Joshua 7:24-25
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While the verse lists everything Achan possessed, it's striking that his sons and daughters are included alongside his possessions. This highlights how the consequences of one person's sin could tragically extend to their innocent family, a stark reminder that sin often has ripple effects far beyond the individual.
And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Israel's devastating defeat at Ai due to Achan's sin, Joshua confronts him, who confesses his theft of forbidden plunder from Jericho. The community then gathers Achan, his family, and all his possessions, bringing them to the Valley of Achor for public judgment and atonement. This act signifies a solemn purging of sin from the camp, preparing them to move forward in their conquest.
One man's secret sin brought disaster not just to him, but to an entire nation. How could one 'thing' hold so much power?
The Bible calls the forbidden spoils from Jericho the 'devoted thing' or 'accursed thing'. This wasn't just ordinary loot; it was set apart for God. Achan's act of taking it was an act of rebellion against God's direct command and a defiance of His holiness. This illustrates a profound truth: sin, especially when it directly defies God's will and sacredness, has ripple effects far beyond the individual.
This place where Achan's sin was judged became a symbol of trouble, yet it also marked the beginning of a renewed journey for Israel.
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The name 'Achor' itself means 'trouble' or 'discord'. This valley was not just a location; it was a symbol of the disruption and distress Achan's sin had brought upon Israel. However, the story doesn't end with just trouble. The immediate aftermath in the following chapter shows a dramatic shift.
Understand the original words
akar · Hebrew Verb/Noun
A state of disturbance, agitation, or calamity; in a legal or covenantal sense, it refers to the ruin brought upon a community by sin.
saqal · Hebrew Verb
A form of capital punishment, often used in cases of extreme covenant violation or blasphemy, representing the execution of divine judgment by the entire community.
This event highlights that even in the midst of a divinely ordained conquest, personal sin and disobedience have devastating national consequences. The Valley of Achor, meaning 'Valley of Trouble,' became a stark reminder of the price of sacrilege and the necessity of corporate repentance.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites cross the Jordan River and begin their military campaign to conquer the Promised Land, starting with the strategically important city of Jericho.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho
The walls of Jericho miraculously fall after a divinely orchestrated siege, marking a significant early victory for the Israelites. However, a strict ban (the 'devoted thing') is placed on taking any spoils.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Defeat at Ai
Following the victory at Jericho, the Israelites suffer a humiliating defeat at the nearby city of Ai, with many men killed. This defeat is directly linked to Achan's disobedience and the 'devoted thing' he secretly took.
c. 1400 BC
Achan's Sin Revealed and Confessed
Through a divine process involving lots and an interrogation by Joshua, Achan confesses to stealing valuable items from Jericho, including a Babylonian garment, silver, and gold, and hiding them in his tent.
c. 1400 BC
Judgment in the Valley of Achor
Achan, his family, and all his possessions (livestock, tent, stolen goods) are brought to the Valley of Achor, where he is stoned to death and his belongings burned as a public atonement for his sin and the defeat at Ai.
c. 1400 BC
Restoration of God's Favor
After Achan's execution, God's fierce anger is turned away from Israel, allowing them to later succeed in conquering Ai and continue their mission in the Promised Land.
This passage describes the destruction of an entire city that has fallen into idolatry, showing a precedent for the collective punishment of a community or family when sin is involved.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8This passage uses the imagery of leaven to illustrate how sin can spread through a community, paralleling how Achan's sin brought trouble upon all of Israel and required thorough purging.
Romans 6:23This verse states that the 'wages of sin is death,' providing a theological foundation for the severe punishment meted out to Achan and his family for their transgression.
John 9:24This passage shows a similar practice of adjuring someone to confess their sin, as Joshua compelled Achan to 'give glory to God' and confess his wrongdoing.
calvinJoshua 7:19-26: "And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me."
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Vidi inter spolia pallium, Babylon…
gillJoshua 7:24: "And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor."
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah,.... Joshua and all Israel are mentioned, to show the perfect agreement between Joshua and the heads of the people in this affair of Acha…
While the verse lists everything Achan possessed, it's striking that his sons and daughters are included alongside his possessions. This highlights how the consequences of one person's sin could tragically extend to their innocent family, a stark reminder that sin often has ripple effects far beyond the individual.
After Israel's devastating defeat at Ai due to Achan's sin, Joshua confronts him, who confesses his theft of forbidden plunder from Jericho. The community then gathers Achan, his family, and all his possessions, bringing them to the Valley of Achor for public judgment and atonement. This act signifies a solemn purging of sin from the camp, preparing them to move forward in their conquest.
After Israel's devastating defeat at Ai due to Achan's sin, Joshua confronts him, who confesses his theft of forbidden plunder from Jericho. The community then gathers Achan, his family, and all his possessions, bringing them to the Valley of Achor for public judgment and atonement. This act signifies a solemn purging of sin from the camp, preparing them to move forward in their conquest.
"And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to t…" — While the verse lists everything Achan possessed, it's striking that his sons and daughters are included alongside his possessions. This highlights how the consequences of one person's sin could tr…
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Last reviewed October 2026
