Joshua 7:16-26 | The Way of Scripture

Joshua 7:16-26

What is confessed and what remains difficult in Achan’s judgment?

Berean Standard Bible

16 So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 17 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected. 18 And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected. 19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, 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.” 22 So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD. 24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor. 25 “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies. 26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.

What is the context?

The ordered selection identifies Achan. Joshua urges him to confess, and Achan admits seeing, coveting, and taking a cloak, silver, and gold. He tells where they are hidden in his tent.

Messengers recover the objects as he described and lay them before the Lord. The account includes a confession and the discovered possessions, rather than stopping at an unexplained accusation.

Achan, his sons and daughters, his animals, tent, and possessions are brought to the valley. The BSB describes his stoning, the stoning of the others, and burning the bodies, followed by a heap of stones and the turning away of the Lord’s anger. The household’s inclusion is a severe feature of the account and should not be omitted.

The chapter does not state the ages of his sons and daughters or separately recount their actions. Deuteronomy 24:16 also commands that children must not be put to death for their parents’ sins. This narrative must not be converted into a general rule of inherited criminal guilt or permission to punish someone’s relatives.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley thinks the sons and daughters were probably aware of the offense, but that participation is his inference. The Cambridge commentary records both an accomplice reading and a reading in which they were brought as witnesses and the plural referred to the animals and possessions. The quotation here keeps the BSB’s explicit presentation instead of replacing it with a preferred reconstruction. These interpretations do not establish facts the narrative leaves unstated.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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