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Joshua Chapter
Seven
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 7
For
the trespass of Achan the children of Israel were smitten and put to flight by
the men of Ai
Joshua 7:1; which
gave him and the elders of the people great concern
both for Israel and for
the name of the Lord
which was expressed by Joshua in prayer to God
Joshua 7:6; when
the Lord informed him of the reason of it
and gave him directions for finding
out the guilty person
and for the punishment of him
Joshua 7:10; which
directions Joshua followed
and the person was found out
who being urged to a
confession made one
Joshua 7:16; upon
which he and all he had
with the things he had taken
were burnt with fire
Joshua 7:22.
Joshua 7:1 But
the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things
for
Achan the son of Carmi
the son of Zabdi
[a] the son of
Zerah
of the tribe of Judah
took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against
the children of Israel.
YLT 1And the sons of Israel
commit a trespass in the devoted thing
and Achan
son of Carmi
son of Zabdi
son of Zerah
of the tribe of Judah
taketh of the devoted thing
and the anger
of Jehovah burneth against the sons of Israel.
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed
thing
.... Or concerning it
with respect to it
by taking part of what
was devoted to another use
and forbidden theirs: this was done
not by the
whole body of the people
only by one of them; but it not being discovered who
it was
it was imputed to the whole
on whom it lay to find out the guilty
person and punish him
or else the whole must suffer for it: this chapter
begins with a "but"
and draws a vail over the fame and glory of
Joshua
observed in Joshua 6:27
for 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 to the Lord and to sacred uses; this he had taken to himself out of the
spoil of the city of Jericho
for his own use
contrary to the command of God:
his descent is particularly described
that it might be known of what family
and tribe he was; and it is traced up to Zerah
who was a son of Judah
Genesis 38:30
and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of
Israel; because of the sin of Achan.
Joshua 7:2 2 Now Joshua sent men from
Jericho to Ai
which is beside Beth Aven
on the east side of Bethel
and spoke to them
saying
“Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up
and spied out Ai.
YLT
2And Joshua sendeth men from
Jericho to Ai
which [is] near Beth-Aven
on the east of Bethel
and speaketh
unto them
saying
`Go up and spy the land;' and the men go up and spy Ai
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai
.... Which was
the next city of importance
though not so large as Jericho
and was
as the
Jews sayF12Shemoth Rabba
sect. 32. fol. 185. 2.
three miles
distant from it; Abarbinel saysF13In Josh. xx. fol. 34. 1. four
miles
and so BuntingF14Travels Of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 95. ;
JeromF15De loc. Heb. fol. 87. E. says
that in his times very few
ruins of it appeared
only the place was shown where it stood:
which is beside Bethaven; a name by which Bethel
in later times was called
Hosea 4:15; but
here it is manifestly a distinct place from it; just hard by or near to this
place
as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it
was the city of Ai: Bethaven seems to
have been the suburbs of it
or however was very near unto it:
on the east side of Bethel; near to which Abraham built
an altar
as did Jacob also
and which in former times was called Luz
Genesis 12:8; and
was well known in later ages by the name of Bethel; it was reckoned about a
mile from Ai: the situation of this city is so particularly described to
distinguish it from another city of this name
Ai of the Amorites
Jeremiah 49:3; and
is here called "that Ai"
that well known Ai
as Kimchi observes:
and spake unto them; at the time he sent
them
when he gave them their orders to go thither:
saying
go up and view the country; the mountainous part of
it; for they were now in a plain
where Jericho was seated; and observe what
place was most proper to attack next
and which the best way of coming at it:
and the men went up and viewed Ai; what a sort of a city it
was
how large
and what its fortifications
and what avenues were to it: by
this it appears that Ai was built upon a hill
or at least was higher than
Jericho and its plains; and with this agrees what a traveller saysF16Baumgarten.
Peregrinatio
l. 3. c. 1. p. 105. of it
it is a village full of large ruins
(in this he differs from Jerom) and from hence are seen the valley of Jericho
the dead sea
Gilgal
and Mount Quarantania
and many other places towards the
east.
Joshua 7:3 3 And they returned to
Joshua and said to him
“Do not let all the people go up
but let about two or
three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there
for the
people of Ai are few.”
YLT
3and they turn back unto
Joshua
and say unto him
`Let not all the people go up; let about two thousand
men
or about three thousand men
go up
and they smite Ai; cause not all the
people to labour thither; for they [are] few.'
