Achan’s selection illustrates the gravity of sin within a covenant community.
Joshua 7:18 reveals the climactic moment in which the guilty party is singled out from among the Israelites. We read, “He brought his household man by man; and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was taken” (v.18). This verse occurs after Israel’s unexpected defeat at Ai. Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land around 1406 BC, faced God’s directive to find who had violated the divine ban on taking spoils from Jericho. Step by step, tribe by tribe, clan by clan, and family by family, Joshua’s process brought Achan into focus.
In the historical flow of events, the city of Jericho had fallen under a miraculous victory ordained by the LORD. Yet the following battle at Ai ended in failure because someone had taken forbidden plunder. “He brought his household man by man” (v.18) points to a thorough and divinely guided procedure of elimination, which laid bare the secret sin of Achan. Achan was a member of the tribe of Judah, tracing his lineage to Carmi, Zabdi, and Zerah. His act of deceit was not only a personal wrongdoing but also a breach against the community, mirroring how personal sin can ripple beyond the individual.
By naming Achan explicitly in this verse, the text underscores the sobering lesson that transgressions hidden in darkness will ultimately come to light. Through Joshua’s unwavering obedience to God’s instructions, Achan’s guilt is exposed, paving the way for Israel’s restoration to right standing before the LORD.
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Joshua 7:18 meaning
Joshua 7:18 reveals the climactic moment in which the guilty party is singled out from among the Israelites. We read, “He brought his household man by man; and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was taken” (v.18). This verse occurs after Israel’s unexpected defeat at Ai. Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land around 1406 BC, faced God’s directive to find who had violated the divine ban on taking spoils from Jericho. Step by step, tribe by tribe, clan by clan, and family by family, Joshua’s process brought Achan into focus.
In the historical flow of events, the city of Jericho had fallen under a miraculous victory ordained by the LORD. Yet the following battle at Ai ended in failure because someone had taken forbidden plunder. “He brought his household man by man” (v.18) points to a thorough and divinely guided procedure of elimination, which laid bare the secret sin of Achan. Achan was a member of the tribe of Judah, tracing his lineage to Carmi, Zabdi, and Zerah. His act of deceit was not only a personal wrongdoing but also a breach against the community, mirroring how personal sin can ripple beyond the individual.
By naming Achan explicitly in this verse, the text underscores the sobering lesson that transgressions hidden in darkness will ultimately come to light. Through Joshua’s unwavering obedience to God’s instructions, Achan’s guilt is exposed, paving the way for Israel’s restoration to right standing before the LORD.