Joshua 7:25, commentary and pictures

Joshua told Achan that because he had troubled Israel, the Lord would trouble him that day. He was brought to the Valley of Achor with the silver, the Babylonish garment, the wedge of gold, his family, his livestock and all that he had, and all Israel stoned them with stones and burned them with fire after the stoning, then raised a pile of stones over him as a witness. One man's hidden covetousness, theft and concealment of what was devoted to God put an accursed thing in the midst of Israel, troubled the whole camp, and brought defeat, loss of life and the withdrawal of God's presence until the evil was removed. God searches out concealed sin and will not let it pass, and Achan's just destruction vindicates His character and warns that covetousness, called idolatry, brings certain ruin if not rooted out. When the curse was wiped away God's anger turned from Israel and He commanded the advance against Ai, teaching that the camp must be cleansed from Achans by searching the heart, calling sin by its right name and putting it away.

Execution in the Valley

Joshua confronted Achan with the charge that he had troubled Israel, declaring that the Lord would trouble him that day in return. The hidden theft was named as the cause of trouble upon the whole camp, and the sentence fell upon Achan as the one who had brought that trouble. His guilt had been exposed by investigation and made plain by the discovery of the stolen goods, followed by confession from his own lips.

Joshua and all Israel took Achan the son of Zerah to the Valley of Achor, bringing with him the silver, the Babylonish garment, the wedge of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen, asses and sheep, his tent and all that he had. All Israel took part in carrying out the sentence, acting through its representatives because the people had suffered the consequences of his sin. The punishment was executed immediately, without delay after exposure and confession.

All Israel stoned him and his household with stones, and burned them and all that was his with fire after the stoning, so that he perished with his family and all they possessed for transgressing the command. By that destruction the curse was wiped from Israel and the evil was put out of the camp. The sentence of stoning and burning had been specified by Jesus Christ Himself speaking from the pillar of cloud. Achan's confession, though too late to save him because it came only when identified and no longer able to evade the consequences, vindicated God's character in dealing with him and closed the door to charging God's servants with work God Himself had ordered.

A pile of stones was raised over him as a witness and memorial of his sin and punishment. The place was called the Valley of Achor, meaning Trouble, and Chronicles remembered Achan as the troubler of Israel. The dire penalty was met at Gilgal, the plain of Israel's first encampment in the promised land.

After the sentence was carried out God's wrath and anger turned away from Israel. Joshua was then commanded to advance against Ai, and Israel soon took the city with God's help.

Nature of Achan's Sin

Achan's sin was covetousness, theft, and embezzlement of what had been dedicated to God and set apart for destruction, joined with concealment, dissembling, falsehood and dishonesty. His hidden selfishness, greed and deception were grievous offenses that God sees and searches out, and cherished hidden wrongdoing of that kind is sure to be exposed and punished. What men think of little account God regards seriously, for the fraud had to be cleared away and the camp cleansed.

Contrary to God's directions he coveted and kept a golden wedge, a Babylonish garment, and silver, hid them, and thereby put an accursed thing in the midst of Israel. That keeping of the gold wedge and Babylonian garment against express command brought harm and defeat while God's displeasure rested on the people. His act was a serious breach of God's covenant and a transgression of God's command, a violation of the tenth commandment, for which he and his family perished and by which one man's sin brought suffering on the whole congregation.

Covetousness developed gradually in him, for cherished greed became a habit that bound him, deadened his moral perception, and made him an easy prey to temptation. He fell when temptation came despite having once been horrified at the thought of bringing disaster on Israel. The same principles of falsehood, dissembling and dishonesty that controlled him had entered his family, and that influence would have been dangerous to all Israel. His example shows a defective character and failure to trust God, leaving a person without moral strength to resist temptation.

Trouble Upon All Israel

One man's hidden sin troubled the whole camp and was charged to all Israel. The wrong course of one toward his brother turned the light from the people until the wrong was searched out and the cause vindicated, so that the sin of one discomfited the entire army. The evil was put out of the camp when the people stoned him and burned what belonged to him.