And they returned unto Joshua
and said unto him
let not all the
people go up
.... After they had reconnoitred the place
they came back to
their general
and gave it as their opinion
that there was no need for the
whole army to go up against the city:
but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; such a number
they judged were sufficient to take it:
and make not all the people
to labour thither; carrying their tents
bearing their armour
and going up hill:
for they are but few; the inhabitants of Ai
men and women making but twelve thousand; Joshua 8:25.
Joshua 7:4 4 So about three thousand
men went up there from the people
but they fled before the men of Ai.
YLT
4And there go up of the
people thither about three thousand men
and they flee before the men of Ai
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men
.... Joshua
detached from the army the largest number proposed
that there might be
strength enough to take the place; and those he sent under proper officers to
Ai
who went up to the very gate of the city
as appears from Joshua 7:5
and they fled before the men of Ai; for upon their appearing
at the gate of their city
they came out with all their forces against them
and as soon as they did
the children of Israel durst not face them
but
without engaging with them fled at once: God having forsaken them
their
courage failed
the dread of their enemies falling on them.
Joshua 7:5 5 And the men of Ai struck
down about thirty-six men
for they chased them from before the gate as
far as Shebarim
and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of
the people melted and became like water.
YLT
5and the men of Ai smite of
them about thirty and six men
and pursue them before the gate unto Shebarim
and they smite them in Morad; and the heart of the people is melted
and
becometh water.
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men
.... In the
pursuit of them
which were but few
but a sufficient rebuke of Providence;
their loss was but small
but their shame and disgrace great:
for they chased them from before the gate; the gate of
the city of Ai:
even unto Shebarim; not that
there was a place of this name before
but it was so called from hence
because
there they were broken
as Kimchi observes; and the Targum and Jarchi render
it
"until they were broken
'their lines broken
not being able to retreat
in order
but were scattered
and fled to their camp as they could: GussetiusF17Comment.
Ebr. p. 825. thinks it was the; name of a place
but not so called for the
above reason
but because there lay broken pieces of the rock scattered about:
and smote them in the going down; the hill from Ai;
"Morad"
rendered "going down"
may taken for the proper
name of a place
and which
Kimchi says
was a place before Ai
in which there
was a declivity and descent
and in that place they smote them when they fled:
wherefore the hearts of the people melted
and became as water; that is
the
whole body of the people
when this little army returned defeated
their
spirits failed them
their courage was lost
their nerves were loosed
and they
became languid
faint
and feeble; not that their loss was so great
but that
they perceived God had forsaken them
and what the issue of this would be they
dreaded.
Joshua 7:6 6 Then Joshua tore his
clothes
and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening
he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
YLT
6And Joshua rendeth his
garments
and falleth on his face to the earth before the ark of Jehovah till
the evening
he and the elders of Israel
and they cause dust to go up on their
head.
And Joshua rent his clothes
.... As was usual in
those ancient times
on hearing bad news
and as expressive of grief and
troubleF18"Tum pius"
Aeneas
&c. Virgil. Aeneid. l.
5. prope finem. ; see Genesis 37:29
and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord
until the eventide; in a posture of adoration and prayer
in which he continued till
even; how long that was cannot be said
since the time is not mentioned when
the army returned from Ai; very probably it was some time in the afternoon:
this was done before the ark of the Lord
the symbol of the divine Presence
not in the most holy place
where that usually was
and into which Joshua might
not enter
but in the tabernacle of the great court
over against where the ark
was:
he and the elders of Israel; either the elders of the
people in the several tribes
or rather the seventy elders
which were the
sanhedrim or council
and which attended Joshua
and assisted him as such:
and put dust upon their heads; another rite or ceremony
used in times of mourning and distress
and that very anciently
before
Joshua's time and after
see Job 2:12; and among
various nations; so when Achilles bewailed the death of Patroclus
he is
represented by HomerF19 αμφοτερησι
τε χερσιν
&c. Iliad. 18. ver. 23. Vid. Odyss. 24.
"Sparsitque cinis"
&c. Seneca
Troad. Act. 1. Chorus. taking
with both his hands the black earth
and pouring it on his head; so Aristippus
among the Athenians is saidF20Heliodor. Aethiop. l. 1. c. 13. to
sprinkle dust on his head in token of mourning on a certain account.
Joshua 7:7 7 And Joshua said
“Alas
Lord God
why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the
hand of the Amorites
to destroy us? Oh
that we had been content
and dwelt on
the other side of the Jordan!
