Joshua 7 17

Joshua 7:17 kjv

And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

Joshua 7:17 nkjv

He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.

Joshua 7:17 niv

The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen.

Joshua 7:17 esv

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.

Joshua 7:17 nlt

Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 17 Meaning

Joshua 7:17 describes a crucial stage in the divinely guided process of identifying the person who violated God's command concerning the devoted things in Jericho. After the tribe of Judah was chosen by lot, the selection was further narrowed down. This verse states that the lot next fell upon the family of the Zerahites within Judah, and subsequently, on Zabdi within the Zerahite family, signifying that the hidden sin was within the immediate household connected to Zabdi, ultimately leading to the revelation of Achan, his grandson.

Joshua 7 17 Context

The immediate context of Joshua 7:17 is Israel's stunning defeat at Ai, following their miraculous victory at Jericho. The previous chapter established the strict command of God concerning the "devoted things" (ḥērem) from Jericho, which were to be either destroyed or consecrated entirely to the Lord, not plundered for personal gain. Achan, however, disobeyed this command, taking devoted items for himself, an act unknown to the rest of the community. As a result, God withdrew His favor, leading to Israel's defeat. When Joshua intercedes, God reveals that there is "trespass" within Israel and instructs him to cleanse the community by identifying the culprit through a meticulously structured process of elimination by lot, moving from the larger societal divisions down to the individual. This verse details the final stages of narrowing down the identification of the sin, emphasizing the divine guidance in revealing hidden disobedience that had caused communal defilement and judgment.

Joshua 7 17 Word analysis

• brought near (וַיַּקְרֵב֙ - vayyaqrev): From the root qarab, meaning "to come near," "to approach," or "to present." Here, it signifies presenting for the purpose of divine judgment or selection by lot. It implies a deliberate, orderly, and divinely supervised drawing forth of the accused, narrowing the focus step by step.
• the family (מִשְׁפַּחַת֙ - mishpaḥath): Refers to a subdivision larger than a single household but smaller than a clan, grouping related households. It emphasizes the communal nature of the Israelite social structure and how sin could be traced through these units.
• of Judah (יְהוּדָֽה֙ - yehûḏāh): The largest and leading tribe, yet not exempt from divine scrutiny or consequences for sin. This demonstrates God's impartial justice.
• took (וַיִּלָּכֵ֣ד - vayyilākhēd): From the root lakhad, meaning "to seize," "to capture," or "to be caught." In the context of casting lots, it indicates that the lot "fell upon" or "identified" the specific unit or person as chosen by divine revelation, not human decision or random chance.
• of the Zerahites (הַזַּרְחִ֑י - hazzarḥî): Refers to the clan descending from Zerah, one of Judah's sons. This shows the progressive narrowing of the selection within the tribe of Judah.
• man by man (גָּבֶר֙ וְגָבֶר֙ - gāver vegāver): Literally "a man and a man" or "each man individually." This highly specific phrasing underscores the thoroughness and precision of the divine process. It highlights that the selection was methodical and deliberate, not arbitrary or haphazard. Every male member of the identified family was presented for scrutiny.
• Zabdi (זַבְדִּֽי - zavdî): The individual identified by the lot at this specific stage. Zabdi was not the actual perpetrator, but the patriarch or head of the direct lineage from which the offender (Achan, his grandson) would finally be pinpointed in the next stage. His selection pointed to his immediate family unit as the source of defilement.

• "And he brought near the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zerahites": This phrase describes the continuation of the elimination process. After the tribe of Judah was chosen in the preceding verse (Josh 7:16), this verse states that within Judah, the specific "family" or clan of the Zerahites was identified by lot as the branch containing the trespasser. This demonstrates the systematic method used to reveal hidden sin, proceeding from general to specific.
• "and he brought near the family of the Zerahites, man by man; and Zabdi was taken": This clause signifies the final, granular level of the process before the actual perpetrator. Within the chosen Zerahite clan, the selection was narrowed down to "man by man," an incredibly detailed and specific review of each individual's lineage. The lot then "took" Zabdi, indicating that the sin was within the immediate household connected to Zabdi, ultimately leading to Achan, his grandson, in the very next verse. This meticulous divine identification emphasizes that no sin is hidden from God and that His justice is precise.

Joshua 7 17 Bonus section

The method of casting lots was a recognized means of divine revelation in ancient Israel, often associated with the priestly Urim and Thummim, rather than being seen as mere chance. Its use here reinforces the theological understanding that the entire process of uncovering Achan's sin was orchestrated and superintended by God Himself, assuring the community that the identification was certain and true. The progressive narrowing, from tribe to clan to family to individual, also serves a pedagogical purpose, allowing all Israel to witness God's method of justice and understand the profound impact of individual disobedience on the entire community's well-being and covenant relationship with God. This episode served as a foundational lesson in corporate solidarity and the grave consequences of violating ḥērem principles, shaping Israel's understanding of holiness.

Joshua 7 17 Commentary

Joshua 7:17 portrays God's meticulous process of revealing the sin of Achan. Following Israel's defeat due to hidden disobedience, God orchestrated a series of divinely guided lot castings to identify the transgressor. This verse specifically details how the inquiry moved from the general tribe of Judah, down to the clan of the Zerahites, and finally, precisely pinpointed Zabdi as the patriarch of the immediate family unit where the sin originated. The use of "man by man" highlights the extreme thoroughness and care in ensuring accuracy, eliminating any room for human error or false accusation. It powerfully illustrates God's omniscience and His demand for holiness within His covenant people, demonstrating that His presence will not abide unconfessed and unpunished sin, which affects the entire community. The systematic exposure underscores that God's justice is neither random nor arbitrary, but perfectly precise.