Joshua 7 21

Joshua 7:21 kjv

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.

Joshua 7:21 nkjv

When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it."

Joshua 7:21 niv

When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

Joshua 7:21 esv

when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

Joshua 7:21 nlt

Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest."

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 21 Meaning

Joshua 7:21 details Achan's confession regarding the specific items he secretly took from the forbidden spoils of Jericho. He describes how his gaze ("I saw") led to inner desire ("I coveted them"), which culminated in the active transgression ("and took them") of divine command. The confession includes the items: a valuable cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a fifty-shekel bar of gold. He further reveals they were hidden underground within his tent, with the silver placed underneath. This single act of disobedience resulted in Israel's defeat at Ai and brought divine wrath upon the entire community.

Joshua 7 21 Context

Joshua 7:21 is a pivotal verse occurring immediately after Israel's unexpected defeat at Ai. Following the miraculous fall of Jericho, where God had commanded that all plunder, except certain items for the treasury, be completely destroyed as "devoted things" (herem), a small force from Israel was shockingly routed by the people of Ai. Joshua, devastated and confused, sought the Lord's reason for the defeat. God revealed that Israel had sinned by taking some of the devoted things. Lots were cast to identify the culprit, leading to Achan of the tribe of Judah. Under direct interrogation from Joshua, Achan finally confessed his transgression, recounting the specific items and how he hid them. This verse is Achan's detailed confession, directly exposing the private act that led to public consequence and restored divine favor once dealt with. It highlights the serious implications of individual disobedience within the covenant community.

Joshua 7 21 Word analysis

• "When I saw" (וָאֵרֶא, wa'ere)

  • This opening phrase signifies the point of temptation. It's an active visual perception.
  • This is not merely passive observation but a gaze that leads to a specific desire, akin to Eve "seeing" the fruit (Gen 3:6). The path to sin often begins with the eyes.

• "among the spoils" (בַּשָּׁלָל, bashshalal)

  • Shallal refers to plunder or loot. In the context of Jericho, these spoils were specifically forbidden by God (herem), set aside for destruction or the Lord's treasury.
  • Achan encountered them where they should have been either destroyed or brought to the common treasury.

• "a beautiful cloak from Shinar" (אַדֶּרֶת שִׁנְעָר אַחַת טוֹבָה, 'adderet shinʿar 'achat tova)

  • 'adderet: This word can mean a "mantle," "robe," or "magnificent garment." It often suggests a luxurious or highly prized item, even a prophet's robe (e.g., Elijah's mantle).
  • Shinar: Refers to Mesopotamia, particularly the region of Babylonia (cf. Gen 10:10, 11:2). Such a cloak would have been an exotic and highly valuable import, perhaps symbolic of worldly allure or even pagan grandeur.
  • tova: "Good," "beautiful," "pleasing." The cloak's attractiveness ignited Achan's desire, mirroring the "pleasant to the eyes" (Gen 3:6) description of the forbidden fruit.

• "two hundred shekels of silver" (מָאתַיִם שְׁקָלִים כֶּסֶף, matayim shəqālīm kesep̄)

  • A shekel was a unit of weight, roughly 0.4 ounces or 11 grams. Two hundred shekels (approximately 4.4 pounds or 2.2 kg) was a significant amount of silver, representing considerable wealth. This was substantial for a single individual.

• "and a bar of gold" (וּלְשׁוֹן זָהָב אֶחָד, ūləšôn zāhāv ʾeḥād)

  • Ləšôn zāhāv: Literally "a tongue of gold," a common idiom for an ingot, wedge, or bar of gold due to its elongated shape.
  • weighing fifty shekels: This refers to about 1.1 pounds or 0.5 kg of gold. Gold was extremely valuable, making this a highly coveted item. The combined value of the silver and gold would have been immense, providing material security or luxury far beyond a typical Israelite's means.

• "I coveted them" (וָאֶחְמְדֵם, wa'echmedem)

  • Derived from chamad, which directly translates to "to covet," "to desire strongly," "to lust after." This is the very word used in the Tenth Commandment: "You shall not covet" (Exod 20:17, Deut 5:21).
  • This confession confirms a direct violation of one of the core laws of the covenant. It shows the internal sin before the external act.

