Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 7:22
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, [it was] hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua sent messengers, that the truth of his confession might be evident and unquestionable, which some peradventure might think was forced from him.
They ran; partly longing to free themselves and all the people from the curse under which they lay; and partly that none of Achans relations or others might get thither before them, and take away those things.
It was hid, i.e. the parcel of things mentioned Jos 7:21,24.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22, 23. Joshua sent messengers, andthey ran unto the tentfrom impatient eagerness not only totest the truth of the story, but to clear Israel from the imputationof guilt. Having discovered the stolen articles, they laid them outbefore the Lord, “as a token of their belonging to Him” onaccount of the ban.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So Joshua sent messengers,…. Directly to Achan’s tent, to see if it was as he had said, and to bring the things with them:
and they ran unto the tent; either for joy that the iniquity was discovered, as Kimchi; or that none of the tribe of Judah or of Achan’s family or relations should get there before them, and take them from thence and make void the lot; so Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and Abarbinel; but, no doubt, it is remarked, to show the readiness and diligence of the messengers to obey the order of Joshua:
and, behold, [it was] hid in his tent, and the silver under it; as Achan had said.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Joshua sent two messengers directly to Achan’s tent to fetch the things, and when they were brought he had them laid down before Jehovah, i.e., before the tabernacle, where the whole affair had taken place. , here and in 2Sa 15:24, signifies to lay down (synonymous with ), whilst the Hiphil form is used for pouring out.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
22. So Joshua sent messengers, etc Although it is not singular for messengers to prove their obedience by running and making haste, yet the haste which is here mentioned, shows how intent all were to have the work of expiation performed as speedily as possible, as they had been filled with the greatest anxiety in consequence of the stern denunciation — I will not be with you until you are purged of the anathema. They therefore ran swiftly, not merely to execute the commands of Joshua, but much more to appease the Lord. The things carried off by stealth, when placed before their eyes, were more than sufficient to explain the cause of the disgrace and overthrow which had befallen them.
It had been said that they had turned their backs on the enemy, because, being polluted with the accursed thing, they were deprived of the wonted assistance of God; it is now easy to infer from the sight of the stolen articles, that the Lord had deservedly become hostile to them. At the same time, they were reminded how much importance God attached to the delivery of the first-fruits of the whole land of Canaan in an untainted state, in order that his liberality might never perish from their memory. They also learned that while the knowledge of God penetrates to the most hidden recesses, it is in vain to employ concealment’s for the purpose of eluding his judgment. (73)
(73) French, “ C’est folie de chercher couverture et deguisement pour eschapper son jugement et l’abuser;” “It is folly to seek cover and disguise in order to escape his judgement and deceive him.” — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
The Sin Purged from Israel Jos. 7:22-26
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord.
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.
25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
16.
In what way were the spoils laid out before the Lord? Jos. 7:23
The messengers which were sent by Joshua ran to Achans tent and found the items in the place where he had buried them. They brought these out and put them on public display. In this way they were said to be laid out before the Lord. They were in plain sight of all. Since these items were to have been dedicated to God and put in the treasury of the Lord, this open displaying of the items would indicate they were now to be directed towards their proper use. Since God was directing the purging of the sin from Israel, it was indeed before the Lord that this was done.
17.
Where was the valley of Achor? Jos. 7:24 b
The valley of Achor is located southwest of Jericho and identified with Wady Deber and Wady Mukelik. The name was given to the area on account of the sin and subsequent punishment of Achan. The word means trouble, and the term valley of Achor has become proverbial for describing a situation of distress. This expression is used by Hosea (Jos. 2:15) and in this setting describes the good results which comes from discipline,
18.
Was only Acban stoned? Jos. 7:25
The singular pronoun is used to designate Achan alone as being the principal person concerned. It is obvious enough, however, that his children and cattle were stoned from what follows in the very same verse. It is true that in Deu. 24:16 the Mosaic law expressly forbids the putting to death of children for their fathers sins; and many have imagined, therefore, that Achans sons and daughters were simply taken into the valley to be spectators of the punishment inflicted upon the father so that it might be a warning to them. But for what reason then, were Achans cattle (oxen, sheep, and asses) taken out along with him? Certainly for no other purpose than to be stoned at the same time as he. The law in question only referred to the punishment of ordinary criminals and therefore was not applicable at all to the present special case in which the punishment was commanded by the Lord himself.
19.
