Joshua 7:24
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
Joshua 7:24 · King James Version
Meaning
After the Israelites captured the city of Jericho, they were commanded by God not to take anything as plunder for themselves. However, a man named Achan disobeyed this command by taking silver, a garment, and gold from the city. As a result, the Israelites suffered a defeat in their next battle at Ai. Through the process of elimination and investigation, Joshua and the Israelites identified Achan as the one responsible for the disobedience. They then carried out God's judgment by stoning Achan and his entire family in the valley of Achor. This act served as a strong reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of sin. It also emphasized the need for purity and righteousness among God's people in order to maintain their favor and protection. The valley of Achor became a symbolic place of judgment and repentance, teaching future generations a valuable lesson about the importance of faithfulness and integrity in their relationship with God.
Theological Overview
After the Israelites conquered Jericho, one man named Achan disobeyed God's command by taking valuable items from the city, which were meant to be dedicated to God. This act of disobedience led to severe consequences for Achan and his family. Joshua and the Israelites, following God's instructions, found Achan and everything he had taken. They brought him, along with his possessions and family members, to the Valley of Achor for judgment. This event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of disobedience. The Valley of Achor, which means "trouble" or "troubling," became a place symbolizing the consequences of sin. Through this story, we learn about the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the need for repentance and obedience in our lives.
Joshua 7:24 in other translations
American Standard Version
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them up unto the valley of Achor.
World English Bible
Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.
Douay-Rheims
Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan, the son of Zare, and the silver, and the garment, and the golden rule, his sons also, and his daughters, his oxen, and asses, and sheep, the tent also, and all the goods: and brought them to the valley of Achor:
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then Ioshua tooke Achan the sonne of Zerah, and the siluer, and the garment and the wedge of golde and his sonnes, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheepe, and his tent, and all that hee had: and all Israel with him brought them vnto the valley of Achor.