v.1 Israel’s Sin. Often we speak of Achan’s sin and we talk about Joshua 7, but it is remarkable that it says “the children of Israel committed unfaithfulness”. Achan’s sin was Israel’s sin for two reasons. First, by not judging Achan, the people became partakers of his sin. We might protest at this: how could the people know? Wasn’t it done in secret? The Lord can make these things known to a people in lowly dependance on Him. Second, the thing that Achan carried out in action was in the hearts of all the people. Through the course of this chapter we will in Jehovah’s method of exposing Achan that He would bring all the people to past judgment on that sin. This is a lesson for us in the New Testament in dealing with Assembly discipline and excommunication. When a soul commits a sin, the assembly is responsible to judge that sin, not as disconnected but as recognizing that the very root of that sin is in each of their own hearts. Thus, a local assembly is responsible to exercise corporate self-judgment. This is the typical meaning of the priests’ eating the sin offering (Lev. 6:29, 10:17). If the assembly excommunicates “that wicked person” (1 Cor. 5:13) without their own consciences touched, the action would do nothing but make them hypocrites. Returning to the matter of the sin we find that that which was devoted to Jehovah in the city of Jericho must be given to the Lord or it would be “brought under the curse”. So it is with the material things of this world. Devoted to the Lord they can be used by Him, but coveted by the flesh they brings a curse. Achan, like Ananias and Saphira in a later day, acted as if Jehovah was no different than a dumb idol, which cannot see or hear. This was a failure of Israel in regards to the first part of Joshua 5: a failure to judge the flesh.

 

 

vv.2-5 The Defeat of Israel. If v.1 gives us the failure of Israel in regards to the first half of ch.5 (circumcision), then vv.2-5 give us the failure of Israel, especially of Joshua, with the latter part of ch.5: a failure to remain dependent on the Captain of the Lord’s host! This is incredible when you consider the detailed prescription for the defeat of Jericho, and how meticulously Joshua followed those orders. Now it seems that he acts on his own impulse, And send spies to the next city called Ai. Ai means “heaps and ruins”, mentioned first in Gen. 12. It is a another picture of the world, as that which exploits the weakness of a believer who allows unjudged sin in his life. Israel going up against Ai is an example of a believer who fails to put on “the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14). This town had only a few Canaanites in it, and the spies returned their advice to only send two or three thousand men, which should be well able to take the city. This detachment was thoroughly beaten, and the news of this put Israel in a state of fear; “the hearts of the people melted, and became as water”. Walking in dependence on the Lord, Israel was invincible. Even the thick walls of Jericho were nothing to them, when marching in step with Jehovah’s commandments. But when striding in their own human wisdom and energy, Israel could be beaten by just a handful of enemies! How much better would have been for Joshua to inquire of the Lord before taking this step!

 

vv.6-9 Joshua’s Consternation. The defeat of Israel threw their leaders into state of consternation. Three things Joshua did as a sign of humiliation: he rent his cloths, he fell to the earth upon his face before the ark, and he with the elders threw dust on their heads. How could it be that such a small city as Ai could defeat the very army that had crushed Jericho, whom God had brought over the Jordan in a miraculous way? In a rare instance of unbelief, Joshua says, “Oh that we had been content and had remained beyond the Jordan!” To Joshua, this defeat seemed the end of the conquest: Israel was sure to be cut off! That sin on Israel’s part could have been to blame never seems to have been a consideration. Joshua was in need of a rebuke! Yet, he wisely he presents before God the glory of His own name; “what wilt thou do unto thy great name?” This is the right direction, yet Joshua is thinking of military victory as the most important thing pertaining the glory of Jehovah’s name, rather than the holiness of His people. He needs to be reoriented in this chapter to have God’s thoughts!

 

 

vv.10-15 Jehovah’s Response. The Lord rebukes Joshua, but with grace. The fault, as always, lies with man and not God. Israel had sinned in taking of the accursed (or, devoted) thing. The wealth of Jericho was devoted to the treasury of the Lord, but if stolen for selfish reasons, it brought a curse. Israel could not succeed while this sin subsisted in their midst. They are viewed corporately by God. The people were to hallow themselves, and Jehovah would show who had taken the accursed thing. 

 

vv.16-23 Achan Discovered. The way Achan is discovered is quite a solemn scene, but full of meaning to us. Achan had many opportunities to come forward of his own volition, but he waited until his was singled out. The method is intentional. God is not theatrical. This method of discovering Achan would have produced a searching of the heart on the part of each Israelite: the root of Achan’s sin was in every heart! He confesses: “I have sinned … I saw … I coveted … and took”. What Achan took from the spoils was a mantle after the craftsmanship of the Babylonians, as well as 200 shekels of silver (raw material worth $2k USD, converted to wages, adjusted, approx. $1M USD) and a gold bar of 50 shekels weight (raw material worth $40k USD, converted to wages, adjusted, approx. $1M USD). This was a significant amount of money. Achan knew what he was doing was wrong and this was proven by the fact that he hid them in the earth in the middle of his tent.