Jos 7:1-15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Josh 10:1-12:24: 7:1–12:24 This second major section of the book includes a record of Joshua’s southern and northern campaigns against two coalitions of Canaanite kings. Joshua’s victories enabled Israel to settle the hill country from Galilee in the north to the Negev in the south. Summary for Josh 7:1-26: 7:1-26 Now that Jericho belonged to Israel, Joshua’s first military problem involved securing a foothold in the hill country. The conquest of Jericho inspired Israel’s confidence and consigned the people of Canaan to discouragement and despair. Yet everything hinged on Israel’s obedience to God. One man’s sin and its consequences demonstrate how serious was the command to destroy Jericho (see thematic note for Complete Dedication at end of chapter). 7:1 things set apart for the Lord : See Lev 27:28-29 ; 1 Sam 15:3 . • son of Zerah: Achan belonged to a prominent family (Num 26:19-20 ) and was a leader or a potential leader, so his actions would be influential.

Summary for Josh 10:1-12:24: 7:1–12:24 ^a This second major section of the book includes a record of Joshua’s southern and northern campaigns against two coalitions of Canaanite kings. Joshua’s victories enabled Israel to settle the hill country from Galilee in the north to the Negev in the south.
Summary for Josh 7:1-26: 7:1-26 ^b Now that Jericho belonged to Israel, Joshua’s first military problem involved securing a foothold in the hill country. The conquest of Jericho inspired Israel’s confidence and consigned the people of Canaan to discouragement and despair. Yet everything hinged on Israel’s obedience to God. One man’s sin and its consequences demonstrate how serious was the command to destroy Jericho (see thematic note for Complete Dedication at end of chapter). 7:1 ^c things set apart for the Lord: See Lev 27:28-29 ^d; 1 Sam 15:3 ^e.

• son of Zerah: Achan belonged to a prominent family (Num 26:19-20 ^f) and was a leader or a potential leader, so his actions would be influential.
7:2 ^g As he did before the battle for Jericho, Joshua sent some of his men to assess the situation at Ai. This town stood about ten miles west of Jericho at the entrance to a plateau north of Jerusalem called the Plateau of Benjamin; conquering Ai would open the way for Israel to control the hill country.

• Beth-aven, “house of iniquity,” was probably an intentionally derogatory wordplay on the name Bethel, the “house of God.” A pagan shrine stood on this site later in Israel’s history (1 Kgs 12:28-33 ^h).
Summary for Josh 7:3-4: 7:3-4 ⁱ God’s provision of victory at Jericho apparently bred complacency and overconfidence; Joshua did not even consult with God before sending a small contingent of troops to Ai.
7:5 ^j Ai’s defenders left through the town gate and attacked Israel’s troops directly (see 8:5 ^k).

• as far as the quarries: An otherwise unknown place.
7:6 ^l Israel’s leaders tore their clothing and threw dust on their heads, common public gestures of grief or despair in the ancient Near East. By falling face down before the Ark of the Lord, Joshua belatedly acknowledged that Israel needed God’s direction in the battle against Ai.
7:7 ^m Joshua expressed his anger toward God; this explains the sharp tone of God’s reply (7:10-15 ⁿ). Though the battle had been lost because of Achan’s sin, Joshua and Israel’s elders had neglected to seek God’s guidance (7:3 ^o).

• Joshua did not really believe that Israel should have stayed on the other side of the Jordan. Rather, he used hyperbole to show that he was at a loss over what to do next.
Summary for Josh 7:8-9: 7:8-9 ^p Joshua’s fears were realistic. All Canaan had thought that Israel was invincible. However, because tiny Ai had defeated Israel, the Canaanites might think it could happen again.

• If God allowed the wicked to wipe his people off the face of the earth, the nations would not have a witness that God continues to be involved with his world.

• your great name: Cp. Exod 32:11-12 ^q; Num 14:13-19 ^r.
Summary for Josh 7:10-11: 7:10-11 ^s Get up! God’s command was abrupt, stern, and outwardly unsympathetic. For Israel to regain God’s favor, Joshua needed to act swiftly and decisively.
7:12 ^t Israel itself has been set apart for destruction: With his individual sin, Achan made all Israel liable to destruction.
7:13 ^u Command the people to purify themselves: See study note on 3:5.
7:14 ^v Israel’s twelve tribes were descendants of Jacob’s sons. A clan represented a smaller unit within the tribes; later, as Israel’s allotments in the land were distributed, a clan usually received possession of a town and its surrounding fields, forest, and pastureland. A man’s family included his sons and their dependents.
7:15 ^w God had commanded that all the stolen goods were to be destroyed by fire. Now they would be, because Achan and everything he had would be burned with fire. Breaking the covenant of the Lord was treason, a capital offense (e.g., Exod 22:20 ^x; Deut 4:25-27 ^y).