Joshua 7:24-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 7:16-26

We have in these verses, I. The discovery of Achan by the lot, which proved a perfect lot, though it proceeded gradually. Though we may suppose that Joshua slept the better, and with more ease and satisfaction, when he knew the worst of the disease of that body of which, under God, he was the head, and was put into a certain method of cure, yet he rose up early in the morning (Josh. 7:16), so much was his heart upon it, to put away the accursed thing. We have found Joshua upon other occasions... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:24

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:25

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 Misnah F18 Sanhedrin 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:26

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 Heathens F19 Vid. Pausan. Arcadica, sive, l. 8. p. 477. & Phocica, sive, l. 10. p. 616, 617. also as well as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:24

Joshua - took Achan - and all that he had - He and his cattle and substance were brought to the valley to be consumed; his sons and his daughters, probably, to witness the judgments of God inflicted on their disobedient parent. See Joshua 7:25 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:25

Why hast thou troubled us ? - Here is a reference to the meaning of Achan's or Achar's name, עכרתנו מה meh Achar - tanu ; and as עכר achar is used here, and not עכן achan , and the valley is called the valley of Achor, and not the valley of Achan, hence some have supposed that Achar was his proper name, as it is read 1 Chronicles 2:7 , and in some MSS., and ancient versions. See the note on Joshua 7:17 . And all Israel stoned him with stones , and ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:26

They raised over him a great heap of stones - The burial-places, both of heroes and eminent culprits, were anciently thus distinguished; and transactions of this kind gave rise to those great piles of stones called cairns, that are so frequently to be met with, especially in northern countries. From the whole of this account we may see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the great danger of not withstanding its first approaches. By covetousness many lives and many souls have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:24

Verse 24 24.And Joshua, and all Israel with him, etc Achan is led without the camp for two reasons; first, that it might not be tainted and polluted by the execution, (as God always required that some trace of humanity should remain, even in the infliction of legitimate punishments,) and secondly, that no defilement might remain among the people. It was customary to inflict punishment without the camp, that the people might have a greater abhorrence at the shedding of blood: but now, a rotten... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:25

Verse 25 25.And Joshua said, etc The invective seems excessively harsh; as if it had been his intention to drive the wretched man to frantic madness, when he ought rather to have exhorted him to patience. I have no doubt that he spoke thus for the sake of the people, in order to furnish a useful example to all, and my conclusion, therefore, is, that he did not wish to overwhelm Achan with despair, but only to show in his person how grievous a crime it is to disturb the Church of God. It may be,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:16-26

The detection. Objections have been raised to the morality of the whole narrative. We will deal first with this subject, and then turn to the religious and moral questions involved. I. WHY DID GOD NOT REVEAL THE OFFENDER WHEN HE REVEALED THE OFFENCE ? The answer is, that He might still further display the hardness of Achan's heart. He did not at once come forward and confess his crime. He not only had offended against God's laws, but he persisted in his offence.... read more

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