The one who is caught with the things devoted to destruction must be burned, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.'" And he who is caughtThe phrase "he who is caught" implies a process of discovery and accountability. In the Hebrew context, the word used here can denote being seized or captured, indicating a divine revelation of hidden sin. This reflects the biblical principle that nothing is hidden from God ( Hebrews 4:13). The process of being "caught" underscores the seriousness of sin and the inevitability of divine justice. with the devoted things
The "devoted things" refer to items that were consecrated to God, often through destruction, as part of the herem, or ban. In the context of ancient Israel, these items were considered holy and untouchable for personal use. The Hebrew term cherem signifies something set apart for God, often through destruction, highlighting the gravity of taking what is God's for oneself. shall be burned with fire
The punishment of being "burned with fire" is a severe form of judgment, symbolizing complete purification and removal of sin from the community. Fire in biblical terms often represents God's holiness and judgment (Hebrews 12:29). This act serves as a deterrent and a means of purging evil from among God's people, ensuring the sanctity of the community. along with all that belongs to him
This phrase indicates the totality of the judgment, extending beyond the individual to all his possessions. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the family and possessions were seen as extensions of the individual. This comprehensive judgment underscores the communal nature of sin and its consequences, affecting not just the sinner but the entire community. because he has transgressed
The word "transgressed" conveys the idea of crossing a boundary or violating a command. In Hebrew, the term is often associated with rebellion against God's law. This highlights the willful nature of the sin, emphasizing that it is not merely a mistake but a deliberate act of disobedience against God's covenant. the covenant of the LORD
The "covenant of the LORD" refers to the sacred agreement between God and Israel, established at Sinai. This covenant was foundational to Israel's identity and relationship with God. Breaking this covenant was seen as a serious offense, as it represented a breach of trust and loyalty to God, who had delivered and sustained them. and committed a disgraceful thing
The phrase "committed a disgraceful thing" indicates an act that brings shame and dishonor. In the Hebrew context, this term often refers to actions that are morally and socially reprehensible. Such acts not only offend God but also undermine the moral fabric of the community, necessitating a strong response to restore honor and righteousness. in Israel
The mention of "in Israel" emphasizes the corporate identity and responsibility of the nation. Israel was called to be a holy people, set apart for God's purposes. Sin within the community threatened their collective mission and witness to the surrounding nations. This phrase serves as a reminder of the communal implications of individual actions and the need for collective holiness. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel after Moses, tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. 2. AchanThe individual who sinned by taking the devoted things, causing Israel to suffer defeat at Ai. 3. AiThe city where Israel faced defeat due to Achan's sin. 4. The Devoted ThingsItems that were to be destroyed or dedicated to the Lord, taken by Achan in disobedience. 5. The Covenant of the LORDThe sacred agreement between God and Israel, which Achan violated. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinAchan's sin shows that disobedience to God has severe consequences, not just for the individual but for the community. The Importance of ObedienceObedience to God's commands is crucial for maintaining a right relationship with Him and ensuring His blessings. Community ResponsibilityThe sin of one can affect the entire community, highlighting the need for accountability and integrity within the body of believers. God's Holiness and JusticeGod's response to Achan's sin underscores His holiness and the necessity of justice in dealing with sin. Repentance and RestorationWhile Achan's account ends in judgment, it serves as a reminder of the need for repentance and the possibility of restoration through Christ. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Achan's sin and its consequences reflect the nature of sin and its impact on the community? 2. In what ways can we ensure that we are not taking "devoted things" in our own lives, metaphorically speaking? 3. How does the account of Achan challenge us to consider the seriousness of obedience to God's commands? 4. What parallels can we draw between Achan's account and the New Testament account of Ananias and Sapphira? 5. How can we apply the lessons from Achan's account to foster a culture of accountability and integrity within our church community? Connections to Other Scriptures Leviticus 27Discusses the concept of things devoted to the Lord, emphasizing the seriousness of dedicating items to God. Deuteronomy 7Warns against taking devoted things, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's commands. 1 Samuel 15Saul's disobedience in not fully destroying the Amalekites and their possessions parallels Achan's sin. Acts 5Ananias and Sapphira's account in the New Testament reflects the seriousness of deceit and disobedience to God. Hebrews 12Discusses God's discipline, which can be seen in the punishment of Achan as a form of divine correction. People Achan, Amorites, Canaanites, Carmi, Israelites, Joshua, Zabdi, Zarhites, Zerah, Zerahites, ZimriPlaces Ai, Beth-aven, Bethel, Jericho, Jordan River, Shebarim, Shinar, Valley of AchorTopics Accursed, Act, Agreement, Along, Ban, Belongs, Burned, Burnt, Captured, Committed, Covenant, Cursed, Deed, Destroyed, Devoted, Disgraceful, Fire, Folly, Shame, Shameful, Transgressed, Violated, Wanton, Wickedness, WroughtDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 7:15 5275 cremation
7346 death penalty Joshua 7:1-16 6024 sin, effects of Joshua 7:1-26 6173 guilt, and God
8479 self-examination, examples Joshua 7:11-15 5836 disgrace Joshua 7:11-26 8716 dishonesty, examples Joshua 7:14-18 5671 clan Library Achan's Sin, Israel's Defeat
'But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. 2. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-ei, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWhether one Can, Without a Mortal Sin, Deny the Truth which Would Lead to One's Condemnation?
