5 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel. (Joshua 7:1)

Jericho was the first of approximately thirty-one Canaanite cities that Joshua and the Hebrew nation were to conquer. Thus, Jericho was a first-fruits city. All of the spoils gathered from this conquest were to go into the treasury of the Tabernacle of the Lord as a first fruits offering.

If you notice, the other cities the Lord allowed to take as spoil but not as this one - it was a first fruits offering.

Another interesting fact that Bible scholars tell us is that this conquest took place between the Feasts of Passover and First fruits. If the firstfruits are withheld, then the object being held back becomes a curse and not a blessing. And this is what exactly happened.

Therefore, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. (Joshua 7:12)

There is always a reason why we are unable to face our adversaries. Our sin and rebellion obstruct our ability to walk in a relationship with God, which is necessary if we are to experience His strength and presence in our own conflicts.

And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: ²¹ When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” (Joshua 7:20-21)

It was a forced confession since he had neglected to fully confess his fault in light of the disgrace done to the Lord and the terrible consequences to the nation.

Human wisdom would believe that Achan could be pardoned and allowed another chance, but his sin, like that of the man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day, was direct and willful disobedience to the Lord. Achan did not even acknowledge his sin until it was revealed to him by the Lord Himself.

“When I saw among the spoils….” Achan fell for the lust of the eyes.

Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. (Joshua 7:24)

The terrible judgement on Achan and his family took place in the valley of Achor. The valley was so named because Achor means “trouble.” However, once the sin was removed, Israel was able to defeat and fully destroy Ai.

The Valley of Achor is also mentioned in a positive light in the Bible. In Hosea 2:15, the prophet Hosea refers to the Valley of Achor as a "door of hope" for the future of Israel. In Isaiah 65:10, we read, “Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for My people that have sought Me.”

Chapter 7