YLT
7And Joshua saith
`Ah
Lord
Jehovah
why hast Thou at all caused this people to pass over the Jordan
to
give us into the hand of the Amorite to destroy us? -- and oh that we had been
willing -- and we dwell beyond the Jordan!
And Joshua said
alas! O Lord God
.... What a miserable and
distressed condition are we in! have pity and compassion on us; who could have
thought it
that this would have been our case?
wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan
to
deliver us into the hand of the Amorites
to destroy us: who are
mentioned either for the whole people of the land of Canaan; or rather
because
the people of Israel were now in that part of the country which they inhabited:
these words discover much weakness
diffidence
and distrust
and bear some
likeness to the murmurs of the children of Israel in the wilderness; but not
proceeding from that malignity of spirit theirs did
but from a concern for the
good of the people and the glory of God
they are not resented by him:
would to God we had been content
and dwelt on the other side
Jordan; in which he seems to cast the blame
not upon the Lord but upon
himself and the people
who were not content to dwell on the other side
but
were desirous of a larger and better country; and now ruin seemed to be the
consequent of that covetous disposition and discontented mind.
Joshua 7:8 8 O Lord
what shall I say
when Israel turns its back before its enemies?
YLT
8Oh
Lord
what do I say
after that Israel hath turned the neck before its enemies?
O Lord
what shall I say
.... For the comfort and
encouragement of the people of Israel
in vindication of thy power and
faithfulness
and against the charge of weakness in thyself
unfaithfulness to
thy promises
and unkindness to thy people
brought by our enemies:
when Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies? or after they
have done it; what is to be said now
this being the case? he speaks as a man
confounded
and at the utmost loss how to account for the power
the
providence
and promises of God.
Joshua 7:9 9 For the Canaanites and all
the inhabitants of the land will hear it
and surround us
and cut off
our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”
YLT
9and the Canaanite and all
the inhabitants of the land do hear
and have come round against us
and cut
off our name out of the earth; and what dost Thou do for Thy great name?'
For the Canaanites
.... Those that dwell on the east and on the
west of the land
see Joshua 11:3; who
were one of the seven nations:
and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it; of this
defeat; not only the Amorites
among whom they now were
and the Canaanites
before mentioned
but the Hittites
the Hivites
the Perizzites
and the
Jebusites:
and shall environ us round; come with all their
forces from all parts of the land
and surround us
so that there will be no
escaping for us:
and cut off our name from the earth; utterly destroy us
that
we shall be no more a nation and people
and the name of an Israelite no more
be heard of
see Psalm 83:4
and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? this
though
mentioned last
was uppermost in the heart of Joshua
and was reserved by him
as his strongest argument with God to appear for them and save them; since his
own glory
the glory of his perfections
his wisdom
goodness
power
truth
and faithfulness
was so much concerned in their salvation.
Joshua 7:10 10 So the Lord said to
Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?
YLT
10And Jehovah saith unto
Joshua
`Rise for thee
why [is] this? -- thou [art] falling on thy face?
And the Lord said unto Joshua
get thee up
.... From the
ground where he lay prostrate
with his face to it: this he said
not as
refusing his supplication to him
but rather as encouraging and strengthening
him; though chiefly he said this in order to instruct him
and that he might
prepare for what he was to do:
wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? in this
manner
so distressed and dejected; or for this thing
as the Targum
for this
defeat of the army; something else is to be done besides prayer and
supplication.
Joshua 7:11 11 Israel has sinned
and
they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have
even taken some of the accursed things
and have both stolen and deceived; and
they have also put it among their own stuff.
YLT
11Israel hath sinned
and
also they have transgressed My covenant which I commanded them
and also taken
of the devoted thing
and also stolen
and also deceived
and also put [it]
among their vessels
Israel hath sinned
.... For though one only had committed the
sin
others might have known of it
and connived at it; however
there was sin
committed among them
and it must be discovered
the guilt charged
and
punishment inflicted:
and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them; not the law
given on Mount Sinai
called the covenant
though in general that was now
broken
inasmuch as they then promised to hear and obey all that the Lord
should say unto them
Exodus 24:7; but it
particularly means the command given
Joshua 6:18; that
they should take nothing of that which was devoted the Lord
and thereby make
the camp of Israel a curse
and trouble it; and which shows that that was not a
command given by Joshua of himself
but what he had from the Lord:
for they have even taken of the accursed thing; somewhat of
that which was devoted to sacred uses:
and have also stolen; taken it away
not
openly
but by stealth
as being conscious they ought not to have done what
they did
and so sinned both against God and their own consciences:
and dissembled also; or "lied"F21כחשו "mentiti sunt"
Pagninus
Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator. ; pretended they had not taken any of the accursed thing
when they had; and it is probable that the people in general
each of the
tribes
families
and houses
were examined by proper officers
whether they
had taken any of the spoil
or not
to themselves
and they all denied they
had
and he that had taken it among the rest; and perhaps was particularly
asked the question
which he answered in the negative:
and they have put it even amongst their own stuff; their
household stuff
mixed them with their own goods that they might not be known;
or put them "in their own vessels"F23בכליהם
"in vasis suis"
Montanus.
