Yosua 7:1

Achan Sins and is Punished

7:1 But the Israelites disobeyed the command about the city’s riches. ¹  Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, ²  son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches. ³  The Lord was furious with the Israelites. ⁴ 

Yosua 7:5

7:5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from in front of the city gate all the way to the fissures ⁵  and defeated them on the steep slope. ⁶  The people’s ⁷  courage melted away like water. ⁸ 

Yosua 7:11-12

7:11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment! ⁹  They have taken some of the riches; ¹⁰  they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions. ¹¹  7:12 The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. ¹²  I will no longer be with you, ¹³  unless you destroy what has contaminated you. ¹⁴ 

[7:1]  ¹ tn Heb “But the sons of Israel were unfaithful with unfaithfulness concerning what was set apart [to the Lord].”

[7:1]  ² tn 1 Chr 2:6 lists a “Zimri” (but no Zabdi) as one of the five sons of Zerah (cf. also 1 Chr 7:17, 18).

[7:1]  ³ tn Heb “took from what was set apart [to the Lord].”

[7:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.”

[7:1]  sn This incident illustrates well the principle of corporate solidarity and corporate guilt. The sin of one man brought the Lord’s anger down upon the entire nation.

[7:5]  ⁵ tn The meaning and correct translation of the Hebrew word שְׁבָרִים (shÿvarim) is uncertain. The translation “fissures” is based on usage of the plural form of the noun in Ps 60:4 HT (60:2 ET), where it appears to refer to cracks in the earth caused by an earthquake. Perhaps deep ravines or gorges are in view, or the word is a proper noun (“all the way to Shebarim”).

[7:5]  ⁶ sn The precise geographical location of the Israelite defeat at this “steep slope” is uncertain.

[7:5]  ⁷ tn Or “army’s.”

[7:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “and the heart of the people melted and became water.”

[7:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “They have violated my covenant which I commanded them.”

[7:11]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “what was set apart [to the Lord].”

[7:11]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and also they have stolen, and also they have lied, and also they have placed [them] among their items.”

[7:12]  ¹² tn Heb “they turn [the] back before their enemies because they are set apart [to destruction by the Lord].”

[7:12]  ¹³ tn The second person pronoun is plural in Hebrew, indicating these words are addressed to the entire nation.

[7:12]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “what is set apart [to destruction by the Lord] from your midst.”