Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God reveals that the sin wasn't just stealing a forbidden item, but a deliberate act of deception: "dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff." This wasn't an accidental oversight, but a conscious choice to hide the sin and integrate it into their lives, a deeper level of willful rebellion.
Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a stunning victory at Jericho, the Israelites faced a shocking defeat at the small city of Ai, leaving them utterly demoralized. God reveals to Joshua that this disaster isn't due to lack of strength, but to a sin within the camp: someone has taken forbidden spoils from Jericho, violating God's direct command and the covenant they made. This deception has effectively made Israel "accursed," causing God to withdraw His presence and power until the sin is purged.
Why was this specific spoil so serious that it caused God's wrath and Israel's defeat?
The 'devoted thing' (or 'accursed thing') refers to spoils taken from Jericho that were to be completely destroyed or set apart for God alone. God had given a strict command: 'Take nothing of the devoted things.' (Joshua 6:18). This wasn't just any loot; it was specially designated. To take it was to steal from God and defy His explicit word. It meant making the entire community liable to God's judgment because the holiness of God was violated through this act of sacrilege. It was considered an 'abomination' to bring such things into Israelite homes, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:25-26.
How could one person's sin lead to a national disaster? And why the secrecy?
Achan's sin wasn't just a personal failing; it was a transgression that affected the entire covenant community. The text emphasizes the elements of theft and deception ('stolen and lied'). This wasn't an open rebellion but a clandestine act, hidden among his own belongings. This secrecy and the attempt to conceal the sin magnified its offense in God's eyes. God highlights that the sin was 'put among their own stuff,' indicating a conversion of what belonged to God into personal property, an act of obstinacy and refusal to repent even after the initial defeat.
God reveals the sin through a systematic process of elimination, showing that no hidden act escapes His notice. Even when buried within one's possessions, sin is exposed and accountable. The consequence was that Israel 'could not stand before their enemies,' a direct result of this hidden iniquity within their camp.
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Understand the original words
chata' · Hebrew Verb
To miss the mark, violate God's law, or fall short of His standard of holiness. In a covenantal context, it signifies an act of rebellion against the Sovereign Lord.
abar · Hebrew Verb
A serious breach of a binding agreement or legal contract. In the Bible, it refers to the breaking of the treaty relationship established between Yahweh and His people, often involving disobedience to specific stipulations.
berit · Hebrew Noun
A formal, solemn promise or treaty between two parties, typically involving mutual obligations, blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience. In the Old Testament, it describes the established relationship between God and His people.
cherem · Hebrew Noun
Objects or persons set apart specifically for God’s use, or in the context of judgment, things set apart for total destruction as an act of holy warfare. Once declared as such, these items belong entirely to God and cannot be used for common purposes.
This event highlights that even a single act of disobedience by one person can have devastating consequences for an entire community, especially when it involves violating a direct command from God and breaking the covenant relationship.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Jericho
Following God's instructions, the Israelites miraculously conquered the heavily fortified city of Jericho. As a result of the city's extreme wickedness, all its inhabitants and possessions were declared 'devoted' or 'accursed' and meant for utter destruction, with no spoil to be taken by the Israelites.
Immediately following the conquest of Jericho— this verse
Achan's Sin
Despite God's clear command that nothing from Jericho was to be kept, an Israelite named Achan secretly took a valuable cloak, silver, and gold, hiding them among his possessions. This act of disobedience and theft violated the covenant with God.
Days after the conquest of Jericho
Defeat at Ai
Following their victory at Jericho, the Israelites attempted to conquer the smaller city of Ai. However, they were suddenly routed by the men of Ai, suffering a significant defeat and losing many men. This was a direct consequence of Achan's sin.
Following the defeat at Ai
God Confronts Joshua
Distraught and bewildered by the defeat, Joshua fell before God. The Lord revealed that Israel had sinned by taking from the devoted things, and that this sin, symbolized by Achan's actions, had caused the defeat and made them vulnerable to their enemies.
Following God's confrontation
Investigation and Judgment
God instructed Joshua to expose the sin through a divinely guided process of elimination by tribes, families, and individuals. This process led to the identification of Achan as the culprit. He and his family were then judged and executed according to God's law.
This passage describes how disobedience to God's commands leads to defeat by enemies, directly mirroring the consequence of Israel's sin in Joshua 7, where their failure before Ai is a result of Achan's transgression.
Deuteronomy 7:25-26God explicitly warned Israel not to take any of the devoted things from the cities of Canaan, lest they become accursed themselves. Joshua 7 shows the direct fulfillment of this warning when Achan takes devoted things and brings a curse upon Israel.
Romans 7:7-11Paul discusses how the law, intended for life, actually reveals sin and leads to death when one succumbs to forbidden desires. This parallels Achan's experience, where the prohibition against the devoted things highlighted his sin and brought disaster.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11Paul addresses the issue of fellowship with those who practice sin, warning against associating with 'sexually immoral people, the greedy, idolaters, or slanderers.' This passage echoes the necessity for Israel to purge the 'accursed thing' (Achan's sin) to maintain communal purity.
2 Samuel 21:1-6This account of the Gibeonites seeking retribution from Saul's descendants demonstrates how a past sin (involving the 'accursed thing' or devoted things) can bring a lingering curse upon a nation until it is dealt with.
calvinJoshua 7:10-18: "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?"
Tunc dixit Jehova ad Josuam, Surge. Ut quid tu ita procidis super faciem tuam?
Israel has 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.
Peccavit Israel, atque adeo transgressi sunt pactum meum quod praecepi illis…
barnesJoshua 7:11: "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."
Also stolen, and dissembled also - The anger of God and the heinousness of Israel's sin are marked by the accumulation of clause upon clause. As a climax they had even appropriated to their own use the consecrated property purloined from God.
God reveals that the sin wasn't just stealing a forbidden item, but a deliberate act of deception: "dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff." This wasn't an accidental oversight, but a conscious choice to hide the sin and integrate it into their lives, a deeper level of willful rebellion.
After a stunning victory at Jericho, the Israelites faced a shocking defeat at the small city of Ai, leaving them utterly demoralized. God reveals to Joshua that this disaster isn't due to lack of strength, but to a sin within the camp: someone has taken forbidden spoils from Jericho, violating God's direct command and the covenant they made. This deception has effectively made Israel "accursed," causing God to withdraw His presence and power until the sin is purged.
After a stunning victory at Jericho, the Israelites faced a shocking defeat at the small city of Ai, leaving them utterly demoralized. God reveals to Joshua that this disaster isn't due to lack of strength, but to a sin within the camp: someone has taken forbidden spoils from Jericho, violating God's direct command and the covenant they made. This deception has effectively made Israel "accursed," causing God to withdraw His presence and power until the sin is purged.
"Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings." — God reveals that the sin wasn't just stealing a forbidden item, but a deliberate act of deception: "dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff." This wasn't an accidental oversi…
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Last reviewed October 2026