for their own use and service.
Joshua 7:12 12 Therefore the children of
Israel could not stand before their enemies
but turned their
backs before their enemies
because they have become doomed to destruction.
Neither will I be with you anymore
unless you destroy the accursed from among
you.
YLT
12and the sons of Israel have
not been able to stand before their enemies; the neck they turn before their
enemies
for they have become a devoted thing; I add not to be with you -- if
ye destroy not the devoted thing out of your midst.
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their
enemies
.... Being forsaken of God for the sin committed among them:
but turned their backs
before their enemies: had not courage to face them
but fled as soon as they appeared:
because they were accursed; of God for the accursed
thing that had been taken
as was threatened would be their case
should they
take any of it; Joshua 6:18
neither will I be with you any more
until ye take away the
accursed thing from among you; that is
until they had put to death the
person who had taken of the accursed thing
and made himself thereby accursed
and even all the camp of Israel; till this was done
the Lord would not be with
them to protect and defend them
and give them success against their enemies.
Joshua 7:13 13 Get up
sanctify the
people
and say
‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow
because thus says the Lord God of Israel:
“There is an accursed thing in your midst
O Israel; you cannot stand
before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”
YLT
13`Rise
sanctify the people
and thou hast said
Sanctify yourselves for to-morrow; for thus said Jehovah
God of Israel
A devoted thing [is] in thy midst
O Israel
thou art not able
to stand before thine enemies till your turning aside of the devoted thing out
of your midst;
Up
sanctify the people
.... The word "up"
not only signifies getting up from the ground on which he lay
but to bestir
himself
and to be active in what he would now be enjoined and directed to do
and in the first place to "sanctify the people"
that is
by giving
them orders to do it themselves:
and say
sanctify yourselves against tomorrow; either by
some ceremonial ablutions
or by the performance of moral duties
as prayer
repentance
and good works; or rather
they were to "prepare"
themselves
as the Targum and Kimchi interpret it
to get ready against the
morrow
and expect to be thoroughly searched
in order to find out the person
who had taken the accursed thing:
for thus saith the Lord God of Israel
there is an accursed
thing in the midst of thee
O Israel; an accursed person
who
had taken of what was devoted to the Lord for his own use
and so accursed:
thou canst not stand before thine enemies
until ye take away the
accursed thing from among you; by putting him to death.
Joshua 7:14 14 In the morning therefore
you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be that the
tribe which the Lord
takes shall come according to families; and the family which the Lord takes shall
come by households; and the household which the Lord takes shall
come man by man.
YLT
14and ye have been brought
near in the morning by your tribes
and it hath been
the tribe which Jehovah
doth capture doth draw near by families
and the family which Jehovah doth
capture doth draw near by households
and the household which Jehovah doth capture
doth draw near by men;
In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your
tribes
.... One or more of every tribe
according to the number of them
were to be brought the next morning before Joshua and the elders of Israel
the
sanhedrim and council of the nation
and very probably the tabernacle
where
they assembled for this purpose:
and it shall be
that the tribe which the Lord taketh; how a tribe
and so a family or household were taken is differently understood; what some of
the Jewish writers say deserves no regard
as the detention of persons by the
ark
or of the dulness of the stones in the Urim and Thummim: it seems best to
understand the whole affair as done by casting lotsF24Pirke Eliezer
c. 38. Samaritan. Chronic. apud Hottinger. Smegma. Oriental. l. 1. c. 8. p.
