Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
21. a goodly Babylonish garment ] Literally, a goodly mantle of Shinar, i.e. Babylonia. Comp. Gen 11:2, “They found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there,” 9, “therefore is the name of it called Babel.” The word here translated “garment,” means a long robe, such as was worn by kings on state occasions; comp. Jon 3:6, and by prophets, 1Ki 19:13; 2Ki 2:13-14; Zec 13:4. Probably it was stuff embroidered, made in the loom with many colours, and wrought of gold and silk threads. On the elaborate and beautiful products of the Babylonian looms see Heeren’s Asiatic Nations 1. 2, ff. 22; Layard’s Nineveh 2:319; Kitto’s Bible Illustrations 2:204. The word employed points to the existence of a trade already between Canaan and Mesopotamia. Wyclif renders it “a reed mentil ful good.”
a wedge of gold ] Literally, a tongue of gold. Vulg. regula aurea, “a golden bar,” or “a tongue-shaped jewel made of gold,” “a golden rewle of fifti siclis,” Wyclif. The name lingula was given by the Romans to a spoon, and to an oblong dagger made in the shape of a tongue. The weight of the wedge was 50 shekels = about 25 ounces. See The Speaker’s Commentary in loc.
the silver under it ] The mantle would naturally lie at the top, then the tongue of gold, and the silver lowest.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A goodly Babylonian garment – literally, a robe or cloak of Shinar, the plain in which Babylon was situated Gen 10:10. It was a long robe such as was worn by kings on state occasions Jon 3:6, and by prophets 1Ki 19:13; Zec 13:4. The Assyrians were in early times famous for the manufacture of beautiful dyed and richly embroidered robes (compare Eze 23:15). That such a robe should be found in a Canaanite city is natural enough. The productions of the far East found their way through Palestine both southward toward Egypt and westward through Tyre to the countries bordering on the Mediterranean. (Compare Eze 27:24 and the context.)
Wedge of gold – i. e. some implement or ornament of gold shaped like a wedge or tongue. The name lingula was given by the Romans to a spoon and to an oblong dagger made in shape of a tongue. The weight of this wedge was fifty shekels, i. e. about twenty-five ounces (see Exo 38:24 note). The silver was under the rest of the stolen property. The mantle would naturally be placed uppermost, and be used to cover up the others.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 21. A goodly Babylonish garment] addereth shinar, a splendid or costly robe of Shinar; but as Babylon or Babel was built in the plain of Shinar, the word has in general been translated Babylon in this place. It is very probable that this was the robe of the king of Jericho, for the same word is used, Jon 3:6, to express the royal robe, of the king of Nineveh which he laid aside in order to humble himself before God.
Bochart and Calmet have shown at large that Babylonish robes were very splendid, and in high reputation. “They are,” says Calmet, “generally allowed to have been of various colours, though some suppose they were woven thus; others, that they were embroidered with the needle; and others, that they were painted. SILIUS ITALICUS appears to think they were woven thus: –
Vestis spirantes referens subtemine vultus,
Quos radio caelat BABYLON.
Punic. lib. xiv., ver. 667.
MARTIAL seems to say they were embroidered with the needle: –
Non ego praetulerim BABYLONIA PICTA superbe
Textra, Semiramia quae variantur ACU.
Lib. viii., E. 28, ver. 17.
PLINY (lib. viii., c. 48) and APULEIUS (Florid. lib. i.) speak of them as if painted: “Colores diversos picturae intexere Babylon maxime celebravit, et nomen imposuit.”
Thus far Calmet: but it may be observed that the clothes woven of divers colours at Babylon, which were so greatly celebrated, and hence called Babylonish garments, appear rather to have had the pictures woven or embroidered in them than painted on them, as Calmet supposes, though it is most likely the figures referred to were the work of the needle after the cloth came from the loom.
AQUILA translates the original, addereth shinar, by , a Babylonish robe; SYMMACHUS, , a robe of Synar; the SEPTUAGINT, , a fine garment of different colours; and the VULGATE, pallium coccineum, a scarlet cloak. There is no doubt it was both beautiful and costly, and on these grounds it was coveted by Achan.
Two hundred shekels of silver] At three shillings per shekel, amount to about 30. sterling.
A wedge of gold] A tongue of gold, leshon zahab what we commonly call an ingot of gold, a corruption of the word lingot, signifying a little tongue, of fifty shekels weight. These fifty shekels, in weight 29 oz. 15 15/31 gr., at 2. 5s. 2 42/93d. per shekel, would be worth about 113. Os. 10 3/4d.
This verse gives us a notable instance of the progress of sin. It
1. enters by the eye;
2. sinks into the heart;
3. actuates the hand; and,
4. leads to secrecy and dissimulation.
I saw, c, I coveted, &c. I took and hid them in the earth. Thus says St. James: “When lust (evil desire) is conceived it bringeth forth sin and when sin is finished it bringeth forth death,” Jos 1:15.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He accurately describes the progress of his sin, which began at his eye, which he permitted to gaze and fix upon them, which inflamed his desire, and made him covet them; and that desire put him upon action, and made him take them; and having taken, resolve to keep them, and to that end hide them in his tent. Babylonish garments were composed with great art with divers colours, and of great price, as appears both from Scripture, Eze 23:15, and from divers heathen authors. See my Latin Synopsis.
