Joshua 7 1

Joshua 7:1 kjv

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

Joshua 7:1 nkjv

But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.

Joshua 7:1 niv

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel.

Joshua 7:1 esv

But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

Joshua 7:1 nlt

But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 1 Meaning

Joshua 7:1 states that the children of Israel, as a collective body, committed a grave offense against God by violating His command concerning the devoted things, even though the act was carried out by one individual, Achan. Achan, from the tribe of Judah, took consecrated items that were forbidden to be plundered from Jericho. As a direct consequence of this disobedience, the anger of the Lord burned fiercely against the entire Israelite community, indicating a breach in their covenant relationship and jeopardizing their divinely-granted success in the conquest.

Joshua 7 1 Context

Joshua 7:1 acts as a pivotal turning point and theological explanation for the dramatic shift in Israel's fortunes. Immediately following the miraculous victory at Jericho, which highlighted God's power and faithfulness (Joshua 6), this verse introduces the reason for the impending defeat at Ai. The children of Israel were in the process of conquering Canaan, a mission directly commanded and supernaturally assisted by the Lord. This period was marked by God establishing His people in the land promised to Abraham, under strict covenant conditions emphasizing absolute obedience. The previous chapter's instructions concerning Jericho, particularly the total destruction or consecration of its spoil as ḥerem (devoted things), set up the gravity of Achan's violation. This verse exposes an internal failure within Israel that directly violated the holiness of the conquest, bringing divine judgment upon the entire nation, revealing that even spectacular victories do not negate the consequences of unconfessed sin within the community.

Joshua 7 1 Word analysis

• But: (Hebrew: וַיִּמְעֲלוּ - wa·yimʿălû) This conjunction serves as a strong adversative, signaling a sharp contrast with the glorious success and divine favor of chapter 6. It immediately pivots the narrative from triumph to tragedy, highlighting that what follows is due to Israel's internal failure rather than external challenges.
• the children of Israel: This collective noun phrase (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - bənê Yisrāʾēl) is crucial. Although only Achan committed the direct act, the consequences are ascribed to the entire nation. This reflects the concept of corporate responsibility, prevalent in ancient Israelite society and theology, where the sin of an individual could affect the whole community, particularly in a covenant relationship with God. Their corporate identity meant they bore corporate blessings and curses.
• committed a trespass: (Hebrew: וַיִּמְעֲלוּ מַעַל - wa·yimʿălû maʿal, often translated as "acted unfaithfully" or "committed sacrilege"). The verb maʿal (מעל) denotes an act of unfaithfulness or betrayal, especially in violation of sacred obligations or covenant vows. It's often associated with offenses against God or His consecrated property (Lev 5:15; Num 5:6; Ezek 14:13), implying a serious breach of trust and respect for the divine. It is more than just "sin"; it is a violation of something held sacred, a betrayal of allegiance.
• regarding the devoted things: (Hebrew: בַּחֵרֶם - baḥerem, literally "in the devoted things" or "in the ban"). Ḥerem (חרם) refers to something "set apart" or "devoted," often for complete destruction, especially in war, as an offering to God. It signified absolute dedication, either to God as holy property or to Him for destruction due to its evil (like Canaanite cities). In Jericho's case, all its valuable items (gold, silver, bronze, iron) were ḥerem—consecrated to the Lord for His treasury, while the city itself was to be destroyed (Jos 6:18-19). Violating ḥerem was sacrilege, directly stealing from God or preventing Him from enacting His holy judgment.
• for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things: This provides the specific perpetrator and his ancestry, emphasizing that this "corporate sin" had a definite, identifiable origin. Naming the lineage (Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah) reinforces his identity within the covenant community and allows for accountability, while also drawing a theological line from an individual's act to the collective consequence. The specificity highlights God's perfect knowledge of every action. "Took" (לָקַח - lāqaḥ) is a simple but powerful verb, signifying direct, illicit appropriation of that which was forbidden.
• so the anger of the Lord burned: (Hebrew: וַיִּחַר אַף יְהוָה - wa·yiḥar ʾap Yehovah). "Anger" (ʾap, אף, literally "nose" or "nostril," indicating intense breathing or snorting) signifies divine indignation and righteous wrath. "Burned" (ḥarah, חרה) describes the intensity and heat of God's anger, indicating a strong, active, and immediate divine response to the sacrilege. This phrase is used frequently to describe God's displeasure against disobedience (Ex 32:10; Num 11:1). It highlights God's holiness and His intolerance for sin, especially covenantal disobedience.
• against the children of Israel: This reiterates the corporate dimension of the divine response. Despite Achan being the one who "took," the Lord's anger was directed at the entire community, impacting their military success and placing the whole nation under a curse. This underscores the solidarity of Israel as God's covenant people; they shared responsibility for the purity and obedience of the collective.

• "But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the devoted things": This phrase highlights the critical theological point of corporate responsibility. Though one man acted, the entire nation, due to its covenant solidarity, bore the guilt and subsequent judgment. It marks an immediate spiritual downturn following the physical victory, showing that inner moral integrity is more crucial than outward might.
• "for Achan... took some of the devoted things": This establishes the precise cause of the national sin. It demonstrates that God sees individual actions as affecting the whole body, especially when such actions violate His specific commands for sacred conduct and justice. Achan’s covetousness (a violation of the Tenth Commandment, Ex 20:17) directly led to national suffering.
• "so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel": This expresses the immediate, severe divine consequence. God’s holiness and commitment to the covenant demand a response to such flagrant disobedience, especially concerning items specifically set apart for Him. The "burning anger" underscores the seriousness of breaching God’s sanctity and law, making clear that Israel’s setback at Ai (revealed later in the chapter) was not due to enemy strength but to divine judgment.

Joshua 7 1 Bonus section

• The incident described in Joshua 7:1 and the subsequent chapters (defeat at Ai, Achan's confession and punishment) serve as a crucial didactic example for Israel. It teaches them that their success in Canaan is contingent not on their military might, but on their absolute obedience and faithfulness to the Lord.
• The ḥerem concept underscores the purity required for the conquest. The Canaanites were not merely enemies, but an evil, idolatrous system that God commanded Israel to utterly remove, to prevent spiritual corruption. Taking devoted things for personal gain was a direct compromise of this holy mission and a theft from God.
• The fact that God's anger burned against the entire "children of Israel" before the perpetrator was even identified (which happens later in the chapter) illustrates God's omniscience and foreknowledge. He knew immediately that a sin had occurred within the camp, even before Joshua was aware of it.
• This passage powerfully contrasts with Rahab's story from the previous chapter. While Rahab, an outsider and former pagan, was spared because of her faith and obedience, Achan, an Israelite, brought condemnation upon himself and his community due to his disobedience. This highlights that salvation is not merely based on national identity but on a righteous walk with God.

Joshua 7 1 Commentary

Joshua 7:1 starkly transitions the narrative from the triumph of Jericho to the pending disaster at Ai, by immediately identifying the cause: Israel's corporate breach of the ḥerem law through Achan's individual act of covetousness. This verse unveils profound theological truths: God's absolute holiness demands obedience, especially regarding items consecrated to Him; a breach of covenant by even one individual can have severe repercussions for the entire community in a corporate body; and divine anger is a righteous response to deliberate sacrilege and unfaithfulness. The meticulous detailing of Achan's lineage emphasizes his identity within the covenant and the gravity of his violation against both God and his people, laying the foundation for the painful process of purification the nation must undergo to restore their covenant relationship and resume their conquest. This incident serves as a powerful lesson for all believers: individual sin can have wider ramifications within the spiritual body, and God’s commitment to His justice is unwavering.