Joshua 7

The wrath of the LORD is kindled against Israel , because Achan had taken of the banned goods , verse 1. etc. Josua dispatched forces to Ai, 2. there thirtie six Israelites are slain , 5.Josua and the eldest of Israel are much astonished thereat , and do humble themselves before the LORD , 6. Who discovereth unto him the cause of this defeat . 11. And enjoyneth him to finde out by lot the man that had stollen the banned goods , 14. and to burn him and all he had , 15. Achan is found to be the guiltie person , 16. He and all his are stoned , and burnt , 24.

1. But the children of Israel [Understand one of the children of Israel , viz. Achan. Compare Judges 12. on verse 7.] transgressed , by transgressing with the banned (thing :) [viz. against the Law of God , touching the banned things] for Achan [1 Chronicles 2:7. he is called Achar , i.e. the troubler]the son of Charmi , the son of Zabdi ; [he is also called Simri, 1 Chron.2.6.] the son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Juda, took of the banned (thing) [see above chap.6.18,19.] then the anger of the LORD kindled against the children of Israel . [for one mans sinne God is incensed against the whole Congregation of the Israelites. See Jos. 22,20.]

2. When Josua sent men fron Jericho to Ai, [Ai was seated upon a hill three leagues westward from Jericho , , in that part of the Land of Canaan , which fell to the Tribe of Benjamin . There was likewise another Ai, in the Tribe of Gad , which the Amminites had taken , against which Jeremy prophesieth , chap.49.3.] which lieth by Beth-aven , on the East of Bethel , he spake unto them , saying, Go up, and spie out the land : so these men went up and spied out Ai.

3. Afterward they returned unto Josua , and said unto him , Let not all the people go up , let about two thousand men, or about three thousand men go up to smite Ai, do not tire all the people thither , for they are few .

4. So there went up thither from the people about three thousand men , which fled before the face of the men at Ai.

5. And the men at Ai smote of them about six and thirtie men , and pursued them ( from ) before the gate unto Schebarm , [This place was first so called from this defeat of the Israelites . Sheborum signifieth breakings , or, shiverings , because the Israelites Army was there broken and hewen asunder] and smote them in a descent : then the heart of the people melted , and it became water .

6. Then Josua rent his clothes [In token of great grief and anguish of heart , see Gen.37.29.] and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the LORD , untill the evening , he and the eldest of Israel ; and they cast dust upon their head .[this the Israelites were wont to doe in token of sorrow and astonishment , 1 Sam . 4.12. and 2 Sam 13.19. Jonah 3:6. Mich.1.10.]

7. And Josua said , Ah, Lord LORD wherefore hast thou ever made this people go through Jordan , [Heb. passing made pass . Here Josua seemeth somewhat to start aside through humane fraitie by reason of the damage sustained] to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites ; [understand here under all the seven Nations that possessed the land which the LORD had promised to give unto the Israelites] to destroy us ? [oth. that we had been content , and remained on the other side of Jordan .]

8. O LORD ! [Heb. in me Lord , see Gen 43.on v.20.] what shall I say, seeing that israel hath turned the neck before the face of his enemies ?

9. When the Canaanites and all the Inhabitants of the Land shall hear it , they will surround us and destroy our name from the earth : What wilt thou then do to thy great Name ? [As if he had said , how wilt thou preserve thy great and glorious Name, when the Canaanites shall say that thou hast not now any more the power to defend us , and to subdue them , as thou in times past hast done]

10. Then the LORD said unto Josua , Arise : wherefore liest thou thus down upon thy face ? [Heb. properly art thou falling down .]

11. Israel hath sinned [i.e. one among the Israelites , viz Achan] and have likewise transgressed my covenant , [i.e. my commandment , whereunto they have obliged themselves in the covenant , to observe the same . See above chap.6.18.] which I commanded them : and they have also taken of the banned (thing ,) [which I commanded to be banned , chapter 6.24.]and likewise stollen , [viz. that which ought to have been brought into the Treasury of the Lord , above chap.6.19.] and likewise lied [Oth. denyed , disavouched] and have likewise put it among their stuff .

12. Therefore the children of Israel shall not be able to subsist before the face of their enemies , they shall turn the neck before the face of their enemies , for they are in the ban [i.e. they are fallen into the punishment or judgement which I intended to bring those banned nations , because they have transgressesd in the banned thing]I will henceforward be no more with you , unlesse you put away the ban [i.e. him that hath deserved to be banned , because he hath transgressed in the thing . So also below 13.13.] from the midst of you.