• "and took them" (וָאֶקָּחֵם, wa'eqqachēm)

  • From laqach, "to take," "to grasp." This signifies the active physical act of transgression.
  • The transition from coveting to taking is the critical step into overt sin.

• "They are hidden in the ground" (טְמוּנִים בָּאָרֶץ, təmunîm bā'āreṣ)

  • Tamunim: "Hidden," "concealed." This points to the secrecy of Achan's sin and his attempt to escape detection.
  • Hiding in the ground implies burial, suggesting an effort to make the discovery more difficult.

• "inside my tent" (בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלִי, bətôḵ 'ohŏlî)

  • Indicates a place of presumed privacy and security. The very intimacy of the location underlines Achan's attempt to keep his sin private, close to him, almost part of his life.

• "with the silver underneath" (וְהַכֶּסֶף תַּחְתֶּיהָ, wəhakkeseph tach'teha)

  • This precise detail of placement shows Achan's exact recollection and provides proof of his guilt to Joshua's searching party. It indicates meticulousness in his act of hiding, perhaps covering the more valuable items with the less (though still valuable) silver.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "When I saw... I coveted them and took them.": This sequence powerfully illustrates the progression of sin:

  1. Sight (Perception/Temptation): "I saw" (Exo 20:17, 2 Sam 11:2 for David).
  2. Desire (Coveting/Lust): "I coveted them" (Jas 1:14-15: desire gives birth to sin). This is a violation of God's internal law.
  3. Action (Transgression): "and took them" (leads to an external act of rebellion).This sequence serves as a perennial warning regarding the root of many sins.

• "beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels": These are tangible, desirable worldly goods. The very specific nature of the items reveals the depth of Achan's attachment to forbidden wealth and illustrates the nature of worldly temptation—luxury, significant money, and raw wealth. The cloak from Shinar ties into the earliest human rebellion against God (Tower of Babel, Gen 11) and the corrupting influences of pagan cultures from which God's people were meant to be distinct.

• "They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.": This emphasizes the deliberate, secretive, and personal nature of Achan's sin. It wasn't accidental but calculated concealment. The tent, a place of safety and privacy, becomes a grave for his sin and ironically, ultimately, his downfall.

Joshua 7 21 Bonus section

• The "cloak from Shinar" holds deep theological resonance. Shinar, also known as Babel/Babylon, is linked to humanity's earliest act of unified rebellion against God's command (Gen 11:1-9, Tower of Babel). Taking an item from Shinar could be seen symbolically as taking on the spirit of self-glorification and defiance of God, which was inherently opposed to Israel's mission of holiness and obedience.
• Achan's act wasn't just about theft; it was a violation of the "herem" (devoted things) law, which was sacred and tied directly to God's holy war and His absolute sovereignty over the land and its spoils. This was sacrilege, not just a misdemeanor. The items were set apart for God – either for destruction or His sanctuary – and Achan essentially stole from God Himself, breaking covenant faith.
• The detail of "the silver underneath" might subtly convey Achan's preference or higher value placed on the gold and cloak, burying the less preferred silver at the very bottom, indicating a priority even in his sin.

Joshua 7 21 Commentary

Joshua 7:21 is the heart of Achan's confession, revealing the progression of his sin and its direct contradiction to God's clear commands regarding Jericho. It exemplifies the dangers of visual temptation, leading to internal covetousness (a direct violation of the Tenth Commandment), and culminating in the act of theft and rebellion. Achan's specific mention of a valuable cloak, silver, and gold underlines the strong allure of worldly wealth over obedience to God. His subsequent hiding of these items reflects the common human tendency to conceal sin, yet demonstrates its futility before an omniscient God. This singular act, despite being hidden, resulted in communal suffering and God's displeasure, serving as a powerful lesson that individual disobedience can have profound and devastating corporate consequences within the body of believers.

Practical usage:

• Examine internal desires; covetousness begins in the heart, leading to actions (e.g., discontentment over possessions leading to unwise financial decisions).
• Acknowledge that seemingly private sins impact the wider community, especially in a family or church (e.g., dishonesty by one member affecting trust for all).
• Remember that hidden sins cannot truly remain hidden from God; sincere confession is the path to restoration.