505. Jarchi in loc. ; so JosephusF25Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 10.
and Ben Gersom; and they might in this way be said to be taken by the Lord
because the disposition of the lot is by him
Proverbs 16:33; now
it is said
that the tribe that should be taken
as Judah was
from what
follows:
shall come according to the families thereof; that is
the
families in that tribe
meaning the heads of them
as Kimchi well observes;
these were to come to the place where the lots were cast:
and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; on whatsoever
family in the tribe the lot should fall
the heads of households in that family
should appear and have lots cast on them: and the household which the Lord
shall take shall come man by man; that household that should be taken by lot
the men thereof
the heads of the house
should come each of them and have lots
east on them
that the particular man that sinned might be discovered.
Joshua 7:15 15 Then it shall be that
he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire
he and all
that he has
because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord
and because
he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’”
YLT
15and it hath been
he who is
captured with the devoted thing is burnt with fire
he and all that he hath
because he hath transgressed the covenant of Jehovah
and because he hath done
folly in Israel.'
And it shall be
that he that is taken with the accursed
thing shall be burnt with fire
.... He that is taken by lot
and the
accursed thing found with him
this should be the death
burning
one of the
four capital punishments with the Jews: this was ordered in this case
because
the city of Jericho
accursed or devoted
was burnt with fire
Joshua 6:24
he and all that he hath; the particulars of which
are enumerated
Joshua 7:24
because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord; See Gill on Joshua 7:11
and because he hath wrought folly in Israel; as all sin
and every transgression of the law is
and was the cause of Israel's turning
their backs on their enemies; which
as Abarbinel says
was folly
and made the
people of Israel look foolish
mean
and contemptible: the word has also the
signification of a dead carcass
and may possibly have respect
to the thirty
six men whose death he was the occasion of
Joshua 7:5
and
therefore justly ought to die himself.
Joshua 7:16 16 So Joshua rose early in
the morning and brought Israel by their tribes
and the tribe of Judah was
taken.
YLT
16And Joshua riseth early in
the morning
and bringeth Israel near by its tribes
and the tribe of Judah is
captured;
So Joshua rose up early in the morning
.... Which
showed his readiness and diligence to obey the command of God; and as there was
much work to do
it required that he should rise early:
and brought Israel by their tribes: before the Lord
at the
tabernacle
where he and the high priest and elders attended; each tribe was
thither brought by their representatives:
and the tribe of Judah was taken: either his stone in the
breastplate of the high priest looked dull
as some say
or rather the lot
being cast fell on that tribe.
Joshua 7:17 17 He brought the clan of
Judah
and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the
Zarhites man by man
and Zabdi was taken.
YLT
17and he bringeth near the
family of Judah
and he captureth the family of the Zarhite; and he bringeth
near the family of the Zarhite by men
and Zabdi is captured;
And he brought the family of Judah
.... That is
the tribe
of Judah
as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it
F26So R. Sol. Ohel
Moed
fol. 94. 2. ; or rather
the several families in that tribe
even the
heads of them:
and he took the family of the Zarhites: which
descended from Zerah the son of Judah; that was taken by lot:
and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and cast lots
on them:
and Zabdi was taken: that part of the family
of the Zarhites which sprung from Zabdi
a son of Zerah.
Joshua 7:18 18 Then he brought his
household man by man
and Achan the son of Carmi
the son of Zabdi
the son of
Zerah
of the tribe of Judah
was taken.
YLT
18and he bringeth near his
household by men
and Achan -- son of Carmi
son of Zabdi
son of Zerah
of the
tribe of Judah -- is captured.
And he brought his household man by man
.... The
household of Zabdi
the heads of each house therein:
and Achan
the son of Carmi
the son of Zabdi
the son of Zerah
of the tribe of Judah
was taken; the lot fell upon him
and he was laid hold on
and detained.
Joshua 7:19 19 Now Joshua said to Achan
“My son
I beg you
give glory to the Lord God of Israel
and make
confession to Him
and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it
from me.”
YLT
19And Joshua saith unto
Achan
`My son
put
I pray thee
honour on Jehovah
God of Israel
and give to
Him thanks
and declare
I pray thee
to me
what thou hast done -- hide not
from me.'
