Bible Strands
Joshua 7:1
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator states that the Israelites violated the ban after the conquest of Jericho, immediately before Joshua dispatches scouts to Ai. This narrative shift explains the sudden divine anger against the camp.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּמְעֲלוּ (va.yim'alu) and the noun מַעַל (ma'al) both denote treacherous violation or unfaithfulness regarding the חֵרֶם (cherem), the things formally set apart for destruction. The text explicitly records that Achan took from this devoted category, triggering the stated consequence.
The thread — This violation is recalled in Joshua 22:20 as the direct cause of wrath upon the congregation, while Ecclesiastes 9:18 generalizes the principle that one sinner destroys much good. 1 Chronicles 2:6 supplies the genealogical framework for Zerah’s line that grounds Achan’s tribal identity.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that corporate standing depends on individual obedience to divine commands. It asks the reader to see how hidden transgression directly provokes divine judgment against the entire community.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
Cross-references
- Joshua 22:20 Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”
- Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
- 1 Chronicles 2:6 The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all.
- Joshua 7:20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
- Joshua 22:18 And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 21:7 This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel.
- Joshua 6:17 Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.
- Joshua 22:16 “This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?
- Jonah 1:7 “Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
- 2 Samuel 24:1 Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”