Two hundred shekels, to wit, in weight, not in coin; for as yet they received and paid money by weight.
Under it, i.e. under the Babylonish garment; covered with it, or wrapt up in it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. a goodly Babylonishgarmentliterally, “a mantle of Shinar.” The plain ofShinar was in early times celebrated for its gorgeous robes, whichwere of brilliant and various colors, generally arranged in figuredpatterns, probably resembling those of modern Turkish carpets, andthe colors were either interwoven in the loom or embroidered with theneedle.
two hundred shekels ofsilverequivalent to 22 10s. sterling, according tothe old Mosaic shekel, or the half of that sum, reckoning by thecommon shekel.
a wedge of goldliterally,an ingot or bar in the shape of a tongue.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment,…. One, as the Targum adds, for no more was taken; a garment made of Babylonish wool, as Jarchi; or a valuable garment made in Babylon, called “Shinar”, for that is the word in the text, so Kimchi and Abarbinel; and Babylonian garments were in great esteem in other nations: Pliny says c Babylon was famous for garments interwoven with pictures of divers colours, and which gave name to them; and Plutarch d relates, that Cato in his great modesty, and being an enemy to luxury, having a Babylonish garment that came to him by inheritance, ordered it immediately to be sold: the Vulgate Latin version calls it a scarlet robe; and in some Jewish writings e it is interpreted, a garment of Babylonian purple, as if it only respected the colour; and purple and scarlet are sometimes promiscuously used and put for the same, see Mt 27:28; and were the colour worn by kings: and Josephus here calls it a royal garment, wholly interwoven with gold f; and some have thought it to be the garment of the king of Jericho, which is not unlikely; however, it is much more probable than that Jericho was subject to the king of Babylon, and that he had palaces in Jericho, and when he came thither was clothed with this robe, so Jarchi; as is elsewhere said g by others, that he had a deputy who resided in Jericho, who sent dates to the king of Babylon, and the king sent him gifts, among which was a garment of Shinar or Babylon:
and two hundred shekels of silver; which, if coined money, was near twenty five English pounds:
and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight: or a “tongue of gold” h; a plate of gold in the shape of a tongue, as Kimchi and Abarbinel; a piece of unwrought gold which weighed fifty shekels, and worth of our money about seventy five pounds, according to Brererwood i: where he saw these, and from whence he took them, is not said; according to some Jewish writers, these belonged to one of their idols; it is said k, he saw the Teraphim and the silver they offered before it, and the garment which was spread before it, and the tongue or wedge of gold in its mouth; and he desired them in his heart, and went and took them, and hid them in the midst of his tent: and the Samaritan Chronicle l makes him confess that he went into a temple in Jericho and found the above things there: and Masius conjectures that the wedge of gold was a little golden sword, with which the men of Jericho had armed their god, since an ancient poet m calls a little sword a little tongue:
then I coveted them, and took them; he is very particular in the account, and gradually proceeds in relating the temptation he was under, and the prevalence of it; it began with his eyes, which were caught with the goodliness of the garments, and the riches he saw; these affected his heart and stirred up covetous desires, which influenced and directed his hands to take them:
and, behold, they are [hid] in the earth in the midst of my tent; Josephus n says, he dug a deep hole or ditch in his tent, and put them there, that is, the Babylonish garment and the wedge of gold; which, as Ben Gersom gathers from Jos 7:25, was wrapped up and hid within the garment; which is not improbable, since otherwise no account is given of that:
and the silver under it; the two hundred shekels of silver lay under the garment in which was the wedge of gold, and so it lay under them both.
c Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 48. d In Vita Catonis. e Bereshit Rabba, sect. 85. fol. 75. 2. f Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 48.) g Bereshit Rabba, ib. h “linguam auream”, Montanus, Tigurine version, Masius; “lingulam auream”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. i De Ponder. &. Pret. Vet. Num. c. 5. k Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 38.) l Apud Hottinger, ut supra. (Smegm. Oriental. l. 1. c. 8. p. 505.) m Naevius apud A. Cell. Noct. Attic. l. 10. c. 25. n Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 48.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(21) A goodly Babylonish garment.Literally, A certain goodly mantle of Shinar.
I coveted them.The very word employed, not only in the tenth commandment (Deu. 5:21), but also in Deu. 7:25, the passage which forbids Israel to desire the spoils of idolatry. This coincidence of terms makes it somewhat probable that the whole were found in some idols temple, and were part of the spoils of the shrine.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. A goodly Babylonish garment [Literally, a mantle of Shinar, one of excellence. The mention of this garment indicates that Jericho had enriched itself by commerce with Babylon, in the land of Shinar.
