Joshua 7:24, commentary and pictures

Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, with the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons and his daughters, his oxen, asses, sheep, tent and all that he had, and brought them to the valley of Achor, meaning Trouble, to meet the penalty for what he had done. His secret coveting, taking and hiding what was forbidden and dedicated to God brought guilt, curse and defeat upon all Israel, so that they could not stand before their enemies while the accursed thing remained among them. God searches out concealed sin and brings it to light, and after Achan's confession and the laying of the stolen things before the Lord, he and all his household and possessions were destroyed without mercy and God's wrath was turned away. The camp must still be cleansed from Achans by prompt, thorough putting away or separation of persistent sin, lest blessing be kept from the church and others be contaminated. His destruction is the sure end of fostered covetousness, selfishness and love of money unless rooted out through self-denial and entire consecration.

Event and Setting

Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, together with the silver and the garment and the wedge of gold, and his sons and his daughters, and his oxen and his asses and his sheep, and his tent and all that he had, and brought them unto the valley of Achor to meet the penalty for what he had done. The judgment embraced his household and property as well as himself, with his stolen goods, his family, his possessions and his animals brought out together. It was carried out by the people themselves, who had suffered the consequences of his sin. His transgression had brought suffering on the whole congregation, and his destruction for covetousness and secret taking of what belonged to God warns that disobedience by a large group could bring dire consequences for all Israel.

This followed his confession to coveting and hiding a Babylonish garment and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold in his tent, the finding of them hidden by messengers, and the laying of them out before the Lord. There Joshua pronounced trouble upon him, all Israel stoned them with stones and burned them with fire, raised over him a great heap of stones, the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger, and the place was called the Valley of Achor. The valley's name means Trouble, and the stones raised there marked the sin and its punishment. The bringing to the valley took place at Gilgal, on the plain of Israel's first encampment in the promised land, where Achan met the dire penalty for his sin.

The account belongs to the taking of Jericho that follows the appearance of Christ as Captain of the host of the Lord to Joshua, His assurance that Jericho with its king and mighty men of valor was given into Joshua's hand, and His instructions for the capture of the city. The punishment was specified by Jesus Christ Himself speaking from the pillar of cloud. Achan's confession came too late to save him, but it vindicated God's character and left no ground to charge God's servants with what God ordered.

Nature of Sin

Achan secretly took what had been forbidden and set apart for God and marked for destruction, a Babylonish or Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge or wedge of gold, and hid them in his tent. After he confessed to coveting and hiding them, messengers found them hidden and laid them out before the Lord. His hidden theft was thus brought to light so the camp could be cleansed, and the wrongdoing had to be removed and not met by prayer alone. His sin was covetousness, theft, embezzlement of what was dedicated to God, concealment, and dissembling by pretending innocence under examination, done knowingly against God's command. God regards as grievous the sin men count light, and judges those who take the Lord's goods for themselves, including those who claim to keep His commandments while using sacred means for themselves or their families. That covetousness had already caused the loss of thirty-six lives.

His covetousness was gradually fostered until it became a habit that bound him. That habit deadened his perception of sin and of its terrible consequences. It made him an easy prey when temptation came, leading him to take what God had forbidden and bringing ruin upon him. His sons and daughters were taken out with him to be destroyed because the same principles that controlled him had been brought into his family. That influence would have been dangerous to Israel.

In this dealing God is in earnest and jealous, cannot look upon iniquity and cannot let it pass without being exposed. Everything like falsehood, dissembling, and dishonesty is terrible in His sight. Because Achan had sinned and coveted the golden wedge and Babylonish garment and secretly hid them, all Israel suffered and was driven before its enemies until the accursed thing was taken away, and God destroyed him and all his household with all they possessed and wiped the curse from Israel. It is fearful to trifle with Him.

Corporate Guilt and Judgment

One man's hidden taking brought guilt and curse and displeasure and frown and wrath upon all Israel, so that the whole army was discomfited and driven before enemies and could not stand before them while the accursed thing remained in the midst. The coveted and secretly hidden golden wedge and Babylonish garment made all suffer, for God's displeasure rested on the people because of one man's sin. A wrong course pursued by one toward his brother turns God's light from His people until the wrong is searched out and the cause of the oppressed is vindicated, and as long as selfishness dries up kindly sympathy and tender thoughtful love for brethren every virtue is corroded and the church cannot triumph.

While the sin remained among them the Lord would not go with Israel's armies and would not bless them, and their enemies prevailed. Though by mighty power He had done a great and glorious work for them, that sin barred His way so He could not do what He would, and prayer alone was not enough until the wrongdoing was removed and the camp cleansed. The defeat through covetousness and theft of what was dedicated to God and concealment included the loss of thirty-six lives, for God counts grievous what men count light. Thousands also are described as killed in battle because God would not bless the people while this concealed sin remained among them, showing how one person's concealed sin can burden God's work and prevent blessing.

