Joshua 7

Joshua 7:1

F. The Campaign at Ai (7:18:29)Chapter 7 deals with the sin question in Canaan. Even though the people had crossed the Jordan, they were still prone to sin. Here is the story of Israel’s defeat at Ai and Israel’s victory over sin at Achor. 7:1-5 When Joshua sent spies to Ai, they returned with the confident report that the city was poorly defended and that it would not be necessary to send more than two or three thousand soldiers against it. But when an army of about three thousand men marched on Ai, they met defeat rather than victory. 7:6-10 Many times defeat comes after victory; that’s when we least expect it. That’s when we feel strongest in ourselves. The people didn’t pray before going against Ai, nor did the Lord command them to go, as He had commanded them to take Jericho. Consequently, they learned painfully that all was not well; something had changed. The Canaanites were not any stronger, but Israel was weaker, and the reason was that sin had entered the camp. Although only one man was at fault, the whole nation was guilty (v. 11) and thirty-six men died (v. 5). The LORD told Joshua that this wasn’t a time for prayer but a time for action (v. 10). 7:11-26 Joshua learned that the defeat was caused by sin in the camp. Someone had disobeyed the Lord in the conquest of Jericho by looting. We are not told what method was used to find the culprit; perhaps it was by casting lots. At any rate, the field was narrowed first to the tribe, then to the family, then to the household, and then to the manAchan. He confessed to stealing a Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold. He also admitted to burying them in the floor of his tent. “When I saw . . . I coveted . . . and took” (v. 21). The story of Achan provides a vivid illustration of Jam_1:14-15 : “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Achan, by taking something that was under the ban, became accursed himself (Deu_7:26). It may seem harsh that all of Achan’s family shared in his fate, but sin is a serious matter. Rahab’s faith saved her entire household. Achan’s sin condemned his. Besides, they must have been aware of his activities, since the stolen goods were buried under their tent. Perhaps his children even participated in his sin. The lesson God was teaching His people was clear: Sin defiles the whole camp, and it must be totally eradicated whenever it surfaces. As punishment for his crime, Achan and his household were stoned to death and then burned. Also burned were all his possessions, as well as the stolen goods. H. J. Blair comments: By Achan’s death, the act of sacrilege was expiated, and the scene of the tragedy, the valley of Achor, became a door of hope as the people set their faces once more to the advance.