Joshua 7 

Joshua 7:1 The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and Yahveh’s anger burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7:2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and scout the land.” So the men went up and scouted Ai.

Joshua 7:3 After returning to Joshua they reported to him, “Don’t send all the people, but send about two thousand or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don’t wear out all our people there.”

Joshua 7:4 So about three thousand men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.

Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them and chased them from outside the city gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people lost heart.

Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of Yahveh until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.

Joshua 7:7 “Oh, Lord God,” Joshua said, “Why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan!

Joshua 7:8 What can I say, Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?

Joshua 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and exterminate our name from the land. Then what will you do about your great name?”

Joshua 7:10 Yahveh then said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen facedown?

Joshua 7:11 Israel has failed. They have violated the covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their belongings.

Joshua 7:12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies because they have been set apart for destruction. I will only be with you if you annihilate[1] from among you what is set apart.

Joshua 7:13 “Go and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves for tomorrow, for this is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: Some things are set apart among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove what is set apart.

Joshua 7:14 In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe Yahveh selects is to come forward clan by clan. The clan Yahveh selects is to come forward family by family. The family Yahveh selects is to come forward man by man.

Joshua 7:15 The one who is caught with the things set apart must be burned, along with everything he has, because he has violated Yahveh’s covenant and committed an outrage in Israel.”

Joshua 7:16 Joshua got up early the next morning. He had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.

Joshua 7:17 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the Zerahite clan was selected. He had the Zerahite clan come forward by heads of families, and Zabdi was selected.

Joshua 7:18 He then had Zabdi’s family come forward man by man, and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.

Joshua 7:19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to Yahveh, the God of Israel, and make a confession to him. I urge you to tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.”

Joshua 7:20 Achan replied to Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against Yahveh, the God of Israel. This is what I did:

Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter, I craved[2] them and took them. You can see for yourself. They are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the silver under the cloak.”

Joshua 7:22 So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there was the cloak, concealed in his tent, with the silver underneath.

Joshua 7:23 They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out in Yahveh’s presence.

Joshua 7:24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, and the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his ox, donkey, and sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

Joshua 7:25 Joshua said, “Why have you cut us off? Today Yahveh will cut you off!” So all Israel stoned them to death. They burned their bodies, threw stones on them,

Joshua 7:26 and raised over him a large pile of rocks that remains still today. Then Yahveh turned from his burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor still today.

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[1] שָׁמַד  = annihilate. Joshua 7:12; 9:24; 11:14, 20; 23:15; 24:8.

[2] חָמַד = crave.

Joshua 7 quotes:

“The narrator sets the stage for failure at Ai (Hb. ruin; LXX, city). From an omniscient view, the narrator warns readers that all is not well in the camp after victory at Jericho. The people have acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things because Achan of the tribe of Judah has taken some of the forbidden booty for himself. The impact of this violation of herem means that the LoRD’s anger burned against Israel (7:1). The point of view of the narrator focuses the story on the ban violation and its implications for the entire people. These responses explain why the army of the tribes was defeated, suffered casualties, and felt embarrassed when God did not fight for the people.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 52.

“Joshua followed God’s instructions precisely (7:16-18). The reader is immediately curious as to how Joshua knew that the tribe of Judah “was taken” instead of Ephraim or Benjamin. Probably God directed the process through the casting of lots (1 Samuel 14:41-42). The practice of casting lots utilized marked objects that one threw to the ground to determine yes or no answers or to determine one of two alternatives.”

Lyles, Ron, et al. Joshua and Judges. 1st ed, Baptistway Press, 2005. p. 46.

“Chapter 7 serves to connect the fall of Jericho (6.1-27) to the capture and destruction of Ai (8.1-29). There is first an unsuccessful attempt to capture the city (verses 2-5); Israel’s failure to take the city is explained as being the consequence of Achan’s sin in disobeying the Lord’s command not to keep anything valuable found in Jericho (verse 1). The Israelite leaders complain to God about the defeat of Israel (verses 6-9), and God reveals the reason for their defeat and the method for discovering the guilty one (verses 10-15). The plan is put into effect: Achan is indicated as the guilty man (verses 16-19), he confesses his sin (verses 20-21), and is immediately executed.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 85.

Joshua 7 links:

disabled warfare
each link is important
first reaction
formed from the dust – Snips and snails
loser lottery
Maranatha Daily Devotional – October 8, 2015
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, June 19, 2019
missions and the valley of trouble
set apart for destruction
standing up against sin
the only number that matters
the shame of selfishness
valley of cutting off

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library