Because he had sinned God required the accursed thing to be removed and destroyed him and all his household with all they possessed and their animals without mercy, wiping the curse from Israel. Joshua and all Israel brought Achan with the stolen goods and his family and all his possessions to the valley of Achor after confession and discovery of the hidden things, and after the divine sentence was executed God's wrath was turned away. His transgression brought suffering and defeat and death on the whole congregation, warning that disobedience by a large group could bring dire consequences for all Israel. Hidden sin and inconsistent conduct that shut out God's presence must therefore be searched out in the heart, lest blessing be kept from the church and its people be weakened.

God Exposes Hidden Sin

Joshua 7:24 shows Achan with his family and all he possessed brought to the valley of Achor after his hidden theft was exposed, teaching Israel across generations that God knows hidden wrongdoing and that sin must be dealt with justly. God searches out concealed sin by His Spirit and brings its consequences upon the guilty, as Achan was exposed and punished for selfishness, avarice, and deception, proving that those who cherish the same sins cannot escape divine notice or judgment. He had taken property appointed for destruction, and Israel had to cleanse the camp, for his unknown sin still brought defeat so that prayer alone was not enough until the wrongdoing was removed. Dishonest practices involving what is sacred dishonor God and must be met with full repentance and restitution, for wrongdoing may remain hidden for a time but will be revealed.

God searched out Achan's hidden guilt and rebuked Israel for failing to be vigilant in discovering sin among them.

Achan's confession and the discovered evidence made clear the reason for the judgment, so it would not be dismissed as harsh or mistaken. That discovery assures those who are falsely accused and trust in God that God knows what has been misunderstood or misrepresented and will vindicate them. The account warns to deal vigilantly with sin while also avoiding harsh judgment and groundless suspicion of others.

Cleansing the Church

The camp must still be cleansed from Achans, for Achan stands for sin and sinners in the church, and the bringing of him with all he possessed to the valley of Achor shows that sin left in a member contaminates others and must be met by prompt, thorough dealing so that others may fear God. Truth and purity require this thorough work at a far higher standard and with immediate action. Those who persist in sin must put it away or be separated from the church.

Those in the church who do wickedly and refuse to hear admonition and repent after being visited and labored with are as Achan in the camp, deceived and deceiving, and must be disfellowshipped and not retained on the church books or in church fellowship. To retain them is an insult to the God of heaven and makes the saints accountable for their evil deeds. Their removal can be a mercy to the church, since hidden sin among God's people brings His displeasure and hinders the work and those who refuse opportunities to reform may be removed.

Joshua showed discretion in searching out the wrong and dealing promptly with sin existing among Israel, and those on whom God lays the burden of reproving and correcting prevailing sins must do this work so His frown may be turned away, for God is not to be trifled with. Those in responsible positions and in positions of trust must maintain discipline, clear the way by putting sin away, and not suffer sin in a brother nor cover up or excuse wrongdoing, but confront him, require him to put away his sins, call sin by its right name, hate the sin but love the sinner, and cleanse from all filthiness to perfect holiness. Those who do not have this duty should not hinder, question, doubt, or find fault with those who do, yet should a case like Achan's arise many would accuse one who acts Joshua's part in searching out the wrong of having a wicked, fault-finding spirit.

The church shares responsibility when, like ancient Israel in the matter of Achan, it knowingly overlooks a member's or minister's defects and hides the evil, for knowingly hiding the evil and making light of known defects makes its guilt more grievous and brings rebuke, with the church assuming those defects. Every Christian must choose poverty, reproach, separation from friends, losses, or any suffering, even death, rather than defile the soul by dishonor or transgression of God's law. As a people professing to be reformers treasuring the most sacred, solemn, purifying truths of God's Word they must elevate the standard far higher, with death before dishonor or the transgression of God's law as the motto, acting at all times as in God's presence, realizing the eye of God is ever upon them and the most secret thought, character, motives, desires, and purposes are as clear as sunlight to the Omniscient, so that when individual members act as true followers of the meek and lowly Saviour there will be less covering up and excusing of sin.

Warnings and Applications

Achan's being led to the Valley of Achor with his family and all his possessions stands as the certain and sure end of covetousness, selfishness, love of money, love of the world, and attachment to the world among God's people unless rooted out. That evil takes hold imperceptibly without being recognized, dries up sacrifice, takes the sacrifice from God's altar by loving gain and increase, and treats means lent by God as stewardship as one's own to hoard. Unless renewed covenant is kept through sacrificing for God and self-denial and denying self for truth's sake, holders will perish with the world as surely as Achan perished, with all hoarded snatched away in a moment when God's prospering hand is removed. The silver and Babylonian garment he coveted became evidence of his sin and of the terrible consequences of covetousness, which is a form of idolatry, and unlawful gain can bring ruin.

