Joshua 7:10-15

God reminded Joshua that he should not look for the reason for Israel’s defeat in God but in Israel.

"The first three clauses [in Joshua 7:11] describe the sin in its relation to God, as a grievous offense; the three following according to its true character, as a great, obstinate, and reckless crime." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, p. 79.]

Israel resorted to the casting of lots when no eyewitness could testify against a criminal (cf. 1 Samuel 14:41-42; Jonah 1:7; Proverbs 18:18). Probably the high priest used the Urim and Thummim to identify Achan (cf. Numbers 27:21).

The burning of a criminal after his stoning was one way of emphasizing the wickedness of his crime (Leviticus 20:14; cf. Deuteronomy 13:15-16). It was a "disgraceful thing" (Joshua 7:15) to steal something under the ban (devoted to God).