And he who is taken with the devoted things 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 an outrageous thing in Israel.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that Achan's sin wasn't just a personal mistake; it was a direct betrayal of the covenant God made with Israel. The Hebrew word translated "folly" actually carries the weight of deep, base wickedness or sacrilege, revealing how profoundly Achan's actions disgraced the community before God.
And he who is taken with the devoted things 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 an outrageous thing in Israel.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a shocking defeat at Ai, Israel's leadership is in distress, and God reveals that their setback is due to a hidden sin within the camp. God instructs Joshua to uncover the guilty party by a systematic process of casting lots, and this verse declares the severe consequence for the one found with the forbidden "devoted things." The discovery and punishment of this sin are crucial for Israel to regain God's favor and continue their conquest.
Why would taking a single item bring disaster upon an entire nation? This verse reveals that the sin wasn't just theft; it was a violation of something sacred.
The 'devoted things' (or 'accursed things') were items specifically set apart by God during the conquest of Canaan. These were not meant for personal gain; they were to be utterly destroyed or given entirely to God's service. Achan’s sin was taking a beautiful cloak, silver, and gold from Jericho. This act was not merely stealing personal property; it was sacrilege – a direct violation of God's command and a theft from Him.
This elevated the sin from a personal failing to a betrayal of the covenant. Because the people of Israel were to be a holy nation, set apart for God, their actions had to reflect that holiness. Taking something 'devoted' meant they were acting like the unholy nations around them, thus breaking the very foundation of their relationship with God.
The Bible calls Achan's sin 'folly.' What makes sin 'folly,' especially within the covenant community?
The word translated 'folly' here describes a deep, stubborn foolishness, a moral recklessness that goes against all good sense and knowledge. For Israel, a nation specifically chosen and instructed by God, to sin was particularly foolish. They had witnessed God's mighty power in Egypt and the miraculous crossing of the Jordan. They knew the laws and the covenant promises.
Achan’s sin, and the subsequent disaster, wasn't just a personal mistake. It was a public act of 'folly' that brought shame upon the entire nation and weakened their standing before God and their enemies. It showed a profound lack of wisdom – valuing a bit of stolen treasure over God’s blessing, victory, and presence.
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Why such a severe punishment – burning with fire? This speaks to the seriousness of sin against God's covenant.
The judgment described – burning with fire, along with all his possessions – was a drastic measure. It was part of the prescribed penalty for dealing with 'devoted things' that had been wrongly taken. This wasn't arbitrary cruelty; it was divine justice meant to purge the sin and its contagion from the community.
Fire, in the Old Testament, often symbolizes purification and judgment. Here, it signifies the complete eradication of the sin and its influence. Achan and his family, and all his possessions, were consumed to demonstrate that sin against the covenant has devastating consequences and that God is utterly serious about His holiness. Yet, even in this severe judgment, there’s a trace of God’s mercy: the entire nation wasn’t destroyed, only the specific family found guilty. This shows God’s commitment to dealing with sin precisely, not indiscriminately, and His desire for the community to be cleansed so He could remain with them.
Understand the original words
nebalah · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting something that is morally shameful, scandalous, or a gross violation of social and religious boundaries. It refers to an act that is profoundly offensive to the holiness of God and the integrity of His covenant community.
This verse highlights the severe consequences of sin within a community consecrated to God. The defeat at Ai wasn't just a military setback; it was a direct result of Achan's disobedience, showing how one person's sin could bring disaster and trigger God's judgment upon the entire nation.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Jericho
The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, miraculously conquered and utterly destroyed the city of Jericho, a Canaanite stronghold. The spoils were devoted to the Lord, meaning they were to be utterly destroyed or set aside for God's use, with severe consequences for anyone who took them.
Immediately after the fall of Jericho— this verse
Defeat at Ai
Following the victory at Jericho, the Israelites attempted to capture the smaller city of Ai but suffered a devastating defeat. Thirty-six Israelite soldiers were killed, and their army was routed, causing great fear and dismay.
Following the defeat at Ai
God's Rebuke and Investigation
God rebuked Joshua, explaining that the defeat was due to sin within the Israelite camp. Joshua was instructed to identify and remove the 'devoted thing'—the accursed object—responsible for God's displeasure.
Following the investigation
Discovery and Judgment of Achan
Through a divine process of elimination by lot, Achan the son of Carmi was identified as the one who had stolen a valuable cloak, silver, and gold from Jericho. He confessed his sin, and as a consequence, he and his family, along with all his possessions, were stoned and burned to death according to God's law.
After Achan's execution
Renewed Attack on Ai
After the removal of the sin and the execution of the judgment, Joshua led a successful assault on Ai. This time, the Israelites conquered the city, destroying its inhabitants and possessions.
This passage describes the severe punishment for certain sins, including burning with fire, which directly parallels the judgment against Achan for taking the devoted things.
Deuteronomy 13:16This law dictates that any city devoted to destruction because of idolatry is to be utterly destroyed and burned, with its spoils also burned, reinforcing the concept of complete annihilation for 'devoted' things and sins.
Joshua 6:17-18This passage directly precedes the events in Joshua 7, where Jericho and its spoils are declared 'devoted' or 'accursed' to the Lord, setting the stage for Achan's sin and its dire consequences.
1 Corinthians 10:11Paul uses the account of Israel's failure at Ai as a warning to the Corinthians, highlighting how these ancient events were recorded as examples to prevent similar sins and failures in their own lives.
2 Samuel 21:1-14This account shows how a sin in Joshua's time (Achan's transgression, though not explicitly named here) continued to have repercussions generations later, leading to famine until restitution was made, emphasizing the lasting impact of covenantal disobedience.
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…
jfbJoshua 7:2-26: "And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai."
Jos 7:2-26. The Israelites Smitten at Ai.2. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai—After the sacking of Jericho, the next step was to penetrate into the hills above. Accordingly, spies went up the mountain pass to view the country. The precise site of Ai, or Hai, is indicated with sufficient clearne…
This verse highlights that Achan's sin wasn't just a personal mistake; it was a direct betrayal of the covenant God made with Israel. The Hebrew word translated "folly" actually carries the weight of deep, base wickedness or sacrilege, revealing how profoundly Achan's actions disgraced the community before God.
After a shocking defeat at Ai, Israel's leadership is in distress, and God reveals that their setback is due to a hidden sin within the camp. God instructs Joshua to uncover the guilty party by a systematic process of casting lots, and this verse declares the severe consequence for the one found with the forbidden "devoted things." The discovery and punishment of this sin are crucial for Israel to regain God's favor and continue their conquest.
After a shocking defeat at Ai, Israel's leadership is in distress, and God reveals that their setback is due to a hidden sin within the camp. God instructs Joshua to uncover the guilty party by a systematic process of casting lots, and this verse declares the severe consequence for the one found with the forbidden "devoted things." The discovery and punishment of this sin are crucial for Israel to regain God's favor and continue their conquest.
"And he who is taken with the devoted things 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 an outrageous thing in Israel.’”" — This verse highlights that Achan's sin wasn't just a personal mistake; it was a direct betrayal of the covenant God made with Israel. The Hebrew word translated "folly" actually carries the weight of…
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Last reviewed October 2026