Temptation must never be undervalued, for a person who feels secure may be in great danger of falling and cannot resist in personal strength. Achan's fall warns against underestimating temptation and applies as a warning to shun danger and turn from a course leading to sin and ruin, since sin can bring God's displeasure upon sinner and community. Those who selfishly take for themselves money belonging to God's work are as Achan, bringing loss and judgment upon themselves and unfit to be trusted with responsibility, for God sees their conduct and judges them. Demanding higher wages and taking extra means for oneself in God's institutions is the sin of Achan: covetousness and selfishness, measuring oneself by others, thinking one should be greatly favored and receive as much as another receives, becoming wise above what is written, appropriating money for one's own use, and robbing God's treasury. God sees every such case, surrounds such a man with unbelief and double-dealing, counts him as one God is not with who cannot give the right mold to the work or supply hard fields and the needs of laborers in hard fields, and will pass judgment on him for selfishly taking all he thinks he should have.

Taking means belonging to God's cause and keeping it from the Southern field where appointed is robbery in every sense hated by God and abuse of the Spirit through lack of principle and perverted ideas. It exposes insincerity and blinded discernment with no real sense of justice, mercy, equity, and truth, with apparent willingness to do much while doing scarcely anything and leaving others struggling in hard places. Full clean work must be made in restitution of both principal and interest, not trifling divided partial payment with excuses and determination not to do what should be done. Those guilty will be brought with all they have to account and may in mercy be brought over the same ground and placed in the hard position they put others in. Dishonest practices involving what is sacred dishonor God and must be met with full repentance and restitution, for wrongdoing may remain hidden for a time but will be revealed. This applies especially to professed Christians who embezzle the Lord's goods and use for their families what belongs in the treasury of the Lord's house, who will not escape judgment, for the standard of the gospel is no lower than in Joshua's day but higher with increased light, and the sin punished there — covetousness, theft, embezzlement of what was dedicated to God, and dissembling by pretending innocence under examination, which had already caused the loss of thirty-six lives — shows God regards as grievous the sin men count light.

The golden wedge and Babylonish garment represent hidden, cherished wrongdoing that must be searched out, rebuked, and removed from the camp, and removing such evil is connected with the Lord's blessing. That hidden, cherished sin includes improper freedom and familiarity of married men with women and girls, which grieves God and blocks His blessing and must be searched out, rebuked, and put out of the camp before the Lord will work for the institution. Malicious backbiting and slander are worse in influence than Achan's sin because they spread beyond those who practice them and defile many. Envy and hatred against brethren, going as talebearers, accusing and condemning, blackening character, inspiring maliciousness, and carrying false reports from door to door so hearers lose God's Spirit, does not stay with the cherisher but is a root of bitterness defiling many minds, spirits, and souls. God cannot bless the church until purged of this evil, and the unrepentant remain under its corruption.

Achan was taken over by a spirit still working in men in important positions, not purged but staying as a living unrepented thing that leaves wrong calling for restoration and falling on the Rock and being broken. Until then those under it do not know God or Christ, do not pray with humble broken hearts, stumble in deceptions in mist and fog blacker than velvet without knowing what they stumble at, and will surely be humbled, with no hope for institutions ruled by it unless leading men let the Word into the mind and are transformed and trained under divine theocracy. Serious sin in the camp is associated with failure, as comparable sins among the people in Wellington were hindering Elder Daniells' success, and a church or conference cannot excuse serious sin by granting the sinner credentials and a place in ministry. One person's concealed sin can burden God's work, weaken the whole community, and prevent blessing, for Achan's secretly keeping a gold wedge and a Babylonian garment brought God's frown and wrath and displeasure upon all Israel, so Israel was defeated and thousands died in battle because God would not bless the people while this sin remained among them. The dissembling and concealment of the three women's sins are even graver because they also influenced their husbands and affected the wider cause.

A wrong course by one toward his brother turns God's light from His people until searched out and the oppressed vindicated. As long as selfishness dries kindly sympathy and tender love for brethren, every virtue is corroded and the church cannot triumph, so His people must be tender, broad and deep in sympathy, large in soul, disinterested in benevolence, and practice close self-examination to receive promised blessings. Each person has an open case with God and must seek His glory, put away everything offensive, make straight paths, let conviction reach heart and inner man, purify the soul temple, hold the fort, and make entire consecration of soul and body without stopping until every sin is corrected. This is urgent because God is in earnest and jealous, cannot look upon iniquity and cannot let it pass without being exposed, and counts everything like falsehood, dissembling, and dishonesty as terrible in His sight, and because the present opposition from principalities and powers is like Israel at Ai when God would not be with them while the accursed thing remained.