After the triumphant conquest of Jericho, it emerges that the
herem ("ban") on Jericho was not completely executed by the Israelites (7:1), indicated by the word 'break faith' to mean 'rebellion against God' that brings severe punishment (cf. 1 Chronicles 10:13–14) and the whole nation is affected by the sin of one person (
Achan). Meanwhile, Joshua turns his attention to Ai (literally 'the heap') a city east of Bethel in the central mountain ridge, to get an important foothold in the heartland. Joshua first sends spies (7:2–3), recalling both the first mission that he had authorized (2:1), and the earlier one sent by Moses (Numbers 13–14;
Deuteronomy 1). Whereas the account of fearful spies to Moses (Deuteronomy 1:28) gave way to a false confidence which resulted in ignominious defeat (Deuteronomy 1:41–45), this time the message from the spies gave a false confidence (unknowing of Achan's sin) resulting in similar defeat, and in both cases the people's hearts 'melt' (Deuteronomy 1:28; Joshua 7:5) at the apparent invincibility of the enemy, because YHWH withdraws his presence from them (Deuteronomy 1:42; Joshua 7:12). Ironically, the fear felt by the Israelites here also directly reverses the fear (also the 'melting hearts') felt by the Amorites before their own advance (5:1). Joshua assumes the Mosaic role of intercessor (verses 6–9) when he prays together with the 'elders of Israel', while Israel, as a whole, cries to YHWH during this crisis. YHWH's reply to Joshua (7:10–15) is the theological centre of the passage, revealing the problem, known to the reader since verses 1–2, but not yet to Joshua, that Israel was unfaithful in respect of the "ban", so now has become subject to the "ban" itself, as the sin against the "ban" is a 'breach of the covenant' (verse 11). God now prescribes the harsh penalty for infringement of the "ban" (verses 13–15).
Verse 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. • "Accursed thing" from , '''', also rendered as "devoted" thing, thing "under the ban" (NABRE), "what was set apart [to the Lord]". • "
Achan": spelled as "Achar" (meaning "disaster") in
1 Chronicles 2:7 (and in Greek Septuagint for both verses), thus declaring him "bringer of disaster of Israel" (a phrase used by
Ahab to
Elijah in
1 Kings 18:17)., although both verses use the same language to recount the "unfaithfulness" or "trespass" regarding the "accursed thing" (
ba-, Joshua's prostration and the elders dust-strewn heads as signs of mourning are also evident in other biblical text (Genesis 37:54; 44:13; 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 1:2; Job 1:20; 2:12; Lamentations 2:10; Ezekiel 27:30) as well as in extrabiblical texts, such as in Ugaritic Baal epic that even the gods mourn in similar ways.(
(descends) from the footstool, sits on the earth. He pours dirt of mourning on his head). ==Sin of Achan (7:16–26)==