Bible Strands
Joshua 7:24
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua and all Israel seize Achan, his family, livestock, tent, and stolen goods, then transport them to the Valley of Achor following the discovery of the forbidden items. This occurs immediately after the stolen silver, cloak, and gold bar are presented before the LORD and the assembly.
The words — וַיִּקַּח (va/yi.kach) translates literally as "and he took," denoting the formal seizure of Achan and his possessions. אֶת (et) functions as the definite direct object marker, specifying that the silver, the cloak, and the entire household are the targets of this action.
The thread — The pattern of hidden theft triggering communal disaster appears in Proverbs 15:27 and 1 Timothy 6:9, where greedy accumulation brings trouble upon a household. The judgment location echoes the Valley of Achor's later symbolic role as a place of trouble turned to hope, though the text here emphasizes immediate corporate consequence.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that private disobedience dismantles communal standing, requiring the full exposure and removal of hidden sin. It asks the reader to accept that concealed greed demands public accountability before restoration is possible.
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
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, 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 unto the valley of Achor.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 15:27 He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
- 1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
- Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
- Numbers 16:27 So they moved away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Meanwhile, Dathan and Abiram had come out and stood at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children and infants.
- Joshua 7:26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
- Joshua 15:7 Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine. It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel.
- Isaiah 65:10 Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me.
- Hosea 2:15 There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
- Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
- Joshua 6:18 But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.