Joshua 7:1-21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:10-15

10-15 God awakens Joshua to inquiry, by telling him that when this accursed thing was put away, all would be well. Times of danger and trouble should be times of reformation. We should look at home, into our own hearts, into our own houses, and make diligent search to find out if there be not some accursed thing there, which God sees and abhors; some secret lust, some unlawful gain, some undue withholding from God or from others. We cannot prosper, until the accursed thing be destroyed out of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:16-26

16-26 See the folly of those that promise themselves secrecy in sin. The righteous God has many ways of bringing to light the hidden works of darkness. See also, how much it is our concern, when God is contending with us, to find out the cause that troubles us. We must pray with holy Job, Lord, show me wherefore thou contendest with me. Achan's sin began in the eye. He saw these fine things, as Eve saw the forbidden fruit. See what comes of suffering the heart to walk after the eyes, and what... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Joshua 7:1-9

Israel's defeat at Ai v. 1. But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing, the sin of one man being regarded as compromising all and making the entire host of Israel guilty in the sight of God; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi (or Zimri, 1 Chronicles 2:6), the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, appropriated some of the booty of the city, all of which had been declared devoted to the Lord, for his own use; and the anger of... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Joshua 7:10-26

Achan Found Guilty and Punished v. 10. And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? This direct answer of Jehovah implied that Joshua had no reason to doubt the faithfulness of the Lord, but that the fault lay with the people. v. 11. Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. It was Israel that had broken faith by setting aside the obligations of the covenant of Jehovah; for they have even taken of the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Joshua 7:1-26

2. Achan’s TheftJoshua 7:0a. The Crime1But the children [sons] of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing [in respect to what was devoted]: for [and] Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing [of what was devoted]: and the anger of the Lord [Jehovah] was kindled against the children [sons] of Israel.b. Its evil Effects in the unfortunate Expedition against AiJoshua 7:2-52And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Joshua 7:1-12

Joshua ACHAN’S SIN, ISRAEL’S DEFEAT Jos_7:1 - Jos_7:12 . This passage naturally parts itself into- 1 . The hidden sin Jos_7:1; 2 . The repulse by which it is punished Jos_7:2 - Jos_7:5; 3. The prayer of remonstrance Jos_7:6 - Jos_7:9; and 4. The answer revealing the cause Jos_7:10 - Jos_7:12. We may briefly note the salient points in these four divisions, and then consider the general lessons of the whole. I. Observe, then, that the sin is laid at the doors of the whole nation, while... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Joshua 7:1-15

the First Defeat and Its Cause Joshua 7:1-15 Israel was taught that victory is possible only where there are exact obedience and sincere consecration. We cannot cope with our foes, unless we live in unclouded fellowship with God. See 2 Chronicles 15:2 . Our spiritual allies in the heavenly places cannot co-operate while evil is harbored. Canaan was a gift to faith, and a strong spiritual life was peremptory. The gold and silver of Jericho were consecrated to God, so that Achan committed... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Joshua 7:16-26

the Troubler Found and Removed Joshua 7:16-26 When God deals with sin He traces its genealogy. Twice over we have the list of Achan’s ancestors, Joshua 7:1 ; Joshua 7:18 . To deal with sin thoroughly we need to go back to its sources. See James 1:14-15 . How Achan’s heart must have stood still as he beheld the closer approach of detection, like the contracting walls of a chamber of horrors. One by one we pass before the eye of Omniscience, as a ship’s company before the quarantine officer.... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Joshua 7:1-26

This chapter opens with a significant and ominous "But." So far we have had the record of remarkable progress but! We now see the triumphant people defeated and flying and the reason is declared. It was the sin of a man, but it was also the sin of the nation. Israel had now become a nation in very deed, and therefore no one person could act alone. Individualism is a far more tremendous responsibility when it has ceased to be mere individualism. The sin of the one became the sin of the... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Joshua 7:1-10

The Woes of Achan Joshua 7:1-10 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Our Scripture opens with the following statement: "But the Children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing." The fact is as we all know that the trespass was committed by one man, Achan, the son of Carmi. However, even as a false brick in a building mars the beauty of the whole building; thus the sin of one affects a whole people. The Children of Israel sinned because Achan was one of their number, and no man sinneth unto... read more