Breakdown of Joshua 7:15

"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.’”" — What's easy to miss here is that "folly" isn't just about being unwise, but about doing something outrageously wrong and shameful in the eyes of God and His people. This highlights that Achan's sin w…

Joshua 7:15 Meaning Explained

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Joshua 7:15

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)

What's easy to miss here is that "folly" isn't just about being unwise, but about doing something outrageously wrong and shameful in the eyes of God and His people. This highlights that Achan's sin was not just a personal failure, but a public disgrace that deeply wounded Israel's reputation and relationship with God.

What Joshua 7:15 means

After a devastating defeat against the seemingly small city of Ai, Joshua and the Israelites are brought to a standstill, leaving them demoralized and questioning God. God reveals that their failure is due to someone among them taking items that were "devoted"—set aside for God's destruction—which broke their covenant agreement. The passage then details the process God outlines for discovering the sinner, culminating in this verse which declares the severe penalty for whoever is found guilty.

The 'Devoted Thing' and Covenant Treachery

Why would taking a single item from a defeated city lead to national disaster? The key lies in understanding what the 'devoted things' represented.

In the conquest of Jericho, God declared everything within the city to be 'devoted.' This wasn't just loot; it was set apart for God, either for the sanctuary or for complete destruction. Achan's sin wasn't merely theft; it was a direct violation of God's covenant with Israel.

A Covenant Breach

God had established clear terms: obedience meant blessing and victory, while disobedience brought severe judgment. By taking some of the devoted things, Achan didn't just steal; he broke faith with God and undermined the very foundation of Israel's relationship with Him. This act of treachery made him and his possessions 'devoted' to destruction themselves.

The Gravity of 'Folly' in God's Sight

The verse calls Achan's sin an 'outrageous thing' or 'folly.' What does this word truly convey about the nature of sin?

The Hebrew word translated as 'folly' here (nebalah) carries a heavy meaning. It describes acts of profound wickedness, baseness, and outrageous sin – actions that are senseless, shameful, and destructive.

More Than a Mistake

It wasn't a minor oversight or a simple mistake. It was a deep, moral failing that brought disgrace not only upon Achan but upon the entire nation of Israel. This 'folly' disrupted God's plan and exposed Israel to their enemies because it demonstrated a reckless disregard for God's holiness and authority.

When Sin Destroys Everything

The judgment is stark: 'he and all that he has, shall be burned with fire.' How does one person's sin bring such total ruin?

This verse reveals the far-reaching consequences of sin, especially when it involves covenant violation and sacrilege. Achan's sin wasn't just personal; it brought a curse upon his entire household and possessions.

Understand the original words

Original language

outrageous thingנְבָלָה

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.

Historical context

Written: Around 1400 BC, during the early Israelite conquest of Canaan.
Author: Traditionally attributed to Joshua, the successor of Moses, though some scholars suggest later editing.
Location: Written from the land of Canaan, likely near Gilgal where the Israelites were camped.
Genre: Narrative historical account with elements of divine law; notable for its direct dialogue between God and Joshua.

Historical background

This verse highlights that sin, especially disobedience to God's explicit commands regarding devoted things, brings devastating consequences not just to the individual but to the entire community. The severe punishment, including the burning of the offender and all his possessions, underscores the gravity of betraying God's covenant and the importance of communal purity for national success.

c. 1405 BC
Conquest of Jericho
The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, successfully conquered the heavily fortified city of Jericho. The city and everything in it were declared 'devoted' to God, meaning everything was to be destroyed, and no one was to take any spoils.
Immediately after Jericho
Defeat at Ai
Following the victory at Jericho, a small force sent to conquer the city of Ai was decisively defeated. This unexpected loss caused great distress and fear among the Israelites and their leader, Joshua.
Day after the defeat at Ai— this verse
Divine Revelation of Sin
God reveals to Joshua that the defeat was a direct consequence of sin within the Israelite camp. He declares that Israel has transgressed His covenant by taking 'devoted things' from Jericho, and that this sin must be removed before they can succeed.
Day after divine revelation

Key themes

01Covenantal breach and consequence
02Devoted things, divine justice
03Sin's devastating ripple effect
04Sin exposed, judgment falls

Cross-references

Leviticus 20:14

This passage describes the severe penalty of burning for certain sins, including adultery and incest, echoing the judgment by fire prescribed for Achan's transgression.

Deuteronomy 13:16

This text commands that any city that falls into idolatry, along with all its spoil, is to be utterly destroyed by fire, providing a precedent for the total destruction of Achan and his possessions as 'devoted things'.

Joshua 6:17-18

This earlier passage in Joshua establishes the principle of the 'devoted thing' (cherem), stating that Jericho and its spoils were to be utterly destroyed or given to the Lord, making Achan's act a direct violation of a recently established divine command.

1 Samuel 15:22-23

Samuel rebukes Saul for sparing the best of the Amalekite spoils, emphasizing that obedience is better than sacrifice and that rebellion is like the sin of divination, highlighting the serious consequences of disobeying God's commands regarding devoted things.

Acts 5:1-11

The story of Ananias and Sapphira shows a parallel where dishonesty about possessions dedicated to God resulted in immediate death, demonstrating that deception regarding what is 'devoted' carries severe spiritual and earthly consequences, even in the New Testament era.

Scholarly commentary

Joshua 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…

calvin

Joshua 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…
jfb

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What Joshua 7:15 means

Historical context

Written: Around 1400 BC, during the early Israelite conquest of Canaan.
Author: Traditionally attributed to Joshua, the successor of Moses, though some scholars suggest later editing.
Location: Written from the land of Canaan, likely near Gilgal where the Israelites were camped.
Genre: Narrative historical account with elements of divine law; notable for its direct dialogue between God and Joshua.

Historical background

c. 1405 BC

Conquest of Jericho

The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, successfully conquered the heavily fortified city of Jericho. The city and everything in it were declared 'devoted' to God, meaning everything was to be destroyed, and no one was to take any spoils.

Immediately after Jericho

Defeat at Ai

Following the victory at Jericho, a small force sent to conquer the city of Ai was decisively defeated. This unexpected loss caused great distress and fear among the Israelites and their leader, Joshua.

Day after the defeat at Ai— this verse

Divine Revelation of Sin

God reveals to Joshua that the defeat was a direct consequence of sin within the Israelite camp. He declares that Israel has transgressed His covenant by taking 'devoted things' from Jericho, and that this sin must be removed before they can succeed.

Day after divine revelation