And Joshua said unto Achan
my son
.... Treating him in a
very humane
affectionate
and respectable manner
though so great a criminal
being a subject of his
and of the same religion and nation:
give
I pray thee
glory to the Lord God of Israel
by
acknowledging his omniscience
justice
power
truth
and faithfulness; as in
his promises so in his threatenings:
and make confession unto him; of the sin he had been
guilty of; this Joshua might urge
partly for his own good
who might more
reasonably expect the forgiveness of his sin: so it is said in the MisnahF1Sanhedrin
c. 6. sect. 2.
whoever confesses has a part in the world to come
for so we
find concerning Achan
Joshua 7:19; and
partly for the glory of God
this being the instance in which he is directed to
give it to him; and partly on account of others
particularly the tribe
family
and household to whom he belonged
who after all might not be satisfied
thoroughly that he was guilty
unless he had confessed it: according to
MaimonidesF2Pirush in ib. & Hilchot Sanhedrin
c. 18. sect. 6.
this was but a temporary law on which Achan was put to death; for
he says
our
law condemns no man to death on his own confession
nor on the prophecy of a
prophet
who says that he committed such a theft; and it was not on his
confession
but by the order of God
determining the affair by lot
that he was
put to death: the confession Joshua directs to was not what was made to man
but to God
that is
of the evil of it
and as committed against God
though
the fact itself was to be owned before man
as follows:
and tell me now what thou hast done
hide it not from me; what were the
particular things he had taken; the lot showed he had taken something
but what
that was
as yet was unknown
and where it was; and this Joshua desires him he
would inform him of and satisfy him about
and without any reserve openly
declare the truth.
Joshua 7:20 20 And Achan answered Joshua
and said
“Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel
and this is what I have done:
YLT
20And Achan answereth Joshua
and saith
`Truly I have sinned against Jehovah
God of Israel
and thus and
thus I have done;
And Achan answered Joshua
and said
.... He made a free and
open confession of his sin:
indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel; against him
who had been so good to Israel in many instances
and particularly in
delivering Jericho into their hands in so extraordinary a manner; against a law
of his
respecting the spoil of that city
which sin was the more aggravated
thereby; and that he had committed the sin he was taken for and charged with
he owns was a true and real fact:
and thus and thus have I done; such and such things
have I taken
and in the manner as follows.
Joshua 7:21 21 When I saw among the
spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment
two hundred shekels of silver
and a
wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels
I coveted them and took them. And there
they are
hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent
with the silver under
it.”
YLT
21and I see among the spoil a
goodly robe of Shinar
and two hundred shekels of silver
and one wedge of
gold
whose weight [is] fifty shekels
and I desire them
and take them; and
lo
they [are] hid in the earth
in the midst of my tent
and the silver under
it.'
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment
.... One
as
the Targum adds
for no more was taken; a garment made of Babylonish wool
as
Jarchi; or a valuable garment made in Babylon
called "Shinar"
for
that is the word in the text
so Kimchi and Abarbinel; and Babylonian garments
were in great esteem in other nations: Pliny saysF3Nat. Hist. l. 8.
c. 48. Babylon was famous for garments interwoven with pictures of divers
colours
and which gave name to them; and PlutarchF4In Vita Catonis.
relates
that Cato in his great modesty
and being an enemy to luxury
having a
Babylonish garment that came to him by inheritance
ordered it immediately to
be sold: the Vulgate Latin version calls it a scarlet robe; and in some Jewish
writingsF5Bereshit Rabba
sect. 85. fol. 75. 2. it is interpreted
a
garment of Babylonian purple
as if it only respected the colour; and purple
and scarlet are sometimes promiscuously used and put for the same
see Matthew 27:28; and
were the colour worn by kings: and Josephus here calls it a royal garment
wholly interwoven with goldF6Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 48.) ;
and some have thought it to be the garment of the king of Jericho
which is not
unlikely; however
it is much more probable than that Jericho was subject to
the king of Babylon
and that he had palaces in Jericho
and when he came
thither was clothed with this robe
so Jarchi; as is elsewhere saidF7Bereshit
Rabba
ib. by others
that he had a deputy who resided in Jericho
who sent
dates to the king of Babylon
and the king sent him gifts
among which was a
garment of Shinar or Babylon:
and two hundred shekels of silver; which
if coined money
was near twenty five English pounds:
and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight: or a
"tongue of gold"F8לשון זהב "linguam auream"
Montanus
Tigurine version
Masius; "lingulam auream"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. ; a
plate of gold in the shape of a tongue
as Kimchi and Abarbinel; a piece of
unwrought gold which weighed fifty shekels
and worth of our money about
seventy five pounds
according to BrererwoodF9De Ponder. &.
Pret. Vet. Num. c. 5. : where he saw these
and from whence he took them
is
not said; according to some Jewish writers
these belonged to one of their
idols; it is saidF11Pirke Eliezer
ut supra. (c. 38.)
he saw the
Teraphim and the silver they offered before it
and the garment which was
spread before it
and the tongue or wedge of gold in its mouth; and he desired
them in his heart
and went and took them
and hid them in the midst of his
tent: and the Samaritan ChronicleF12Apud Hottinger
ut supra.