Objection 1: It would seem one can, without a mortal sin, deny the truth which would lead to one's condemnation. For Chrysostom says (Hom. xxxi super Ep. ad Heb.): "I do not say that you should lay bare your guilt publicly, nor accuse yourself before others." Now if the accused were to confess the truth in court, he would lay bare his guilt and be his own accuser. Therefore he is not bound to tell the truth: and so he does not sin mortally if he tell a lie in court. Objection 2: Further, just as …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Contention Over the Man Born Blind.
(Jerusalem.) ^D John IX. 1-41. [Some look upon the events in this and the next section as occurring at the Feast of Tabernacles in October, others think they occurred at the Feast of Dedication in December, deriving their point of time from John x. 22.] ^d 1 And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. [The man probably sought to waken compassion by repeatedly stating this fact to passers-by.] 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Confession of Sin --A Sermon with Seven Texts
The Hardened Sinner. PHARAOH--"I have sinned."--Exodus 9:27. I. The first case I shall bring before you is that of the HARDENED SINNER, who, when under terror, says, "I have sinned." And you will find the text in the book of Exodus, the 9th chap. and 27th verse: "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." But why this confession from the lips of the haughty tyrant? He was not often wont to …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 Restraining Prayer: is it Sin?
"Thou restrainest prayer before God."--JOB xv. 4. "What profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?"--JOB xxi. 15. "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."--1 SAM. xii. 23. "Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you."--JOSH. vii. 12. Any deep quickening of the spiritual life of the Church will always be accompanied by a deeper sense of sin. This will not begin with theology; that can only give expression to what God works …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession The Practice of Piety in Glorifying God in the Time of Sickness, and when Thou Art Called to Die in the Lord.
As soon as thou perceivest thyself to be visited with any sickness, meditate with thyself: 1. That "misery cometh not forth of the dust; neither doth affliction spring out of the earth." Sickness comes not by hap or chance (as the Philistines supposed that their mice and emrods came, 1 Sam. vi. 9), but from man's wickedness, which, as sparkles, breaketh out. "Man suffereth," saith Jeremiah, "for his sins." "Fools," saith David, "by reason of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Exposition of the Moral Law.
1. The Law was committed to writing, in order that it might teach more fully and perfectly that knowledge, both of God and of ourselves, which the law of nature teaches meagrely and obscurely. Proof of this, from an enumeration of the principal parts of the Moral Law; and also from the dictate of natural law, written on the hearts of all, and, in a manner, effaced by sin. 2. Certain general maxims. 1. From the knowledge of God, furnished by the Law, we learn that God is our Father and Ruler. Righteousness …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Covenant of Works
Q-12: I proceed to the next question, WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED? A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge upon pain of death. For this, consult with Gen 2:16, 17: And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision F. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. ^C Luke XVI. 19-31. [The parable we are about to study is a direct advance upon the thoughts in the previous section. We may say generally that if the parable of the unjust steward teaches how riches are to be used, this parable sets forth the terrible consequences of a failure to so use them. Each point of the previous discourse is covered in detail, as will be shown by the references in the discussion of the parable.] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Joshua 7:15 NIVJoshua 7:15 NLTJoshua 7:15 ESVJoshua 7:15 NASBJoshua 7:15 KJV
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