Could Achans family have participated in the crime? Jos. 7:24-26
Achan had fallen under the ban by laying hands upon what had been banned and consequently was exposed to the same punishment as a town which had fallen away to idolatry (Deu. 13:16-17). The law of the ban was founded upon the assumption that the conduct for which a man was to be punished was not a crime of which the individual alone was guilty, but one in which the whole family of the leading sinner and everything connected with him participated. Thus, in the case before us, the things themselves had been stolen from the booty by Achan alone; but he had hidden them in his tent, buried them in the earth, which could hardly have been done so secretly that his sons and daughters knew nothing of it. By doing this he had made his family participators in his theft. They, therefore, fell under the ban along with him, together with his tent, his cattle, and the rest of his property, which were all involved in the consequences of his crime.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
22. They ran unto the tent The interests of the entire nation, involved in this affair, require prompt and energetic measures. The theft itself, its disastrous consequences at Ai, and the supernatural detection of the criminal, had awakened an intense excitement, which caused the haste of the messengers.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ So Joshua sent messengers and they ran to the tent, and behold, it was hidden in his tent, and the silver under it.’
Joshua immediately insisted on the stolen items being produced. They were part of what was devoted and must therefore be carefully dealt with. The men he sent went with haste. All were aware of the awfulness of the situation and desirous of removing the curse from Israel as soon as possible. They found the gold, wrapped in the robe, and the silver, too bulky, buried under it.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 7:22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, [it was] hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Ver. 22. And they ran unto the tent. ] It was a matter of haste, that justice might be speedily executed, and God’s favour re-obtained.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 7:22-26
22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was concealed in his tent with the silver underneath it. 23They took them from inside the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel, and they poured them out before the LORD. 24Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. 25Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day. And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. 26They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.
Jos 7:22 it was concealed in his tent It is possible, because he hid it among his family’s possessions, that both his wife and children knew of his theft. They did not tell anyone. They will be killed also!
Jos 7:23
NASBpoured them out before the LORD
NKJV, TEV,
NJBlaid them out before the LORD
NRSVspread them out before the LORD
This is literally the term poured, but it can mean cast or to set before (BDB 427, KB 428, Hiphil IMPERFECT).
Jos 7:25 and all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones . . . And they raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day Basically there are two Hebrew words for stone. The first (BDB 920, KB 1187, Qal IMPERFECT) is used in the beginning of Jos 7:25 and refers to the use of stones for capital punishment. The second term (BDB 6) is used at the end of Jos 7:25 and means to raise a pile of stones over a dead person and his possessions as a memorial of the crime and its judgment. Obviously Achan was killed, and then he and his possessions were burned (because they were under the ban), and on top of them a great heap of stones was raised.
burned them with fire The VERB (BDB 976, KB 1358, Qal IMPERFECT) was used of destroying the golden calf of Exo 32:20 (cf. Deu 9:21). It could be used
1. positively (ashes of the Red Heifer), Num 19:5 and means of sacrifice, Lev 23:25
2. negatively (Asherim), Deu 7:5; Deu 12:3
For fire, see Special Topic below.
SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE
great heap of stones This is a burial site (BDB 164 CONSTRUCT 6, cf. Jos 8:29; 2Sa 18:17).
Jos 7:26 called the Valley of Achor This means the valley of trouble (BDB 770 CONSTRUCT 747) and refers to the fact that one man’s sin brought failure, reproach, and condemnation to the entire nation. However, this same valley is mentioned in Isa 65:10 and Hos 2:15 as a source of hope.
to this day This is the mark of an editor; the time-frame of the phrase is uncertain (cf. Jos 6:25; Jos 8:28-29; Jos 9:27; Jos 13:13; Jos 14:14; Jos 15:63; Jos 16:10; Jos 22:3; Jos 22:17; Jos 23:8-9). See note at Jos 15:63.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Why did the sin of one man affect the whole nation?
2. How are Bethel and Ai related?
3. List the mourning rites of the Hebrew people.
4. How do Jos 7:7; Jos 7:9 show that Joshua is simply a mere human being who also has doubts and sins?
5. What does herem or under the ban mean?
6. Was Achan stoned, burned, or what (cf. Jos 7:25-26)?
7. What exactly did Achan take from the city of Jericho?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Reciprocal: Deu 25:19 – thou shalt
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 7:22-23. Joshua sent messengers That the truth of his confession might be unquestionable, which some, peradventure, might think was forced from him. And they ran Partly longing to free themselves and all the people from all the curse under which they lay; and partly, that none of Achans relations might get thither before them, and take away the things. It was hid The parcel of things mentioned, Jos 7:21; Jos 7:24. Before the Lord Where Joshua and the elders continued yet in their assembly, waiting for the issue.