Joshua insists on truthful confession to restore fellowship between God and His people.
Joshua 7:19 reads, “Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, I implore you, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.’” (v.19) In this scene, Joshua, who led Israel into the Promised Land after Moses’ death around 1406 BC, stands as the spiritual head and military commander of God’s people. The setting is in the region of Canaan, a land both rich in resources and rife with potential pitfalls for disobedience. After Israel’s shocking defeat at Ai, Joshua suspects that someone has trespassed against the LORD by taking forbidden spoils, and this verse shows him directly confronting Achan for the truth.
When Joshua addresses Achan in “My son, I implore you, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel” (v.19), he displays both the seriousness of the offense and an almost paternal care for Achan’s spiritual state. Joshua calls him “my son,” reflecting compassion and a desire for Achan to be restored to right standing with God. Yet, the admonition to “tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me” (v.19) underscores the necessity of confession and honesty before the LORD. The location here is significant, for Israel is camped near the city of Ai in the central hill country of Canaan, a place that should have been the next victory in their conquest, but has instead become an occasion of defeat and sin’s exposure.
Achan himself is a pivotal figure for understanding the consequences of hidden sin. He lived during the late 15th century BC, at a time when God was visibly displaying His power through the nation of Israel’s conquest. His disobedience, taking what was under God’s ban from the plunder of Jericho, directly impacted the entire community. This verse demonstrates the weight of individual disobedience in the corporate life of God’s people, foreshadowing later teachings in the New Testament about the importance of personal repentance and confession (1 John 1:9). God’s people then, as now, must humble themselves, acknowledge wrongdoing, and rely on His mercy—a lesson ultimately fulfilled through Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross (Romans 3:23-24).
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Joshua 7:19 meaning
Joshua 7:19 reads, “Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, I implore you, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.’” (v.19) In this scene, Joshua, who led Israel into the Promised Land after Moses’ death around 1406 BC, stands as the spiritual head and military commander of God’s people. The setting is in the region of Canaan, a land both rich in resources and rife with potential pitfalls for disobedience. After Israel’s shocking defeat at Ai, Joshua suspects that someone has trespassed against the LORD by taking forbidden spoils, and this verse shows him directly confronting Achan for the truth.
When Joshua addresses Achan in “My son, I implore you, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel” (v.19), he displays both the seriousness of the offense and an almost paternal care for Achan’s spiritual state. Joshua calls him “my son,” reflecting compassion and a desire for Achan to be restored to right standing with God. Yet, the admonition to “tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me” (v.19) underscores the necessity of confession and honesty before the LORD. The location here is significant, for Israel is camped near the city of Ai in the central hill country of Canaan, a place that should have been the next victory in their conquest, but has instead become an occasion of defeat and sin’s exposure.
Achan himself is a pivotal figure for understanding the consequences of hidden sin. He lived during the late 15th century BC, at a time when God was visibly displaying His power through the nation of Israel’s conquest. His disobedience, taking what was under God’s ban from the plunder of Jericho, directly impacted the entire community. This verse demonstrates the weight of individual disobedience in the corporate life of God’s people, foreshadowing later teachings in the New Testament about the importance of personal repentance and confession (1 John 1:9). God’s people then, as now, must humble themselves, acknowledge wrongdoing, and rely on His mercy—a lesson ultimately fulfilled through Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross (Romans 3:23-24).