1
But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things, for Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.
2
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3
Then they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Not all the people need go up; let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people by sending them there, for the people there are few.”
4
So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.
5
The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, and they chased the Israelites from the gate of the city as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the slope. Then the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
6
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel, and they put dust on their heads.
7
And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, why did You bring this people across the Jordan, only to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
8
O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back before its enemies?
9
When the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land hear of it, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”
10
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?
11
Israel has sinned; they have broken My covenant that I commanded them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have hidden them, and they have put them among their own belongings.
12
That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they themselves have become devoted to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you remove the devoted things from among you.
13
Get up, consecrate the people, and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, O Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove the devoted things from among you.’
14
Tomorrow morning you shall come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe that the LORD chooses shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD chooses shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD chooses shall come forward man by man.
15
And whoever is found keeping the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has broken the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.”
16
So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken.
17
When he brought near the clans of Judah, the clan of Zerah was taken. When he brought near the clan of Zerah, man by man, Zabdi was taken.
18
When he brought near his family, man by man, Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
19
Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make confession before Him; tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
20
And Achan answered Joshua, saying, “Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did:
21
when I saw among the spoil a beautiful robe from Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I desired them and took them; and behold, they are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
22
Then Joshua sent men at once to the tent, and behold, they were hidden in Achan’s tent, with the silver underneath.
23
So they took them from the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the Israelites, and poured them out before the LORD.
24
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, and the silver, the robe, and the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, and his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
25
And Joshua said, “As you have brought trouble on us, so the LORD will bring trouble on you this day.” Then all Israel stoned him with stones, and they burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
26
Afterward they raised over him a great heap of stones, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.
⚠️🏴☠️🛑 Summary of Joshua 7 – The Defeat at Ai and Achan’s Sin
Joshua 7 records Israel’s first defeat in the Promised Land — not because of the enemy’s strength, but because of the hidden sin of one man, Achan. This shows how seriously God regards disobedience and how personal sin affects the whole community.
📌 1. Defeat at the City of Ai (verses 1–5)
- Achan from the tribe of Judah broke the command of the Lord by taking the things devoted to the Lord in Jericho.
- Israel attacked Ai with confidence, but instead was defeated and 36 men died.
- The heart of the people became discouraged.
🎯 Spiritual victory does not depend on strength, but on holiness and obedience.
📌 2. Joshua’s Response and God’s Action (verses 6–15)
- Joshua lamented before the Lord, not understanding why they had been defeated.
- The Lord answered:
“Rise up! Israel has sinned…” (verses 10–11)
“You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove the devoted things from among you.” (verse 13)
- The Lord commanded that the tribes be chosen one by one until the offender was found.
🎯 The Lord will not bless the steps of His people if sin has not been exposed and dealt with.
📌 3. Achan’s Confession and Punishment (verses 16–26)
- Achan was chosen and confessed his sin: he took a robe, gold, and silver, then hid them in his tent.
- All those things, together with Achan and his family, were brought to the Valley of Achor and stoned to death.
- After that, the Lord’s anger turned away from Israel.
🎯 Hidden sin brings disaster, but righteous judgment brings restoration to the people.
📖 Main Lessons
- Personal sin has a great impact on the community — especially in the body of Christ.
- The Lord is not pleased with disobedience, even that which is unseen by people.
- True repentance includes confession and the cleansing of sin.
- Do not take the Lord’s command lightly — even one transgression can halt an entire mission.
- Restoration happens only after sin has been dealt with.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“A little leaven makes the whole batch sour… Remove the old leaven…”
“Confess your sins to one another and pray… that you may be healed.”
- Acts 5 (Ananias & Sapphira)
→ Another example that hidden sin among God’s people brings swift judgment.
🎯 God does not treat sin lightly, but He also provides a way of restoration through repentance.
“Israel has sinned… they have stolen, lied, and hidden it.” – Joshua 7:11
“You will not be able to stand before your enemies, until you remove the devoted things.” – Joshua 7:13
“Then all Israel stoned him.” – Joshua 7:25
