So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. So Joshua arose early the next morningThe phrase "arose early" is significant in the Hebrew context, often indicating a sense of urgency and diligence. The Hebrew word used here is "שָׁכַם" (shakam), which implies a proactive and determined action. Joshua's early rising reflects his commitment to addressing the sin in the camp, demonstrating leadership and obedience to God's command. This action sets a tone of seriousness and responsibility, reminding us of the importance of addressing sin promptly and with resolve. and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe
The process of bringing Israel "tribe by tribe" underscores the methodical and orderly approach Joshua took in seeking out the transgressor. This reflects the judicial and communal nature of Israelite society, where matters were often resolved in a structured manner. The Hebrew word for "tribe" is "שֵׁבֶט" (shevet), which can also mean "staff" or "scepter," symbolizing authority and identity. This process highlights the collective responsibility of the community in dealing with sin and the importance of maintaining purity within the people of God. and the tribe of Judah was selected
The selection of the tribe of Judah is significant both historically and theologically. Judah, meaning "praise" in Hebrew, was a prominent tribe, from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ would descend. The Hebrew word for "selected" is "לָכַד" (lakad), meaning "to capture" or "to seize," indicating a divine choice or revelation. This selection process reveals God's sovereign hand in identifying the source of sin, emphasizing His omniscience and justice. It serves as a reminder that God sees all and will bring hidden sins to light, urging believers to live transparently and righteously before Him. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel after Moses, tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Known for his faithfulness and obedience to God. 2. IsraelThe nation chosen by God, consisting of twelve tribes, each descending from one of the sons of Jacob. 3. Tribe of JudahOne of the twelve tribes of Israel, from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ would descend. Known for its leadership and prominence among the tribes. 4. AchanThough not mentioned in this specific verse, Achan is the individual whose sin led to the events of Joshua 7. His actions brought trouble upon Israel. 5. The Selection ProcessA divinely guided process to identify the source of sin within the camp, demonstrating God's desire for holiness among His people. Teaching Points The Importance of ObedienceJoshua's early rising and methodical approach to addressing sin in the camp underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands. We must be diligent in addressing sin in our lives. God's Holiness and JusticeThe selection process reveals God's holiness and His intolerance of sin. We are reminded that God desires purity and righteousness among His people. Leadership and ResponsibilityJoshua's role as a leader required him to confront difficult situations. As Christians, we are called to lead with integrity and courage, addressing sin and guiding others toward righteousness. The Consequences of SinAchan's sin affected the entire community, illustrating that our actions have broader implications. We must consider how our choices impact others and strive to live in a way that honors God. God's Sovereign ChoiceThe selection of the tribe of Judah points to God's sovereign plan and His ability to work through human history to accomplish His purposes. We can trust in God's plan for our lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua's approach to addressing sin in the camp challenge us in dealing with sin in our own lives and communities? 2. In what ways does the selection of the tribe of Judah foreshadow God's plan for redemption through Jesus Christ? 3. How can we apply the principle of God's holiness and justice in our daily decision-making and interactions with others? 4. What lessons can we learn from Joshua's leadership in this passage that can be applied to our roles in our families, workplaces, and churches? 5. How do the events of Joshua 7:16 encourage us to trust in God's sovereign plan, even when we face difficult or challenging circumstances? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 16The selection of David from the tribe of Judah as king, showing God's sovereign choice and the importance of the tribe of Judah. Numbers 32The consequences of disobedience to God, as seen in the tribes of Israel, highlighting the importance of faithfulness. Hebrews 12The discipline of the Lord, which is for our good, that we may share in His holiness, reflecting the purpose behind the events in Joshua 7. People Achan, Amorites, Canaanites, Carmi, Israelites, Joshua, Zabdi, Zarhites, Zerah, Zerahites, ZimriPlaces Ai, Beth-aven, Bethel, Jericho, Jordan River, Shebarim, Shinar, Valley of AchorTopics Bringeth, Captured, Caused, Early, Forward, Got, Joshua, Judah, Morning, Riseth, Rose, Selected, Tribe, TribesDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 7:1-16 6024 sin, effects of Joshua 7:1-26 6173 guilt, and God
8479 self-examination, examples 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 7:16 NIVJoshua 7:16 NLTJoshua 7:16 ESVJoshua 7:16 NASBJoshua 7:16 KJV
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