That sin brought defeat before enemies, the loss of thirty-six lives, the death of thousands in battle, and prevented God from giving success. All Israel suffered and was driven before its enemies because an accursed thing had been put in their midst, and without the Lord's presence in battle they were defeated. His coveting and concealment harmed the whole community, so Israel suffered for what one person had done.

While concealed transgression remained, God would not bless Israel or go with its army. His frown, displeasure, curse and guilt rested on the camp, He was without His presence in battle, and the church likewise can keep His displeasure and withhold its blessing until hidden transgression is found and put away. Although by mighty power He had done a great and glorious work for Israel, that sin barred His way so that He could not do what He would. This happened even though the sinner held no holy office, yet the sin troubled the whole camp and cost thousands of lives in battle.

The destruction of Achan with all his household and all they possessed wiped the curse from Israel and removed the evil from the camp. Their removal after refusal of opportunity to reform was an act of mercy, taking corrupt-hearted presence that brought God's frown upon the people out from among them.

God's Knowledge and Justice

Joshua 7:25 shows God to be a jealous God whom it is fearful to trifle with, who cannot look upon iniquity or let it pass without exposure, and whose warnings against sin cannot be disregarded with impunity. Achan coveted a golden wedge and a Babylonish garment and hid them, putting an accursed thing in the midst of Israel, so that all Israel suffered and was driven before its enemies until he with all his household and all they possessed was destroyed and the curse was thereby wiped from Israel. Everything offensive to Him, and everything like falsehood, dissembling and dishonesty, is terrible in His sight and must be put away, for the same principles that controlled Achan had entered his family and that influence would have been dangerous to all Israel. In this solemn time each person is to examine his open case with God, seek the glory of God and the success of His cause, make straight paths for his feet, make an entire consecration of soul and body to God, let conviction become a working agent reaching the heart and purifying the soul temple of defilement, hold the fort, and not stop until every sin upon him is corrected and put away.

Joshua used discretion in doing a special, God-given duty to search out hidden wrong and deal promptly with sin existing among Israel, and those upon whom God lays the burden of reproving and correcting prevailing sins must do that searching and correcting work so His frown may be turned away from His people. Those who do not have that duty must not hinder, question, doubt, or find fault with those who do, and must not accuse those who act the part of Joshua of having a wicked, fault-finding spirit. God knows, sees and searches out concealed sin and fraud and makes the facts plain, so cherished hidden selfishness, greed and deception are sure to be exposed and punished. Achan's covetousness, theft and concealment were treated as a serious breach of God's covenant, and after confession and discovery of the stolen goods Joshua declared that as Achan had troubled Israel the Lord would trouble him that day, and Israel stoned him and burned what was his.

That judgment, following defeat and the loss of thirty-six lives brought by a sin the people did not know, was presented as a lesson for Israel and later generations to fear and honor God, after which the Lord's anger turned. His persistent, concealed sin brought judgment on him and his household after a searching investigation exposed his guilt, and his confession came only when he was identified and could no longer evade the consequences, too late to save him. Although by His mighty power He had done a great and glorious work for Israel, that hidden sin offended Him and barred His way so that He could not do what He would, and the camp had to be cleansed with fraud cleared away by God's Spirit searching out the concealed wrong. The same searching assures those falsely accused that God knows what people misunderstand or misrepresent and will vindicate those who trust Him, while cherished sin among His people must be met with discipline, with cleansing from all filthiness of the flesh and perfecting holiness, with calling sin by its right name and putting it away rather than tampering with it, hating the sin while loving the sinner with the compassion of Jesus, and clearing the way by repentance so God can work.

The destruction of Achan was just though it looks terrible, demonstrating that God's judgment is just and that human sympathy must not overturn justice. God has not changed but is the same God in the gospel as in ancient Israel, so He still will not tolerate sin, and with increased light the standard today is no lower than in Joshua's day but more elevated. The sin punished there was covetousness, theft, embezzlement of what had been dedicated to the cause of God, and dissembling by putting on innocence under critical examination, which Achan regarded as light though it caused the loss of thirty-six lives. The punishment of stoning and burning was specified by Jesus Christ Himself speaking from the pillar of cloud, and Achan's confession from his own lips, though too late to save him, vindicated God's character in dealing with him and closed the door to charging God's servants with work God Himself had ordered.

