Joshua 7 23

Joshua 7:23 kjv

And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.

Joshua 7:23 nkjv

And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.

Joshua 7:23 niv

They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD.

Joshua 7:23 esv

And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the LORD.

Joshua 7:23 nlt

They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the LORD.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 23 Meaning

Joshua chapter 7, verse 23 details the physical act of recovering the forbidden items that Achan had stolen from Jericho, which had caused God's wrath upon Israel. The items, a costly garment, silver, and gold, were taken from where Achan had hidden them within his tent and then brought out publicly before Joshua and all the assembly of Israel. This display was crucial for showing the physical evidence of the transgression, underscoring the severity of Achan's sin, and performing an act of public accountability and repentance before God to atone for the sin that had defiled the entire community.

Joshua 7 23 Context

Joshua chapter 7 follows the miraculous fall of Jericho, where God had commanded Israel to utterly destroy the city and devote all its spoil as sacred to the Lord, forbidden from personal gain (the cherem or devoted things). Achan, from the tribe of Judah, violated this divine command by secretly taking a costly Babylonian garment, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold and hiding them under his tent. This single act of disobedience by one man resulted in the defeat of Israel by the small city of Ai, causing great distress and confusion among the Israelites and Joshua himself. The defeat at Ai revealed that there was sin in the camp. Through a process of elimination by lots, Achan's sin was exposed by God. Verse 23 details the crucial moment of recovering the hidden forbidden items. This public display was an essential part of the process to acknowledge and atone for the sin that had brought God's judgment upon the community, paving the way for Israel's renewed obedience and restoration of God's blessing.

Joshua 7 23 Word analysis

• So they took them: Refers to the people of Israel, led by Joshua's delegation, acting upon God's direct revelation of Achan's sin. "Them" specifically points to the forbidden items: a fine cloak from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold.
• from the midst of the tent: The location indicates Achan's hiding place. This emphasizes the secretive and deceptive nature of his sin. "Midst" suggests they were concealed deep within his private domain, away from public view, highlighting that God sees even hidden sins.
• and brought them: Signifies an action of exposure and presentation. The hidden sin is now openly presented, brought out from darkness into light. This is not a personal retrieval but an act of public justice.
• unto Joshua: Joshua, as the leader and God's representative, is the primary human authority to whom the evidence is presented. This confirms the validity of the charge against Achan and confirms the divine revelation.
• and unto all the children of Israel: This public presentation before the entire community is paramount. It ensures that the consequences of sin and the fulfillment of God's judgment are witnessed by everyone. It serves as a deterrent and a powerful lesson in corporate responsibility and obedience. The "children of Israel" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, benei Yisrael) refers to the whole assembly, emphasizing corporate unity.
• and laid them out: The act of "laying them out" (וַיַּצִּקֻם, vayatzikoom or from roots like yasakh, to pour out or spread) means to display or spread out openly. This is a crucial visual act of presenting irrefutable proof, leaving no room for denial. It transforms Achan's hidden treasure into undeniable evidence of his transgression.
• before the Lord: This phrase (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lifnei YHWH) is highly significant. It means in the presence of God, before His face. It elevates the act beyond a mere human judgment, indicating that it is performed in full recognition of God's sovereignty and holiness. The items, once "devoted" to the Lord by God's command, now truly lay before Him as evidence of desecration, validating the ensuing judgment as righteous in His sight.

• "they took them ... and brought them": This action demonstrates the immediate obedience of the people once the sin was revealed. There was no hesitation in executing the divine command.
• "from the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel": This sequence illustrates the trajectory of discovery: from secret hiddenness to open public exposure. The privacy of sin cannot escape the scrutiny of divine justice.
• "laid them out before the Lord": This phrase underlines the ultimate recipient of the actions – not just humans, but God Himself. The entire process of revelation, discovery, and exposure is an act of purification before the Holy God, who demands justice and obedience.

Joshua 7 23 Bonus section

The concept of "before the Lord" is vital here, implying the valley where the judgment took place (the Valley of Achor) was a sacred space of divine accounting, akin to being in a temple or sanctuary setting where the presence of God is directly perceived. This event demonstrates the corporate solidarity of ancient Israel; the sin of one person affected the entire community, necessitating a corporate response for cleansing. The thoroughness of the discovery, down to items buried deep within a tent, highlights God's absolute knowledge and intolerance of disobedience. This served as a stark, unforgettable lesson for future generations regarding the consequences of violating God's specific commands, particularly concerning consecrated items.

Joshua 7 23 Commentary

Joshua 7:23 captures a critical moment of public exposure following divine revelation of hidden sin. The verse underscores that no sin, however secretly committed, remains hidden from God's all-seeing eye. The public retrieval and display of Achan's stolen goods were essential for two main reasons: firstly, to confirm the truth of God's revelation concerning Achan's guilt, thereby validating divine judgment; and secondly, to visually cleanse the community from the defilement brought upon it by one member's transgression. This act of public exhibition served as a profound object lesson for all Israel concerning the gravity of disobedience to God's cherem command and the principle of corporate responsibility. It visually communicated the seriousness of breaking covenant with God and the necessity of immediate and thorough removal of sin from among His people for their well-being and His blessing to return. This act of "laying them out before the Lord" signifies that the justice administered was not merely human, but aligned with God's holy standards, restoring the sacred order that Achan had disrupted.