One person’s sin can cause widespread consequences, affecting all who are around them.
“Did not Achan the son of Zerah act unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and wrath fall on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.” (Joshua 22:20)
In this verse, the speaker is recalling the sin of Achan, who violated God’s command by secretly taking spoils from Jericho—an event recorded in the Book of Joshua, taking place around 1400 BC when Israel was conquering the Promised Land. Achan was the son of Zerah, belonging to the tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes that entered Canaan after Moses’ leadership ended and Joshua took command (Joshua 1:1-9). By referencing Achan’s act of disobedience, this verse highlights the communal consequences of sin, underscoring that one person’s wrongdoing can bring judgment upon an entire group.
The context of Joshua 22 involves the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who built an altar by the Jordan River, a significant boundary in the land of Israel. The Jordan, which flows from north to south, served as a historical marker that separated these tribes (on the eastern side) from the rest of Israel (on the western side). Fearing that establishing a separate altar indicated rebellion against the LORD, the rest of Israel reminded them of Achan’s sin to stress how one man’s unfaithfulness brought harm upon the entire nation, and to caution them against a similar offense. In calling to mind Achan’s story, the nation emphasizes collective accountability before God, a concept reflected in New Testament teaching where the actions of one can affect many (Romans 5:12).
By referring to Achan’s “iniquity,” the verse also points to a theme woven throughout Scripture: when sin goes unchecked, it leads to devastating repercussions. Achan lost his life, and others suffered as a consequence (Joshua 7), reminding us that no disobedience exists in isolation. The ultimate solution for this inherited consequence of sin is found in Christ, who undoes the curse of sin for those who believe (Romans 5:19). Joshua 22:20, therefore, stands as a sobering reminder of how seriously the LORD takes covenant faithfulness among His people.
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Joshua 22:20 meaning
“Did not Achan the son of Zerah act unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and wrath fall on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.” (Joshua 22:20)
In this verse, the speaker is recalling the sin of Achan, who violated God’s command by secretly taking spoils from Jericho—an event recorded in the Book of Joshua, taking place around 1400 BC when Israel was conquering the Promised Land. Achan was the son of Zerah, belonging to the tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes that entered Canaan after Moses’ leadership ended and Joshua took command (Joshua 1:1-9). By referencing Achan’s act of disobedience, this verse highlights the communal consequences of sin, underscoring that one person’s wrongdoing can bring judgment upon an entire group.
The context of Joshua 22 involves the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who built an altar by the Jordan River, a significant boundary in the land of Israel. The Jordan, which flows from north to south, served as a historical marker that separated these tribes (on the eastern side) from the rest of Israel (on the western side). Fearing that establishing a separate altar indicated rebellion against the LORD, the rest of Israel reminded them of Achan’s sin to stress how one man’s unfaithfulness brought harm upon the entire nation, and to caution them against a similar offense. In calling to mind Achan’s story, the nation emphasizes collective accountability before God, a concept reflected in New Testament teaching where the actions of one can affect many (Romans 5:12).
By referring to Achan’s “iniquity,” the verse also points to a theme woven throughout Scripture: when sin goes unchecked, it leads to devastating repercussions. Achan lost his life, and others suffered as a consequence (Joshua 7), reminding us that no disobedience exists in isolation. The ultimate solution for this inherited consequence of sin is found in Christ, who undoes the curse of sin for those who believe (Romans 5:19). Joshua 22:20, therefore, stands as a sobering reminder of how seriously the LORD takes covenant faithfulness among His people.