Add parallel Print Page Options

The Sin of Achan

16 So Joshua got up early in the morning and had Israel come forward by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was chosen [by lot]. 17 He had the families of Judah come forward, and the family of the Zerahites was chosen; and he had the family of the Zerahites come forward man by man, and Zabdi was chosen. 18 He brought his household forward man by man; and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen. 19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him [in recognition of His righteous judgments]; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.” 20 So Achan answered Joshua and said, “In truth, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 21 when I saw among the spoils [in Jericho] a [a]beautiful robe from Shinar (southern Babylon) and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I wanted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and they saw the stolen objects hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 And they took them from the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel, and [b]spread them out before the Lord. 24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the [royal] robe, the bar of gold, [c]his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything that he had; and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor (Disaster). 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought disaster on us? The Lord will bring you disaster this day.” Then all Israel stoned them [to death] with stones; afterward they burned their bodies in the fire. 26 Then they piled up over him a great heap of stones that 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 (Disaster) to this day.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 7:21 I.e. a valuable, elaborately woven and decorated royal robe, perhaps even bejeweled.
  2. Joshua 7:23 Lit emptied.
  3. Joshua 7:24 The family was punished along with him as his co-conspirators.

16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen.(A) He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah,(B) was chosen.(C)

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory(D) to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell(E) me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder(F) a beautiful robe from Babylonia,[a] two hundred shekels[b] of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels,[c] I coveted(G) them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from 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 robe, the gold bar, his sons(H) and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor.(I) 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble(J) on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him,(K) and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.(L) 26 Over Achan they heaped(M) up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.(N) Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger.(O) Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor[d](P) ever since.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 7:21 Hebrew Shinar
  2. Joshua 7:21 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
  3. Joshua 7:21 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
  4. Joshua 7:26 Achor means trouble.