Joshua 7:16-18
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What's easily missed here is that Joshua isn't just picking tribes at random; he's carefully, systematically revealing God's judgment. This detailed process, moving from tribe to family to household, shows God's commitment to exposing sin and restoring His people, even when it means bringing guilt to light in such a public, painful way.
So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a devastating defeat at Ai, Israel is in turmoil because God’s presence has withdrawn due to sin in their midst. Joshua, commanded by God to find the source of this "accursed thing," begins a meticulous, divinely guided process of elimination, starting by bringing the entire nation forward. This verse marks the first step, as the tribe of Judah is singled out through this solemn procedure.
How did God ensure the sinner was found? It wasn't just human effort; it was divine guidance.
When sin entered Israel's camp, it brought disaster. God's immediate response was to reveal the hidden problem, not to let it fester. He didn't leave Joshua to guess or wait indefinitely. Instead, God directed the process of discovery, starting with Joshua's morning obedience.
Why did one man's sin bring such devastating defeat? The key lies in what he stole.
Achan's sin wasn't just petty theft; it was the theft of something specifically designated as 'accursed' or 'devoted' to God. This concept, often translated from Hebrew terms, signifies something set apart for destruction or for God's sole use, and therefore utterly forbidden to humans.
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Understand the original words
lakad · Hebrew Verb
The act of being set apart or chosen by God for a specific purpose, often involving the identification of someone or something through divine direction or casting lots.
This passage highlights how one person's hidden sin can have devastating consequences for an entire community, leading to divine judgment and the need for public accountability.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan begins
After leading the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years, Joshua, following God's command, leads them across the Jordan River to begin the conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho
The Israelites march around Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, their priests blow trumpets and the walls of the city miraculously collapse. The city is utterly destroyed as devoted to God.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Israel defeated at Ai
Following the victory at Jericho, the Israelite army suffers a humiliating defeat when attacking the smaller city of Ai, with 36 men killed. This is a direct consequence of sin within the camp.
c. 1400 BC
Discovery of Achan's sin
God reveals to Joshua that the defeat at Ai was due to an Israelite named Achan stealing valuable items from the devoted spoils of Jericho. Achan's sin had brought a curse upon Israel.
c. 1400 BC
Achan and his family punished
Achan is identified through a process of divine lot, confesses his sin, and is then executed by stoning along with his family and possessions, removing the accursed item from Israel.
c. 1400 BC
Israel defeats Ai
After the sin is purged, Joshua leads the Israelites in a successful military campaign against Ai, capturing and destroying the city and its inhabitants.
This passage shows another instance where God's will is discerned through a process of casting lots, mirroring the methodical discovery of Achan's sin through divine selection.
Genesis 3:1-7This connects to Achan's sin by showing the progression from seeing, to desiring, to taking, and finally to hiding forbidden things, highlighting the deceptive nature of sin that starts with the eyes and corrupts the heart.
1 Corinthians 10:13This verse speaks to the universality of temptation, reminding us that while God provides a way out, the story of Achan demonstrates the devastating consequences when people succumb to temptation and try to hide their sin.
Proverbs 15:3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.' This verse underscores the futility of Achan's attempt to hide his sin, as God's all-seeing presence was aware of his transgression from the start.
Acts 5:1-11This narrative parallels Achan's story, showing another instance where individuals attempted to deceive God and the community about their sin, resulting in severe consequences and a public exposure of their hidden wrongdoing.
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…
cambridgeJoshua 7:16: "So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:"
16–26. The Discovery and Punishment of Achan 16 . brought Israel by their tribes ] Joshua first caused the heads of the tribes to come before the Ark, and lots were cast for them, and the lot fell upon Judah; then the heads of the clans of Judah were brought, and the lot fell upon the Zarhites; then the heads of the houses of the Zarhites were brought before the Ark, and…
What's easily missed here is that Joshua isn't just picking tribes at random; he's carefully, systematically revealing God's judgment. This detailed process, moving from tribe to family to household, shows God's commitment to exposing sin and restoring His people, even when it means bringing guilt to light in such a public, painful way.
After a devastating defeat at Ai, Israel is in turmoil because God’s presence has withdrawn due to sin in their midst. Joshua, commanded by God to find the source of this "accursed thing," begins a meticulous, divinely guided process of elimination, starting by bringing the entire nation forward. This verse marks the first step, as the tribe of Judah is singled out through this solemn procedure.
After a devastating defeat at Ai, Israel is in turmoil because God’s presence has withdrawn due to sin in their midst. Joshua, commanded by God to find the source of this "accursed thing," begins a meticulous, divinely guided process of elimination, starting by bringing the entire nation forward. This verse marks the first step, as the tribe of Judah is singled out through this solemn procedure.
"So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites ma…" — What's easily missed here is that Joshua isn't just picking tribes at random; he's carefully, systematically revealing God's judgment. This detailed process, moving from tribe to family to household,…
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Last reviewed October 2026