That execution manifests God's great displeasure against all who commit similar sins, and warns that professed commandment-keepers and Christians who after the same order embezzle the Lord's goods and appropriate for their families what should go to the treasury of the Lord's house will not be left without judgment at God's hand. How God dealt with Achan by judging and removing him and his sin from Israel is a lesson showing the responsibility resting on those who stand in high positions of trust, for if those who know the truth and hear His Word daily become careless and pass by sin and transgression in their midst, God will hold them equally responsible with those guilty of open transgression. When principals and teachers do their duty and closely guard righteousness and judgment, God will by His Holy Spirit point out wrongdoers, and those in trust must give youth a right impression of what constitutes sin and uncleanness, must not hold peace when God is dishonored by deception and moral corruption, and must work diligently to separate the Achans from the camp lest His favor be lost. Achan's case also warns that temptation can lead to a fall even when a person feels secure, that a person cannot resist temptation in his own strength and should learn from past failure with humility, and that departing from God brings ruin while God is faithful both to His promises and to His warnings.

Warning Against Covetousness

Achan's ruin is the certain end of covetousness, selfishness, love of money and love of the world if it is not rooted out. His covetousness grew gradually as cherished greed became habit and deadened moral perception, so that when temptation came he fell though he had once been horrified at bringing disaster on Israel. That evil gains upon the heart imperceptibly so its possessors are not aware of it, and it dries up sacrifice among Sabbath-keepers. Means are only lent by God and men are His stewards, yet they call it their own and hoard it up, and when His prospering hand is removed it is all snatched away in a moment.

Those who take the sacrifice from God's altar and love the world and its gain and increase must make an entire change, renew their strength in God by renewing and keeping their covenant with Him, and sacrifice for God and deny self for the truth's sake, or they will perish with the world. Soon the loftiness of man will be brought down and the pride of man humbled, and kings and nobles, rich and poor alike will bow when the withering plagues from God fall upon them. Covetousness is commonly treated lightly and regarded as of little account, yet it is a grave sin and a violation of the tenth commandment. God calls it idolatry, and it can lead people to sacrifice conscience, integrity and hope of heaven for possessions.

The sin punished in Achan was covetousness, theft, embezzlement of what had been dedicated to the cause of God, and dissembling by putting on innocence, which he regarded as light though it caused the loss of thirty-six lives. The punishment of stoning and burning was specified by Jesus Christ Himself speaking from the pillar of cloud, and Achan's confession from his own lips, though too late to save him, vindicated God's character and closed the door to charging God's servants with work God Himself had ordered. That execution manifests God's great displeasure against all who commit similar sins, and warns that with increased light the standard of the gospel today is no lower than in Joshua's day but more elevated. No one can meet and resist temptation in his own strength, and temptation can lead to a fall even when a person feels secure. Safety requires learning from past failure with humility, for departing from God brings ruin and God is faithful both to His promises and to His warnings.

Selfish taking of what belongs to God is judged as Achan's act. Comparing wages with others, thinking oneself should be greatly favored, selling oneself to the highest bidder, and appropriating means for personal use is the leaven of selfishness and covetousness, leading to double-dealing, robbing God's treasury, imperiling souls, and surrounding a man with an atmosphere of unbelief in which God is not with him. God sees every such case and will pass judgment on him, and those who carry responsibilities must disconnect from him without delay and not seek to retain him even if he is an editor or manager. Appropriating or withholding means that belongs to God's cause is robbery in every sense of the word, done through selfishness, lack of principle and perverted ideas, which God hates and which abuses the Spirit of God, blinding spiritual discernment so there is no real sense of justice and mercy and equity and truth. Dishonest practices dishonor God, concealed wrongdoing will be exposed and brings serious consequences, and those responsible remain under God's censure until clean work is made by full restitution of both principal and interest.

Searching Out Present Sin

When difficulty or spiritual decline comes, the heart must be searched for the sins that shut out God's presence, the open case with God examined, straight paths made for the feet, and entire consecration of soul and body made to God. Conviction must become a working agent that reaches the heart and purifies the soul temple of defilement, cleansing from all filthiness of the flesh and perfecting holiness, clearing the way by repentance so God can work. Sin must be called by its right name and put away rather than tampered with, hating the sin while loving the sinner with the compassion of Jesus, holding the fort and not stopping until every sin is corrected and put away.

