Joshua 7:11
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)
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The verse highlights that Achan's sin wasn't just taking something forbidden; it was a deliberate transgression of the covenant, marked by theft, deceit, and then the audacious act of hiding the stolen item among his own possessions. This isn't just about breaking a rule, but about a chosen path of deception that integrated the forbidden into the very fabric of his life.
After a devastating defeat at the town of Ai, the Israelites are reeling, and Joshua is prostrate in despair before the Lord. God then reveals that the loss wasn't due to lack of strength, but because sin has entered the camp. This verse is God's direct explanation to Joshua of the specific offense: an Israelite has stolen items designated as "devoted" or "cursed" from Jericho, breaking their covenant with God.
Why would God care so much about a single stolen item, causing Israel to flee from their enemies?
In the conquest of Jericho, God declared the city and everything in it as 'devoted' or 'accursed.' This meant it was set apart for God alone – not for anyone to keep or use. It was a holy offering.
When Achan took a beautiful cloak, silver, and gold from Jericho, he wasn't just stealing; he was stealing from God Himself. This act was a direct violation of God's command and an insult to His holiness. It wasn't just a personal sin; it made the entire camp 'accursed' in God's eyes, leading to their defeat.
Achan's sin brought shame and defeat. How does one man's sin break the covenant for all of Israel?
The covenant between God and Israel was built on mutual promises: God would be their God, and they would obey Him. God had given a specific command regarding the spoil of Jericho – 'take nothing of the devoted things.' This wasn't just a suggestion; it was a condition of their obedience and God's continued blessing.
By taking the devoted things, Achan (and by implication, all who knew and remained silent) didn't just break a rule; they broke the terms of the covenant. This act of defiance showed a lack of trust and commitment to God. As a result, God withdrew His presence and protection, leaving Israel vulnerable and defeated by their enemies.
Achan's sin wasn't just a single act. How did it grow into something even more destructive?
Achan's sin didn't stop with taking the devoted things. The verse meticulously details the progression: 'they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.'
First, there was the theft – taking what was forbidden. Then came the lies (or dissimulation) – actively hiding the act, likely when questioned or when the people were being searched. Finally, concealment – mixing the stolen goods with his own possessions, as if to normalize the sin and make it a permanent part of his life. This layering of sin shows how one wrong act can lead to further deception and a hardening of the heart, making repentance more difficult and the consequences more severe.
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
This event highlights that even a single person's hidden sin can bring devastating consequences upon an entire community and provoke God's judgment, underscoring the importance of communal purity and obedience.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Jericho
After crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites conquered the heavily fortified city of Jericho. God commanded that the entire city and its spoils be devoted to Him, meaning nothing was to be taken for personal use.
Shortly after conquest of Jericho— this verse
Defeat at Ai
Following Jericho's destruction, the Israelites attempted to conquer the smaller city of Ai but were surprisingly defeated, suffering significant casualties and suffering.
Day after the defeat at Ai
Divine Revelation of Sin
God reveals to Joshua that Israel's defeat was due to sin within the camp. He explains that someone has taken items from Jericho that were devoted to destruction.
The same day
Discovery of Achan's Sin
Through a divinely guided process of elimination, Achan of the tribe of Judah is identified as the culprit who stole devoted items from Jericho, confessing his actions.
This passage defines what the 'devoted things' (or 'accursed things') are – anything set apart for God, which cannot be bought back and must be destroyed or given to the priests. It highlights the seriousness of Achan's sin as taking what was God's alone.
Deuteronomy 7:25-26This passage directly warns against taking any silver or gold from the idols of the nations, lest it become a cursed thing in the Israelite's possession. It underscores that Achan's sin was a direct violation of a specific command given for the conquest of Canaan.
Romans 5:12This verse explains how sin entered the world through one man and spread to all, resulting in condemnation. It parallels Achan's individual sin bringing disaster upon the entire nation of Israel, showing how one person's disobedience can have far-reaching consequences.
1 Corinthians 5:6Paul uses the proverb 'a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough' to explain how sin can spread within a community. This passage resonates with the idea that Achan's hidden sin corrupted the entire camp of Israel, leading to their defeat.
1 John 2:15-16This passage warns against loving the world's desires - the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in one's possessions. Achan's sin was driven by the desire for wealth ('fine robes,' 'silver,' and 'gold'), illustrating this warning against covetousness.
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.
The verse highlights that Achan's sin wasn't just taking something forbidden; it was a deliberate transgression of the covenant, marked by theft, deceit, and then the audacious act of hiding the stolen item among his own possessions. This isn't just about breaking a rule, but about a chosen path of deception that integrated the forbidden into the very fabric of his life.
After a devastating defeat at the town of Ai, the Israelites are reeling, and Joshua is prostrate in despair before the Lord. God then reveals that the loss wasn't due to lack of strength, but because sin has entered the camp. This verse is God's direct explanation to Joshua of the specific offense: an Israelite has stolen items designated as "devoted" or "cursed" from Jericho, breaking their covenant with God.
After a devastating defeat at the town of Ai, the Israelites are reeling, and Joshua is prostrate in despair before the Lord. God then reveals that the loss wasn't due to lack of strength, but because sin has entered the camp. This verse is God's direct explanation to Joshua of the specific offense: an Israelite has stolen items designated as "devoted" or "cursed" from Jericho, breaking their covenant with God.
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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.
Following Achan's confession
Judgment and Consequences
Achan, his family, and his possessions were taken to the Valley of Achor and destroyed by stoning and burning, removing the accursed thing from Israel.
After Achan's judgment
Renewed Attack on Ai
With the sin purged, Israel, under Joshua's leadership, attacked Ai again and successfully conquered it, followed by the destruction of the city and its inhabitants.
"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." — The verse highlights that Achan's sin wasn't just taking something forbidden; it was a deliberate transgression of the covenant, marked by theft, deceit, and then the audacious act of hiding the stol…