13. Arise, hallow the people , [i.e. cause the people to purifie themselves unto holinesse , by the ceremonies appointed by God , Exod.19.10.] and say, hallow your selves against to morrow : for thus saith the God of Israel , here is a ban in the midst of thee Israel , thou shalt not be able to subsist before the face of thine enemies , untill you put away the ban out of the midst of you.

14. In the morning therefore shall ye come on according to your tribes : and it shall come to passe , that the tribe whom the LORDshall have hit [Heb. caught or taken , viz. by the lot, which the LORD directeth or disposeth , Proverbs 16:33. See 1 Sam.14.41. Jon.1.7.] the same shall come on according to the families , and the family which the LORD shall have hit , the same shall come on by housholds, [Heb. houses] and the houshold which the LORD shall have hit , the same shall come on man to man .[Heb. with men.]

15. And it shall come to passe , that whosoever shall be hit with the ban , [i.e. with the banned thing , or stolen goods] the same shall be burned with fire , [viz.after that he shal have been stoned to death . See Num.15.30,35.] he, and all that he hath : because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD , and because he hath committed folly in In Israel .[i.e. notorious crime , or abomination .Thus the rape of Dina was called , Genesis 34:7. and the abusing of the Levites wife , Exod.20.6.]

16. Then Josua rose up early in the morning , and caised Israel to come on according to their tribes , and the tribe of Judah was hit .

17. Then he caused the family [i.e. the Tribe , or each family thereof] of Juda to come on , he hit the family of Zarhi : When he caused the family of Zarhi to come on man for man , [Heb. by men ; i.e. according to the housholds of the fathers , head by head, every one as v.18.] Zabdi was hit .

18. Whose houshold when he caused to come on man for man, then was hit Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Juda.

19. Then Josua said unto Achan , My son , Give , ( I pray) the honnor unto the LORD, the God of Israel , and make confession before him : [Heb. put etc. When Achan confessed his trespasse committed, he gave the honor to God , that he had hit him right .] and tell me ( I pray ) what thou hast done , and hide it not before me.

20. Now Achan answered Josua , and said , Verily I have sinned against the LORD , the God of Israel, and have done thus and thus . [viz. as the LORD hath spoken , v.11.]

21. And I saw among the prey a beautifull [Heb. good]stately Babylonish upper garment , [Heb. a cloak of Sineor . See Gen.10.v.10.] and two hundred shekels of Silver , [this is the moiety of the price, for which Abraham bought the double cave of Ephron, 200 . common shekels making 50 Ryx-dollers] and a golden tongue ( or wedge ) [a long and broad piece of gold , in fashion of a tongue , whatever it was] whose weight was fifty shekels , and I coveted it , and took it , and behold , they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent , and the silver under it. [viz. under the Babylonish garment.]

22. Then Josua sent messengers thither , who run to the tent ; and behold , it lay hid, [viz. the goods , Or the garments :] in his tent , and the silver underneath.

23. They took those things out of the midst of the tent , and they brought them unto Josua , and to all the children of Israel , and poured them out before the face of the LORD , [i.e. before the Tent of the congregation where the ark ( which was the holy place of Gods presence ) was : for this whole consecration was made in a generall assembly of the people .]

24. Then Josua , and all Israel with him , took Achan ,the son of Zerah , [i.e. great grand-childe. See v.1.] and the silver , and the stately upper garment , and the golden tongue , and his sons and his daughters , and his oxen and his asses , and all that he had , and carried them unto the valley of Achor . [i.e. the valley of trouble , afterwards so called , from this history v.26.]

25. And josua said , thou hast troubled us : [Of the word to trouble , see 1 Kings 18. on v. 17.] the LORD shall this day trouble thee : and all Israel stoned him [viz. Achan ; understand hereby also all his , as v.26] with stones , and they burned them with fire , and they cast them all over with stones .

26. And they raised over him a great heap of stones being unto this day : thus the LORD turned himself from the heat of his wrath : therefore they called [Oth. he called , viz. Josua] the name of the place , The valley of Achor . [i.e. the valley of trouble , because all the people of Israel were here troubled and grieved for Achans theft : and because he also was therein troubled by a terrible judgement , v.25.]