Achan (Joshua 6:17–19; Joshua 7:1; Joshua 7:2–5; Joshua 7:6–15; Joshua 7:16–18; Joshua 7:19–23; Joshua 7:24–26; Joshua 22:13–20; 1 Chronicles 2:7)

Son of Carmi, of the tribe of Judah

A man of Judah, the son of Carmi, who took of the devoted thing at Jericho, was taken by lot after Israel fled before Ai, confessed to Joshua, and was brought with his sons, his daughters and all that he had to the valley of Achor.

Before Jericho fell, Israel was told, “only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when ye have devoted it, ye take of the devoted thing; so would ye make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it” (Joshua 6:18). Then the book says: “the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel” (Joshua 7:1). Men sent against Ai “fled before the men of Ai” (Joshua 7:4), and the LORD told Joshua that Israel could not stand before its enemies until the devoted thing was taken away.

In the morning Israel was brought near by tribes, families, households and man by man, and “Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken” (Joshua 7:18). Joshua said to him, “tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me” (Joshua 7:19), and Achan answered, “then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent” (Joshua 7:21). Messengers found the goods where he said.

Joshua and all Israel brought Achan, the goods, his sons and daughters, his livestock and his tent up to the valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why hast thou troubled us? Jehovah shall trouble thee this day” (Joshua 7:25). Later Phinehas and the princes, speaking for the whole congregation, recalled him: “that man perished not alone in his iniquity” (Joshua 22:20). First Chronicles spells the name Achar: “Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing” (1 Chronicles 2:7). The New Testament does not name him.

Weaknesses

• Coveted
• Took of the devoted thing
• Hid them in the earth in his tent

Themes

• The devoted thing
• Covenant trespass
• Defeat at Ai
• Confession
• The valley of Achor

Takes of the devoted thing (Joshua 6:17–19; Joshua 7:1)

Israel is told to keep from the devoted thing at Jericho; Achan of the tribe of Judah takes of it, and the anger of the LORD is kindled against Israel.

Israel flees before Ai (Joshua 7:2–5)

About three thousand men go up against Ai and flee before its men, and the hearts of the people melt.

The LORD answers Joshua (Joshua 7:6–15)

Joshua falls on his face before the ark; the LORD says Israel has sinned and orders the people sanctified and brought near by tribes, families, households and man by man.

Achan is taken (Joshua 7:16–18)

Joshua brings Israel near; the tribe of Judah, the family of the Zerahites and the household of Zabdi are taken, and then Achan.

Confesses to Joshua (Joshua 7:19–23)

Joshua charges Achan to give glory to the LORD and tell what he has done; Achan confesses, says where the goods are hid, and messengers find them in his tent.

Confesses to Joshua

“And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me” (Joshua 7:19).

“And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Of a truth I have sinned against Jehovah, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it” (Joshua 7:20-21).

“So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them from the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel; and they laid them down before Jehovah” (Joshua 7:22-23).

The valley of Achor (Joshua 7:24–26)

Joshua and all Israel bring Achan, the goods, his sons and daughters, his livestock and his tent to the valley of Achor, where Israel stones him and raises a heap of stones.

The valley of Achor

“And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them up unto the valley of Achor” (Joshua 7:24).

“And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? Jehovah shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones” (Joshua 7:25).

“And they raised over him a great heap of stones, unto this day; and Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day” (Joshua 7:26).

Remembered by Israel (Joshua 22:13–20; 1 Chronicles 2:7)

Phinehas and the princes, speaking for the whole congregation, recall that Achan's trespass brought wrath on all Israel, and Chronicles names him Achar, the troubler of Israel.

Remembered by Israel

Phinehas and ten princes, sent to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, spoke for “the whole congregation of Jehovah” (Joshua 22:16): “Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity” (Joshua 22:20).

In the genealogy of Judah, Chronicles has: “And the sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing” (1 Chronicles 2:7).

Joshua (Joshua 7:19–20; Joshua 7:24–25)

Charged him to give glory to the LORD and make confession, and led Israel in bringing him up to the valley of Achor.

The LORD (Joshua 7:1; Joshua 7:20; Joshua 7:26)

His anger was kindled against Israel at the trespass, and Achan confessed that he had sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel.

The congregation of Israel (Joshua 7:25; Joshua 22:20)

Wrath fell upon all the congregation, and Israel stoned him in the valley of Achor.

Carmi (Joshua 7:1; 1 Chronicles 2:7)

His father, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.

His sons and daughters (Joshua 7:24)

Brought up with him and his goods to the valley of Achor.

Major sections

• Joshua 7
• Joshua 22:20
• 1 Chronicles 2:7

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