(Smegm. Oriental. l. 1. c. 8. p. 505.) makes him confess that he went into a
temple in Jericho and found the above things there: and Masius conjectures that
the wedge of gold was a little golden sword
with which the men of Jericho had
armed their god
since an ancient poetF13Naevius apud A. Cell. Noct.
Attic. l. 10. c. 25. calls a little sword a little tongue:
then I coveted them
and took them; he is very particular in
the account
and gradually proceeds in relating the temptation he was under
and the prevalence of it; it began with his eyes
which were caught with the
goodliness of the garments
and the riches he saw; these affected his heart and
stirred up covetous desires
which influenced and directed his hands to take
them:
and
behold
they are hid in the earth in the midst of my
tent; JosephusF14Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 48.) says
he dug a deep hole or ditch in his tent
and put them there
that is
the
Babylonish garment and the wedge of gold; which
as Ben Gersom gathers from Joshua 7:25
was
wrapped up and hid within the garment; which is not improbable
since otherwise
no account is given of that:
and the silver under it; the two hundred shekels
of silver lay under the garment in which was the wedge of gold
and so it lay
under them both.
Joshua 7:22 22 So Joshua sent messengers
and they ran to the tent; and there it was
hidden in his tent
with the silver
under it.
YLT
22And Joshua sendeth
messengers
and they run unto the tent
and lo
it is hidden in his tent
and
the silver under it;
So Joshua sent messengers
.... Directly to Achan's
tent
to see if it was as he had said
and to bring the things with them:
and they ran unto the tent; either for joy that the
iniquity was discovered
as Kimchi; or that none of the tribe of Judah or of
Achan's family or relations should get there before them
and take them from thence
and make void the lot; so Jarchi
Ben Gersom
and Abarbinel; but
no doubt
it
is remarked
to show the readiness and diligence of the messengers to obey the
order of Joshua:
and
behold
it was hid in his tent
and the silver under
it; as Achan had said.
Joshua 7:23 23 And they took them from
the midst of the tent
brought them to Joshua and to all the children of
Israel
and laid them out before the Lord.
YLT
23and they take them out of
the midst of the tent
and bring them in unto Joshua
and unto all the sons of
Israel
and pour them out before Jehovah.
And they took them out of the midst of the tent
.... Out of
the place
hole
or pit in which they were hid:
and brought them to Joshua and to the children of Israel; to Joshua as
the chief ruler
and to the elders and heads of the tribes assembled together:
and laid them out before the Lord; or "poured them
out"F15ויצקם "fundentes"
Munster; "fuderunt"
Piscator. ; the golden wedge
out of the garment
in which it was wrapped
and the two hundred shekels of silver found under it:
it seems as if these were poured or laid out separately upon the ground before
the tabernacle
where the ark of the Lord was
they belonging to the spoils
which were devoted to him; as well as hereby they were plainly seen by the
Israelites
that these were the very things which Achan had confessed.
Joshua 7:24 24 Then Joshua
and all Israel
with him
took Achan the son of Zerah
the silver
the garment
the wedge of
gold
his sons
his daughters
his oxen
his donkeys
his sheep
his tent
and
all that he had
and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
YLT
24And Joshua taketh Achan son
of Zerah
and the silver
and the robe
and the wedge of gold
and his sons
and his daughters
and his ox
and his ass
and his flock
and his tent
and
all that he hath
and all Israel with him
and they cause them to go up the
valley of Achor.
