71 But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban , for Achan , the son of Carmi , the son of Zabdi , the son of Zerah , from the tribe of Judah , took some of the things under the ban , therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel . 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai , which is near Beth-aven , east of Bethel , and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land ." So the men went up and spied out Ai . 3 They returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai ; do not make all the people toil up there , for they are few ." 4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there , but they fled from the men of Ai . 5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men , and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent , so the hearts of the people melted and became as water .
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening , both he and the elders of Israel ; and they put dust on their heads . 7 Joshua said , "Alas , O Lord GOD , why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan , only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites , to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan ! 8 "O Lord , what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies ? 9 " For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth . And what will You do for Your great name ?"
10 So the Lord said to Joshua , "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face ? 11 "Israel has sinned , and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived . Moreover, they have also put them among their own things . 12 "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot e stand before their enemies ; they turn their backs before their enemies , for they have become accursed . I will not be with you anymore unless e you destroy the things under the ban from your midst . 13 "Rise up! Consecrate the people and say , 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow , for thus the Lord , the God of Israel , has said , " There are things under the ban in your midst , O Israel . You cannot e stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst ." 14 'In the morning then you shall come near by your tribes . And it shall be that the tribe which the Lord takes by lot shall come near by families , and the family which the Lord takes shall come near by households , and the household which the Lord takes shall come near man by man . 15 ' It shall be that the one who is taken with the things under the ban shall be burned with fire , he and all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord , and because he has committed a disgraceful thing in Israel .' "
16 So Joshua arose early in the morning and brought Israel near by tribes , and the tribe of Judah was taken . 17 He brought the family of Judah near , and he took the family of the Zerahites ; and he brought the family of the Zerahites near man by man , and Zabdi was taken . 18 He brought his household near man by man ; and Achan , son of Carmi , son of Zabdi , son of Zerah , from the tribe of Judah , was taken . 19 Then Joshua said to Achan , "My son , I implore you, give glory to the Lord , the God of Israel , and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done . Do not hide it from me." 20 So Achan answered Joshua and said , "Truly , I have sinned against the Lord , the God of Israel , and this is what I did : 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight , then I coveted them and took them; and behold , they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it." 22 So Joshua sent messengers , and they ran to the tent ; and behold , it was concealed in his tent with the silver underneath it. 23 They took them from inside the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel , and they poured them out before the Lord . 24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah , the silver , the mantle , the bar of gold , his sons , his daughters , his oxen , his donkeys , his sheep , his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor . 25 Joshua said , "Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day ." And all Israel stoned them with stones ; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 7:1-25
Commentary on Joshua 7:1-5
(Read Joshua 7:1-5)
Achan took some of the spoil of Jericho. The love of the world is that root of bitterness, which of all others is most hardly rooted up. We should take heed of sin ourselves, lest by it many be defiled or disquieted, Hebrews 12:15; and take heed of having fellowship with sinners, lest we share their guilt. It concerns us to watch over one another to prevent sin, because others' sins may be to our damage. The easy conquest of Jericho excited contempt of the enemy, and a disposition to expect the Lord to do all for them without their using proper means. Thus men abuse the doctrines of Divine grace, and the promises of God, into excuses for their own sloth and self-indulgence. We are to work out our own salvation, though it is God that works in us. It was a dear victory to the Canaanites, whereby Israel was awakened and reformed, and reconciled to their God, and the people of Canaan hardened to their own ruin.
Commentary on Joshua 7:6-9
(Read Joshua 7:6-9)
Joshua's concern for the honour of God, more than even for the fate of Israel, was the language of the Spirit of adoption. He pleaded with God. He laments their defeat, as he feared it would reflect on God's wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness. We cannot at any time urge a better plea than this, Lord, what wilt thou do for thy great name? Let God be glorified in all, and then welcome his whole will.
Commentary on Joshua 7:10-15
(Read Joshua 7:10-15)
God awakens Joshua to inquiry, by telling him that when this accursed thing was put away, all would be well. Times of danger and trouble should be times of reformation. We should look at home, into our own hearts, into our own houses, and make diligent search to find out if there be not some accursed thing there, which God sees and abhors; some secret lust, some unlawful gain, some undue withholding from God or from others. We cannot prosper, until the accursed thing be destroyed out of our hearts, and put out of our habitations and our families, and forsaken in our lives. When the sin of sinners finds them out, God is to be acknowledged. With a certain and unerring judgment, the righteous God does and will distinguish between the innocent and the guilty; so that though the righteous are of the same tribe, and family, and household with the wicked, yet they never shall be treated as the wicked.
Commentary on Joshua 7:16-26
(Read Joshua 7:16-26)
See the folly of those that promise themselves secrecy in sin. The righteous God has many ways of bringing to light the hidden works of darkness. See also, how much it is our concern, when God is contending with us, to find out the cause that troubles us. We must pray with holy Job, Lord, show me wherefore thou contendest with me. Achan's sin began in the eye. He saw these fine things, as Eve saw the forbidden fruit. See what comes of suffering the heart to walk after the eyes, and what need we have to make this covenant with our eyes, that if they wander they shall be sure to weep for it. It proceeded out of the heart. They that would be kept from sinful actions, must mortify and check in themselves sinful desires, particularly the desire of worldly wealth. Had Achan looked upon these things with an eye of faith, he would have seen they were accursed things, and would have dreaded them; but looking on them with an eye of sense only, he saw them as goodly things, and coveted them. When he had committed the sin, he tried to hide it. As soon as he had got this plunder, it became his burden, and he dared not to use his ill-gotten treasure. So differently do objects of temptation appear at a distance, to what they do when they have been gotten. See the deceitfulness of sin; that which is pleasing in the commission, is bitter in the reflection. See how they will be deceived that rob God. Sin is a very troublesome thing, not only to a sinner himself, but to all about him. The righteous God will certainly recompense tribulation to them that trouble his people. Achan perished not alone in his sin. They lose their own, who grasp at more than their own. His sons and daughters were put to death with him. It is probable that they helped to hide the things; they must have known of them. What fatal consequences follow, even in this world, to the sinner himself, and to all belonging him! One sinner destroys much good. What, then, will be the wrath to come? Let us flee from it to Christ Jesus as the sinner's Friend. There are circumstances in the confession of Achan, marking the progress of sin, from its first entrance into the heart to its being done, which may serve as the history of almost every offence against the law of God, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.