The camp must be cleansed from Achans, for sin and sinners must be promptly and decisively dealt with so others are not contaminated and may fear God. Truth and purity require more thorough work, with the standard elevated far higher by a people professing to be reformers treasuring solemn, purifying truths. Those in responsible positions and high positions of trust must not allow or suffer sin in a brother but must show him that he must either put away his sins or be separated from the church. God has not changed but is the same in the gospel as in ancient Israel and still will not tolerate sin, so if those who know the truth and hear His Word daily become careless and pass by sin and transgression in their midst, He will hold them equally responsible with those guilty of open transgression. When principals and teachers do their duty and closely guard righteousness and judgment, God by His Holy Spirit will point out wrongdoers, and those in trust must give youth a right impression of what constitutes sin and uncleanness, must not hold peace when God is dishonored by deception and moral corruption, and must work diligently to separate the Achans from the camp lest His favor be lost.

Those who refuse to hear admonitions and warnings and refuse to repent after being visited and labored with are as Achan in the camp, deceived and deceiving. They are not to be retained in the church but are to be disfellowshipped, and their names must not be kept on the church books. To retain those who do wickedly and refuse to repent is contrary to the will of God, makes the saints accountable for their evil deeds, and is an insult to the God of heaven.

Those upon whom God lays the burden of reproving and correcting prevailing sins must do that searching and correcting work with discretion, as a special God-given duty to search out hidden wrong and deal promptly with existing sin, so His frown may be turned away from His people. Those who do not have that duty must not hinder, question, doubt, or find fault with those who do, and must not accuse those who act the part of Joshua of having a wicked, fault-finding spirit. God is not to be trifled with, and His warnings against sin cannot be disregarded with impunity.

The church bears responsibility and comes under God's rebuke when it knowingly tolerates, overlooks, makes light of, or conceals serious defects in a member or minister and accepts that person's leadership, thereby assuming those defects. Knowingly overlooking and concealing evil makes its case more grievous than Israel's. Sin cannot be excused when a church or conference gives a minister credentials and places him in the pulpit.

God rebuked Israel for failing to discover sin among them, and remembering this rebuke led Israel to resolve to act promptly against sin. That vigilance was later carried too far by suspecting brethren without first learning the facts. God knows what is misunderstood or misrepresented and will vindicate those who trust Him when falsely accused.

The golden wedge and the Babylonish garment mean concealed wrongdoing still kept in the camp, and such sin must be searched out and rebuked and put out of the camp, for when it is removed the Lord will bless and work. This includes a worker in schools, institutions and churches who compares his wages with others, thinks he should be greatly favored, measures self by self and compares self with others, sells himself to the highest bidder, and appropriates means for his own use. Such leaven of selfishness and covetousness leads to double-dealing and wisdom above what is written, robs God's treasury, surrounds the man with an atmosphere of unbelief, leaves God not with him, unfits him to give the right mold to the work or supply the necessities of laborers in hard fields, imperils souls, and God sees every such case and will pass judgment on him, so those who carry responsibilities must disconnect from him without delay and not seek to retain him even if he is an editor or manager. It also includes the free association of married men with women and girls. Dissembling and concealment affecting husbands and the wider work are even more grievous than Achan's sin.

Backbiting and slander are worse than Achan's sin because their influence reaches beyond those who practice them and defiles many. The church cannot be blessed until this evil is removed and those responsible repent and change.

The same spirit that took possession of Achan is working in men in important positions, not purged away but remaining as a living, unrepented thing. Restoration has not been made, and there is no falling on the Rock and being broken. There is no hope for the institutions unless the leading men let the Word of the Lord into the mind and humble themselves, for without this deceptions enveloped in mist and fog, increasing blacker than velvet, will take place, and God will surely humble these men.

Every Christian must choose poverty, reproach, separation from friends, losses, or any suffering, even death before dishonor or transgression of God's law, rather than defile the soul with sin. He must live at all times as in God's presence under His all-seeing eye, to whom character, motives, desires and purposes are clear.