And Joshua
and all Israel with him
took Achan the son of Zerah
.... Joshua
and all Israel are mentioned
to show the perfect agreement between Joshua and
the heads of the people in this affair of Achan
and in the nature and manner
of his punishment:
and the silver
and the garment
and the wedge of gold; which
though
devoted to sacred uses
yet having been converted to another's use
and made
his property
was not to be employed in the service of the sanctuary
but to be
burnt with him:
and his sons and his daughters; who
according to Ben
Gersom
Abarbinel
and Abendana
were not brought forth to be put to death
only to be spectators of the sentence of judgment
and the execution of it
that they might keep themselves from such evil things; though
as Achan may be
supposed to be a man in years
being but the fourth generation from Judah; his
sons and daughters were grown up in all probability
and might be accessories
in this affair; and so
as some Jewish writers remark
were worthy of death
because they saw and knew what was done
and were silent and did not declare itF16Pirke
Eliezer
ut supra (c. 38.) Kimchi in loc. ; and it seems by what is said
Joshua 22:20; that
they died as well as Achan
since it is there said
"that man perished not
alone in his iniquity"; though it may be interpreted of his substance
his
cattle
perishing with him; and indeed from Joshua 7:25; it
seems as if none were stoned but himself
that is
of his family; no mention is
made of his wife
who
if he had any
as Kimchi observes
knew nothing of the
matter
it being hid from her:
and his oxen
and his asses
and his sheep; in which lay
his substance
as that of the eastern people generally did:
and his tent
and all that he had; the tent he and his
family dwelt in
with all the household goods in it:
and they brought them unto the valley of Achor; so called by
anticipation here; for it had its name from the trouble Achan gave to Israel
and with which he was troubled himself: some render it
"they brought them
up"F17יעלו "ascendere
fecerunt"
Pagninus
Montanus
Drusius
Vatablus. ; and as it is more
proper to descend into a valley the to go up to it
it is thought there was a
mountain between the camp of Israel and this valley
so Kimchi and Ben Melech;
see Hosea 2:15.
Joshua 7:25 25 And Joshua said
“Why have
you troubled us? The Lord
will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they
burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
YLT
25And Joshua saith
`What!
thou hast troubled us! -- Jehovah doth trouble thee this day;' and all Israel
cast stones at him
and they burn them with fire
and they stone them with
stones
And Joshua said
why hast thou troubled us?.... Been the
occasion of so much trouble to us
by committing this sin:
the Lord shall trouble thee this day; by the
destruction of him and all that belonged to him: this is said to show that his
punishment was of God
and according to his will: in the MisnahF18Sanhedrin
ut supra. (Hilchot Sanhedrin
c. 18. sect. 6.) an emphasis is laid on the
phrase "this day"
and it is observed
"this day thou shalt be
troubled
but thou shalt not be troubled in the world to come;'suggesting that
though temporal punishment was inflicted on him
yet his iniquity was forgiven
and he would be saved with an everlasting
salvation; and as it may be hoped
from the ingenuous confession that he made
that he had true repentance for it
and forgiveness of it:
and all Israel stoned him with stones; hence some
gather
that only Achan himself suffered death
and not his sons and daughters:
and burnt them with fire after they had stoned them with stones; which the
Jewish commentators understand of his oxen
asses
and sheep; so Jarchi
Ben
Gersom
and Abarbinel: likewise his tent
and household goods
the Babylonish
garment
gold and silver
were burnt
and he himself also
for that is the
express order
Joshua 7:15; the
Jews say
as particularly Jarchi observes
that he was stoned because he
profaned the sabbath
it being on the sabbath day that Jericho was taken
and
stoning was the punishment of the sabbath breaker
and he was burnt on the
account of the accursed thing; so Abendana.
Joshua 7:26 26 Then they raised over him
a great heap of stones
still there to this day. So the Lord turned from
the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called
the Valley of Achor[b] to this
day.
YLT
26and they raise up over him
a great heap of stones unto this day
and Jehovah turneth back from the heat of
His anger
therefore hath [one] called the name of that place `Valley of Achor'
till this day.
And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day
.... That is
at the place where he suffered
or where they laid his ashes
they heaped up a
pile of stones over him
as a monument whereby it might be known hereafter
where he was executed and was buried; and which pile continued to the writing
of this history: such sort of funeral monuments were usual with the HeathensF19Vid.
Pausan. Arcadica
sive
l. 8. p. 477. & Phocica
sive
l. 10. p. 616
617.
also as well as with the Jews
see Joshua 8:29; so the
Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger; or the effects of it ceased; the
outward face of things was altered
the dealings of God in his providence with
Israel were changed; though
properly speaking
there is no change in God
nor
such affections and passions in him as in man:
wherefore the name of the place was called the valley of Achor
unto this day; from the trouble Achan met with
and the people of Israel on his
account
see Joshua 7:24; and so
it was called in the days of Isaiah and Hosea
Isaiah 65:10; and
where it is prophesied of as what should be in time to come: according to BuntingF20Travels
of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 98.
it was twelve miles from Jerusalem; JeromF21De
loc. Heb. fol. 88. B. says it was at the north of Jericho
but LamyF23Apparat.
Geograph. p. 61.
following Bonfrerius
places it to the south; see Joshua 15:7.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)