Joshua 7:10-12

The Sin of Achan

10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?

11 Israel has sinned; they have ¹transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the ²devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

12 ³Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They ⁴turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become ⁵devoted for destruction.^[a] I will be with you no more, unless you destroy ⁶the devoted things from among you.

Joshua 7:10-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 7

For the trespass of Achan the children of Israel were smitten and put to flight by the men of Ai, Jos 7:1-5; which gave him and the elders of the people great concern, both for Israel and for the name of the Lord, which was expressed by Joshua in prayer to God, Jos 7:6-9; when the Lord informed him of the reason of it, and gave him directions for finding out the guilty person, and for the punishment of him, Jos 7:10-15; which directions Joshua followed, and the person was found out, who being urged to a confession made one, Jos 7:16-21; upon which he and all he had, with the things he had taken, were burnt with fire, Jos 7:22-26.

Cross References

• 1. ver. 15
• 2. Joshua 6:17, 18
• 3. Numbers 14:45; Judges 2:14
• 4. ver. 8
• 5. Joshua 6:18
• 6. ver. 11

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)