Joshua 7

In this chapter, the Israelites suffer a significant defeat at Ai because of disobedience. Achan’s sin of taking forbidden spoils from Jericho brings God's anger on the whole nation. The chapter emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s commands and the consequences of sin, both individually and communally.

Joshua 7:1 (NKJV)
But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.

Achan's disobedience in taking items that were devoted to destruction after the fall of Jericho was seen as a collective sin of Israel. This shows how the sin of one person can bring consequences upon the whole community, as God’s covenant with Israel demanded communal holiness and obedience. God's anger was kindled, emphasizing the seriousness of violating His commands.

Joshua 7:2-5 (NKJV)
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.”
4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

Joshua's men underestimated Ai based on the city's small size, sending only a portion of the army. However, Israel's defeat was unexpected and devastating, resulting in the loss of thirty-six men. This defeat is a direct result of Achan’s sin, demonstrating that God's favor and strength are not with them. The people’s hearts were deeply shaken, showing their dependence on God’s presence for victory.

Joshua 7:6-9 (NKJV)
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!
8 O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies?
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

Joshua and the elders respond to the defeat by humbling themselves before God in grief and confusion. Joshua’s lament reveals his deep concern for Israel's survival and God’s reputation. He fears that their enemies will take advantage of this defeat, potentially leading to Israel's destruction and tarnishing the honor of God's name among the nations.

Joshua 7:10-12 (NKJV)
10 So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?
11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it 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 have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

God’s response to Joshua is a direct command to take action rather than continue mourning. The reason for the defeat is revealed: sin has corrupted Israel’s covenant with God. Achan’s theft of the accursed things makes the entire nation guilty. Without dealing with the sin, God’s protection and presence will no longer be with them, which is why they cannot succeed in battle.

Joshua 7:13-15 (NKJV)
13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”
14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the Lord takes shall come according to families; and the family which the Lord takes shall come by households; and the household which the Lord takes shall come man by man.
15 Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’ ”

God instructs Joshua to call for the nation’s sanctification. The process of identifying the guilty party will begin with the tribes, then narrow down to the families, households, and finally to the individual. The severe consequence of burning indicates the gravity of Achan’s sin, which violated the covenant and brought dishonor to Israel. Sin needed to be purged from the community to restore God's favor.

Joshua 7:16-18 (NKJV)
16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken.
17 He brought the clan 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 Then 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.

The process of divine selection begins, and it is narrowed down to Achan. This method of identifying the guilty person shows the meticulous nature of God’s judgment and His knowledge of each individual's actions. It also highlights the fairness of the process, ensuring that the blame is placed solely on the one responsible.

Joshua 7:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done:
21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”

Joshua appeals to Achan to confess, which he does. Achan acknowledges his sin of coveting and stealing forbidden items, explaining how he hid them. His confession highlights how temptation and greed led him to disobey God's command, resulting in devastating consequences for himself and the nation.

Joshua 7:22-26 (NKJV)
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it.
23 And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord.
24 Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
26 Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.

The messengers retrieve the stolen items, confirming Achan's guilt. Joshua and the Israelites carry out the punishment by stoning Achan and his family and burning their belongings, symbolizing the removal of sin from the community. This act restored God's favor, but the Valley of Achor serves as a lasting reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for obedience to God’s commands.