Joshua-Chap-7

-hebraicstudies.net-

Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

YYYYYYY

Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

YYYYYYY

“Joshua Chapter 7”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Joshua Chapter 7 marks a dramatic shift from the miraculous triumph at Jericho to a humbling defeat at Ai. While the previous chapter celebrated Israel’s obedience, this narrative opens with a “trespass in the devoted thing”. It introduces the concept of communal responsibility, where the hidden sin of one individual ‘Achan’ stalls the progress of the entire nation. This chapter serves as a sobering reminder that spiritual success is not a permanent guarantee but is contingent upon continued integrity and adherence to the Divine covenant.

YYYYYYY

Let us read Joshua Chapter 7:1-26: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass concerning 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 יְהוָה - the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 2. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spoke unto them, saying: ‘Go up and spy out the land’. And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him: ‘Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few’. 4. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men; and they fled before the men of Ai. 5. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men; and they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. 6. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of יְהוָה - the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads. 7. And Joshua said: ‘Alas, O אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה LORD Elohim, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would that we had been content and dwelt beyond the Jordan! 8. Oh, יְהוָה - LORD, what shall I say, after that Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies! 9. For when the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land hear of it, they will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth; and what wilt Thou do for Thy great Name?’ 10. And יְהוָה - the LORD said unto Joshua: ‘Get thee up; wherefore, now, art thou fallen upon thy face? 11. Israel hath sinned; yea, they have even transgressed My covenant which I commanded them; yea, they have even taken of the devoted thing; and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have even put it among their own stuff. 12. Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies, they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed; I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. 13. Up, sanctify the people, and say: Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow; for thus saith אֱלֹהֵי- יְהוָה- the LORD Elo’hey of Israel: There is a curse in the midst of thee, O Israel; thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. 14. In the morning therefore ye shall draw near by your tribes; and it shall be, that the tribe which יְהוָה - the LORD taketh shall come near by families; and the family which יְהוָה - the LORD shall take shall come near by households; and the household which יְהוָה - the LORD shall take shall come near man by man. 15. And it shall be that he that is taken with the devoted thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath; because he hath transgressed the covenant of יְהוָה - the LORD, and because he hath wrought a wanton deed in Israel’. 16. So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17. And he brought near the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zerahites. And he brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man; and Zabdi was taken. 18. And he brought near his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19. And Joshua said unto Achan: ‘My son, give, I pray thee, glory to יְהוָה - the LORD, the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Israel, and make confession unto Him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide nothing from me’. 20. And Achan answered Joshua, and said: ‘Of a truth I have sinned against יְהוָה - the LORD, the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Israel, and thus and thus have I done. 21. When I saw among the spoil a goodly Shinar 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’. 22. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 23. 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 יְהוָה - the LORD. 24. 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. 25. And Joshua said: ‘Why hast thou troubled us? יְהוָה - the LORD shall trouble thee this day’. And all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones. 26. And they raised over him a great heap of stones, unto this day; and יְהוָה - the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called the valley of Achor, unto this day”.

YYYYYYY

Explanation of Joshua 7:1-26:

I’ll walk through the chapter in three small movements so it’s easier to absorb.

The Hidden Sin and the Defeat at Ai (vv. 1-9):

Achan secretly takes items from Jericho that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim had declared “devoted” things meant either for destruction or for יְהוָה - the LORD’s treasury. Because Israel is a Covenant people, one person’s hidden act affects the whole community. When Israel attacks Ai, they are unexpectedly routed, and Joshua is devastated.

Thoughts: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is teaching Israel that victory is not automatic; it flows from covenant faithfulness.

God Reveals the Cause (vv. 10-15):

אֱלֹהִים - Elohim tells Joshua plainly: “Israel has sinned.” The language is communal, even though the act was individual. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim instructs Joshua to consecrate the people and prepare for a process of identification by lot. This slow, deliberate process teaches Israel that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim sees what is hidden and that holiness matters for the whole community.

Thoughts: God’s concern is not punishment for its own sake, but restoration of the covenant relationship.

Achan’s Confession and Judgment (vv. 16-26):

The lot falls on Achan. He confesses that he saw and took a pattern that echoes the story of Eden. The stolen items are found buried beneath his tent. Achan and his household are executed, and the place is named the Valley of Achor (“trouble”). Only after this does אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s anger turn away, and Israel is restored.

Thoughts: The severity of the judgment reflects the seriousness of covenant betrayal at a foundational moment in Israel’s history.

YYYYYYY

My Closing Message:

The chapter concludes with the sobering image of the Valley of Achor (the Valley of Troubling). The closing message is one of purification through accountability. It demonstrates that for the community to move forward into the Promise, the "herem" (the banned items) and the spirit of disobedience must be completely removed. While the judgment on Achan is severe, it restores the relationship between אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and Israel, turning a place of failure into a "door of hope" by proving that the nation is once again holy and ready to face its challenges.

YYYYYYY

Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts” Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

YYYYYYY

“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Enter ...

http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm

Enter ...

https://www.hebraicstudies.net

-hebraicstudies.net-

Email the Rabbi

RBA@hebraicstudies.net

If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid 1980’,

but there have been occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context

under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.

Thus, it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...