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. Jehovah. App-4 . read more
men. Hebrew, plural of ish or 'enosh . App-14 . Ai. Near Beth-el. Compare Genesis 12:8 ; Genesis 13:3 . Beth-aven = House of vanity. Beth-el = House of God. Compare Genesis 28:19 . read more
go up = go toilingly thither. men = Hebrew. ish . App-14 . read more
THE DEFEAT AT AIContrasting sharply with the previous chapter, this one reveals a shocking setback to Israel's progress, namely, the defeat at Ai. Many Bible students have been impressed with the manner in which the experiences of Joshua parallel those of the early church in the Book of Acts.(1) The glorious success of Pentecost was soon followed by the shameful episode of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Here the great success at Jericho is quickly followed by the shameful defeat at Ai.(2)... read more
"And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the... read more
Ver. 1. But the children of Israel— Though there was but one guilty, the historian attributes to the whole society, whereof Achan was a member, the criminal action which he had committed. This is the style of Scripture, and it is the language of reason. See Calmet. A people, properly speaking, is only one moral person. The common interest, which connects all the members of it together, warrants the imputing to the whole nation what is done by the individuals who compose it, unless it be... read more
Ver. 2. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai.— To forward the conquest of the land of Canaan, Joshua made the fertile plain of Jericho the centre of his camp, whence he sent detachments to seize upon the neighbouring towns, till the Israelites should see themselves masters of an extent of country sufficient to be divided among the tribes: the event, however, did not take place till about six years after. See Usher's Annals. As soon as he had established the best order he could in his camp, he... read more
Ver. 3. Let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai— There was a little presumption in this counsel; Ai was well situated, strong, and guarded by twelve thousand men; so that there was no probability (humanly speaking) of carrying it with two or three thousand men. God, nevertheless, permitted Joshua to listen to this bold piece of advice, and he followed it. Had not this been the case, either the inhabitants of Ai would not have ventured to sally from their city; or if, in going out... read more
1. the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing—There was one transgressor against the cherem, or ban, on Jericho, and his transgression brought the guilt and disgrace of sin upon the whole nation. Achan—called afterwards "Achar" ("trouble") ( :-). Zabdi—or Zimri ( :-). Zerah—or Zarah, son of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38:30). His genealogy is given probably to show that from a parentage so infamous the descendants would not be carefully trained in the fear of God. Genesis... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:1-26
Achan’s sin (7:1-26)God was angry that Israel had not been fully obedient to him in the conquest of Jericho. One of the people, Achan, secretly kept for himself what he should have destroyed (7:1). Therefore, when the Israelites moved on to attack the much smaller town of Ai, God allowed them to be driven back and to suffer losses (2-5). Joshua was distressed, not just because Israel had been defeated, but because their defeat would encourage the Canaanites. If all the Canaanites joined forces,... read more