Joshua 7:1

_BUT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL COMMITTED A TRESPASS IN THE ACCURSED THING: FOR ACHAN, THE SON OF CARMI, THE SON OF ZABDI, THE SON OF ZERAH, OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, TOOK OF THE ACCURSED THING: AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL._ But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing, х_ WAYIM`ALUW_ (H4603) ... _ MA`AL _ (H4604)] - But the children of Israel took by stealth in (against) the cherem (ban). They hastened to leave Jericho and the Ghor, or valley of the Jordan: for 'the effects would have been fatal if the Hebrews had remained long under the influence of that relaxing, enfeebling climate, where their frames, now braced and vigorous, might so soon be enervated and unstrung. The inhabitants of the valley had been found wholly unfit to contend with thee strenuous, active men who had been trained in such sever

1._But the children of Israel committed, _etc Reference is made to the crime, and indeed the secret crime, of one individual, whose guilt is transferred to the whole people; and not only so, but punishment is at the same time executed against several who were innocent. But it seems very unaccountable that a whole people should be condemned for a private and hidden crime of which they had no knowledge. I answer, that it is not new for the sin of one member to be visited on the whole body. Should we be unable to discover the reason, it ought to be more than enough for us that transgression is imputed to the children of Israel, while the guilt is confined to one individual. But as it very often happens that those who are not wicked foster the sins of their brethren by conniving at them, a part of the blame is justly laid upon all those who by disguising become implicated in it as partners....

1-5 Achan took some of the spoil of Jericho. The love of the world is that root of bitterness, which of all others is most hardly rooted up. We should take heed of sin ourselves, lest by it many be defiled or disquieted, Hebrews 12:15; and take heed of having fellowship with sinners, lest we share their guilt. It concerns us to watch over one another to prevent sin, because others' sins may be to our damage. The easy conquest of Jericho excited contempt of the enemy, and a disposition to expect the Lord to do all for them without their using proper means. Thus men abuse the doctrines of Divine grace, and the promises of God, into excuses for their own sloth and self-indulgence. We are to work out our own salvation, though it is God that works in us. It was a dear victory to the Canaanites, whereby Israel was awakened and reformed, and reconciled to their God, and the people of Canaan ha...

CHAPTER VII _The trespass of the Israelites_, 1. _Joshua sends men to view the state of Ai_, 2. _They return with a favourable report_, 3. _Three thousand men are sent against it, who are defeated, and_ _thirty-six killed_, 4, 5. _Joshua is greatly distressed, prostrates himself, and inquires_ _of the Lord the reason why he has abandoned Israel to their_ _enemies_, 6-9. _The Lord raises him, and informs him that, contrary to the_ _command, some of the people had secreted some of the spoils of_...

COMMITTED A TRESPASS - (compare Leviticus 5:15 note), “acted treacherously and committed a breach of faith.” This suitably describes the sin of Achan, who had purloined and hidden away that which had been dedicated to God by the ban Joshua 6:19. The “trespass” was the act of one man, yet is imputed to all Israel, who also share in the penalty of it Joshua 7:5. This is not to be explained as though all the people participated in the covetousness which led to Achan’s sin Joshua 7:21. The nation as a nation was in covenant with God, and is treated by Him not merely as a number of individu

EXPOSITION THE DEFEAT BEFORE AI.— JOSHUA 7:1 COMMITTED A TRESPASS IN THE ACCURSED THING. The word מָעַל, here used, signifies originally to _cover, _whence מְעִיל a garment. Hence it comes to mean to act deceitfully, or perhaps to steal (cf. the LXX. ἐνοσφίσαντο_, _a_ _translation rendered remarkable by the fact that it is the very word used by St. Luke in regard to the transgression of Ananias and Sapphira. But the LXX. is hare rather a paraphrase than a translation). It is clearly used here of some _secret _act. But in Le Joshua 5:15 it is used of an _unwitting _trespass, committed בִּשְׁגָגָה, in error of fact, but no

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 o

7. ACHAN'S SIN AND ISRAEL'S DEFEAT CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The defeat of Israel (Joshua 7:1)_ 2. The source of the defeat revealed (Joshua 7:6) 3. The transgressor found out (Joshua 7:16) 4. The judgment of Achan (Joshua 7:24) The insignificant place Ai brings defeat. Joshua sent men to view Ai. What authority was given to him to do so? There was no need to send spies once more, for the Lord had said, that the whole land was given to them. They report Ai a place without walls and recommend that only two or three thousand men be sent up. Defeat follows. Ai means “ruins.” It is mentioned for the first time in...

VII. ACHAN'S TRESPASS, ISRAEL'S DEFEAT, ACHAN'S PUNISHMENT. Joshua 7:1. The name should probably be Achar. The narrative presents no difficulties till the end of the chapter, where Achan's punishment is recorded. Joshua 7:2. Ai: probably 2 miles SE. of Bethel (p. 31). Joshua 7:9. And what wilt thou do for (or on account of) THY GREAT NAME? The meaning is that if Israel is destroyed there will be none to worship Yahweh; an interesting example of the ancient belief in the close connexion between the deity and his worshippers. Joshua 7:19. GIVE. LORD: _ i.e_., tell the truth, _cf._...

CHILDREN. sons. A TRESPASS. a treachery, unfaithfulness. Hebrew ma'al. App-43. Compare Leviticus 6:2. Deu 32:51. 1 Chronicles 5:25, breach of faith or trust. ACCURSED. devoted. Compare Joshua 6:17, &c. ACHAN Troubler; called Achar, 1 Chronicles 2:7. TOOK. Septuagint has _enosphisanto_. took for themselves, i.e. sacrilege. Same word as in Acts 5:1; Acts 5:2 of Ananias and Sapphire. THE LORD. Hebrew. Jehov