The Man Who Stole from the Devoted Things at Jericho
Tunnetaan myös nimellä: Jaakan, Jakan, Akar, Acan
ValloitusIsraelite man from the tribe of JudahParticipant in the conquest of Canaanc. 1400 BC
Achan, son of Karmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, is known for taking some of the devoted things (herem) after the conquest of Jericho. Despite God's clear command not to take anything that was set apart for destruction, Achan secretly took a beautiful robe from Shinar, along with silver and a bar of gold, and hid them under his tent. His sin led to Israel's unexpected defeat at Ai and revealed a serious breach of covenant among the people. When Achan was identified by casting lots, he confessed his wrongdoing. He was brought to the Valley of Achor together with his family, his livestock, and all that he owned, where judgment was carried out by stoning. The story is a powerful testimony to how one person's disobedience and greed can affect the entire community, and it underscores the grave seriousness of breaking covenant with God. At the same time, the prophet Hosea points forward to a day when the Valley of Achor—the "Valley of Trouble"—will be transformed into a door of hope.
After Israel conquered Jericho, Achan secretly took a beautiful robe from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels from the devoted things, despite God's clear command not to take anything that was set apart for destruction.
17The city and everything in it are devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in her house, because she hid the messengers we sent.
18But keep away from what is devoted to destruction, or you will bring destruction on yourselves by taking any of it. You would make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring disaster upon it.
1But the Israelites broke faith concerning the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was devoted, and the LORD's anger burned against the Israelites.
Because of Achan's sin, Israel was defeated by the men of Ai, and about 36 Israelites fell. The defeat shocked Joshua and the people, revealing that something was seriously wrong in Israel's relationship with God.
2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which lies near Beth Aven, east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and scout out the land." So the men went up and scouted Ai.
3When they returned to Joshua they said, "There is no need for the whole army to go up. Send about two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Do not wear out the whole army there, for the people of Ai are few."
5The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as Shebarim and cutting them down on the slope. At this the hearts of the people melted and turned to water.
Joshua fell on his face before the ark of the Lord and lamented the defeat. God revealed that someone in Israel had taken from the devoted things, broken the covenant, and lied. The sin had to be removed before Israel could stand against its enemies.
6Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown on the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel, and they threw dust on their heads.
7And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord GOD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan—only to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
9The Canaanites and all who live in the land will hear of it. They will surround us and wipe our name from the earth. And then what will you do for your great name?"
11Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of what was devoted to destruction; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put it among their own possessions.
12That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They turn their backs and run, because they themselves have now become devoted to destruction. I will not be with you any longer unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13Get up! Consecrate the people. Say to them, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There is devoted property among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it from your midst.'
God commanded that the tribes be presented, and by casting lots, first the tribe of Judah was selected, then Zerah's clan, next Achar's family, further Carmi's household, and finally Achan was pointed out as the guilty one.
14In the morning you shall come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe the LORD singles out shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the LORD singles out shall come forward household by household; and the household the LORD singles out shall come forward man by man.
15The one who is caught with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done an outrageous thing in Israel."
17He brought forward the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was singled out. He brought the clan of the Zerahites forward man by man, and Zabdi was singled out.
At Joshua's urging to give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, Achan confessed that he had seen a beautiful robe from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. He coveted them, took them, and hid them in the ground beneath his tent.
19Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."
21Among the spoil I saw a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
Achan was brought to the Valley of Achor along with the stolen goods, his sons and daughters, his livestock, and all that he owned. All Israel stoned him and burned them with fire, and they raised a large pile of stones over him. The place was called the Valley of Achor, which means 'Valley of Trouble'.
24Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, and the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and everything he had, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.
25Joshua said, "Why have you brought this disaster on us? Today the LORD brings disaster on you." Then all Israel pelted him with stones, and they burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
26Over him they piled a great heap of stones, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.