Joshua 7:1

The Defeat at Ai

1 The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. ^[a] Achan ^[b] son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, ^[c] the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7:1 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 7:1

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the
accursed thing
Or concerning it, with respect to it, by taking part of what was devoted to another use, and forbidden theirs: this was done, not by the whole body of the people, only by one of them; but it not being discovered who it was, it was imputed to the whole, on whom it lay to find out the guilty person and punish him, or else the whole must suffer for it: this chapter begins with a "but", and draws a vail over the fame and glory of Joshua, observed in ( Joshua 6:27 ) ;

for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of
the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing;
of what was devoted to the Lord and to sacred uses; this he had taken to himself out of the spoil of the city of Jericho, for his own use, contrary to the command of God: his descent is particularly described, that it might be known of what family and tribe he was; and it is traced up to Zerah, who was a son of Judah, ( Genesis 38:30 ) ;

and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel;
because of the sin of Achan.

Joshua 7:1 In-Context

1 The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

2 Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

3 On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.”

4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai.

5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

Footnotes

• [a]. Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verses 11, 12, 13, and 15.
• [b]. Achan means troubler; also called Achar in 1 Chronicles 2:7.
• [c]. Zabdi is a variant of Zimri; also in verses 17 and 18; see LXX and 1 Chronicles 2:6.