore us to blessing and usefulness in His kingdom.