Joshua 7 22

Joshua 7:22 kjv

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

Joshua 7:22 nkjv

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it.

Joshua 7:22 niv

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.

Joshua 7:22 esv

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.

Joshua 7:22 nlt

So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 22 Meaning

Joshua 7:22 describes the immediate outcome of the search for the stolen items from Jericho, after Achan was identified by lot. It details how Joshua’s messengers swiftly went to Achan’s tent and found the illicit plunder precisely where Achan had confessed it was hidden. This verse serves as a dramatic confirmation of Achan's guilt and the accuracy of God's revelation.

Joshua 7 22 Context

Joshua chapter 7 immediately follows Israel's resounding victory at Jericho. Despite the strict command to utterly destroy all items from Jericho as devoted to the Lord (the "cherem" or "ban"), Achan secretly took and hid certain forbidden spoils. This individual act of disobedience resulted in the entire Israelite army's humiliating defeat at Ai, as God withdrew His presence and blessing from them due to the sin in their midst. When Joshua desperately sought God, he was told of the trespass and instructed on how to uncover the guilty party. After the tribe, clan, family, and finally Achan himself were identified by lot, Achan confessed his sin, describing where he hid the covetous items. Joshua 7:22 then depicts the verification of this confession, a pivotal moment leading to Achan's execution and the restoration of God's favor on Israel. The historical and cultural context centers on the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where obedience to divine commands, particularly regarding holy war and devoted things, was paramount for their success in Canaan. The consequences of sin were seen corporately, impacting the entire community.

Joshua 7 22 Word analysis

• "So Joshua": Joshua acts as God's appointed leader, demonstrating his immediate obedience and resolve to purge the sin from Israel. His actions are deliberate and decisive, reflecting his authority received from God.
• "sent messengers": Hebrew: שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning to send or extend. This indicates a direct, official command from Joshua to individuals tasked with a specific, urgent mission. The sending underscores the official nature of the verification.
• "and they ran": The word for "ran" (Hebrew: רוּץ, ruts) emphasizes urgency, swiftness, and promptness. There was no hesitation or delay in obeying Joshua’s command, showing the gravity of the situation and the immediacy required to address God's displeasure. This quick action highlights the immediate implementation of justice.
• "to the tent": This refers specifically to Achan's private dwelling, indicating the precision of God's revelation. Sin, even when hidden in the most personal space, is not concealed from God. The tent was the setting for a personal act of disobedience but with public consequences.
• "and behold": Hebrew: הִנֵּה (hinneh), an interjection that draws attention, similar to "look!" or "indeed!" It signals a moment of revelation, confirming what was previously revealed by lot and confessed by Achan. It heightens the dramatic impact of the discovery and underlines the certainty of God's knowledge.
• "it was hidden": Hebrew: טָמַן (taman), meaning to hide, bury, or conceal. This verb stresses the deliberate, intentional act of concealment by Achan, confirming his attempt to defy the command and escape consequences. The passivity indicates it was found as hidden, exactly as described.
• "in his tent": Reiterates the exact location Achan specified in verse 21. It emphasizes that the sin was literally brought into the camp, contaminating the consecrated community of Israel. It was a sin of secrecy that ultimately led to public shame.
• "with the silver underneath it": This specific detail refers to the "Babylonish garment" and indicates the particular arrangement of the hidden items (garment on top, silver below, and gold perhaps nested within). This precise information from Achan’s confession (v. 21) being found exactly as described served as undeniable proof, vindicating God's exposure of Achan. The detailed nature confirms God’s omniscience down to the smallest arrangement.

Words-group analysis

• "Joshua sent messengers, and they ran": This phrase emphasizes the immediate, authoritative, and energetic response to divine instruction. It highlights decisive action driven by necessity and urgency to deal with defilement in the camp.
• "behold, it was hidden in his tent": This expression signifies divine revelation and discovery. The act of "behold" stresses the incontrovertible proof that verified Achan’s confession, proving that what was hidden away from human eyes was perfectly visible to God.
• "hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath it": This entire clause emphasizes the exactness of God's knowledge and Achan's meticulous (but futile) attempt at concealment. The specific details underscore the futility of trying to hide anything from an omnipresent and omniscient God. It was not a casual finding, but a precise fulfillment of Achan's confession, itself a product of divine exposure.

Joshua 7 22 Bonus section

• The Valley of Achor: This discovery and subsequent punishment of Achan directly led to the naming of the "Valley of Achor" (Valley of Trouble) where the judgment took place (Josh 7:26). This valley became a lasting memorial to Achan's sin and its consequences, but also later prophetically signifies a "door of hope" (Hosea 2:15) pointing to future restoration through divine mercy overcoming past transgressions.
• Divine Revelation: The sequence of events – from the defeat, to inquiry, to lot, to confession, to physical discovery – demonstrates God's perfect method of revelation and justice. It underscores that God not only knows all hidden things but actively orchestrates their exposure when necessary for His righteous purposes.
• Corporate vs. Individual Sin: While Achan's sin was individual, its effect was corporate (Israel suffered defeat). The verse's emphasis on finding the items in his tent highlights the source of the defilement. Yet, the collective urgency to remove the sin ("they ran") illustrates the corporate responsibility to address sin in the community, reflecting principles found in the Old Testament and even echoed in New Testament calls for church discipline to maintain purity.

Joshua 7 22 Commentary

Joshua 7:22 powerfully validates Achan's confession and God's sovereign hand in revealing sin. The speed with which the messengers acted ("ran") underscores the gravity and urgency of removing the defilement from the camp, which was causing Israel's defeat. The "behold" signals a dramatic confirmation, revealing that what was painstakingly hidden in the privacy of a tent was exactly as God had exposed it to be. This verse is a stark reminder that no sin, no matter how private or deeply concealed, can escape the omniscient gaze of God. Achan's meticulous efforts to hide his transgression, placing the silver beneath the garment for extra concealment, were ultimately futile. The discovery not only confirmed his individual guilt but also explained the communal trouble Israel had endured, paving the way for the nation’s purification and renewed divine favor. It’s a profound lesson in the inescapable consequences of sin and God's perfect justice.