Gen 11:2. This was rendered easy by the caravans of merchantmen, such as that to which Joseph was sold, (Gen 37:25-28,) which frequently must have passed near Jericho on their journeys between Egypt and the East.] The original intimates that it was a splendid mantle. Some think it was a military cloak, embroidered with brilliant colors; others, that it was a kingly robe, woven with gold. It is probable that its appearance dazzled the eye of Achan, and through the eye awakened covetousness in his heart. [Herodotus (i, 195) says: “The dress of the Babylonians is a linen tunic reaching to the feet, and above it another tunic made in wool, besides which they have a short white cloak thrown around them.” The Babylonian cylinders furnish us with representations of a flounced robe, reaching from the neck to the feet.]
And two hundred shekels of silver The word shekel signifies weight, generally a definite weight of unstamped gold, silver, brass, or iron. Here it may mean definite pieces of silver passing current, with the weight marked. In different periods the shekel varied in value. The shekel of the sanctuary differed from the shekel of the king. Its usual value was about sixty-two and one half cents. The whole value of the silver was about $125, when a dollar had nearly ten times the purchasing power that it now has.
A wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight The shekel of gold was about five and a half dollars, so that this oblong or tongue-shaped bar was worth $275.
And the silver under it That is, under the Babylonish garment. All the stolen goods were probably placed in some box or bag, and buried where no human eye could see them. The frankness and apparent penitence of this confession affects our hearts with sorrow for the sad fate of Achan. It lacked but two elements spontaneity and seasonableness which will be lacking in the confession of every impenitent sinner before the judgment seat of Christ. The whole philosophy of temptation and sin is here strikingly illustrated. In the sacking of Jericho, Achan, unobserved by any witness, finds, possibly in the king’s palace, a beautiful robe and a quantity of gold and silver. The splendour of the garment and the glitter of the precious metals struck his eye and awakened desire. Instead of turning away his eyes, he continued to look and to desire, till desire ripened into volition, and this into action. “When lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 21. When I saw among the spoils The Samaritan Chronicle makes Achan here say, that it was in a temple of Jericho that he saw the things which tempted him; among which was a goodly Babylonish garment. Bochart with his usual erudition observes, that clothes of divers colours were made at Babylon, adorned with figures, in the taste of the Turkey carpets, very shining, rich, and much sought after in all the eastern world. The Babylonians had invented these sorts of works, made in the loom with the needle and of several colours. Phaleg, lib. i. c. 6. p. 25. Tempted, therefore, by the sight of one of these garments, (which the LXX here call fine mantles of divers colours,) Achan took one of them, either to use it afterwards, or to sell it; for they were of great price.
Two hundred shekels of silver About thirty pounds sterling. See Calmet. And a wedge of gold, &c. The Hebrew signifies a tongue of gold, which is the same thing: thereby is meant a piece of gold in a bar, and nearly in the shape of a tongue. This wedge, at the rate of fifty shekels of gold, might be worth upwards of ninety pounds sterling. It should be remembered, that in the time of Joshua they had no silver money.
Fifty shekels Twelve ounces and a half.
Then I coveted them, and took them This fully justifies that saying of St. James: When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, ch. Jos 1:15. Achan ardently desired the garment, the silver, and the gold, which displayed themselves to his view, in a place where he was evidently without witness; and he perverted them to his own use.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jos 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Ver. 21. When I saw, &c. ] Millions have died of the wound in the eye. Covetousness is called “the lust of the eye,” 1Jn 2:16 and by this window much wickedness windeth itself into the heart, said the wise heathen.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a = one.
Babylonish. Hebrew = “of Shinar”, i.e. of Babylonia.
shekels. See App-51.
Wedge = bar. Hebrew tongue: put by Figure of speech, Metonymy (of Adjunct) for a coin of this shape (App-6).
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6).
it. Feminine. Probably referring to the garment.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I saw: Gen 3:6, Gen 6:2, 2Sa 11:2, Job 31:1, Psa 119:37, Pro 23:31, Pro 28:22, Mat 5:28, Mat 5:29, 1Jo 2:15, 1Jo 2:16
Babylonish garment: Addereth shinar, “a splendid or costly robe of Shinar,” the plain in which Babylon stood. Bochart and Calmet have shewn at large, that Babylonish robes were very splendid, and in high reputation. Calmet says, they are generally allowed to have been of various colours, though some suppose they were woven thus; others, that they were embroidered with the needle; and others, that they were painted. Silius Italicus seems to think they were woven. Martial supposes them to have been embroidered with the needle; and Pliny and Apuleius speak of them as painted. Gen 10:10, *marg.
wedge: Heb. tongue
I coveted: Exo 20:17, Deu 7:25, 1Ki 21:1, 1Ki 21:2, 2Ki 5:20-27, Hab 2:9, Luk 12:15, Rom 7:7, Rom 7:8, Eph 5:3, Col 3:5, 1Ti 6:9, 1Ti 6:10, Heb 13:5, 2Pe 2:15
took them: Pro 4:23, Mic 2:1, Mic 2:2, Jam 1:15
they are hid: 2Sa 11:6-17, 2Ki 5:24, 2Ki 5:25, Isa 28:15, Isa 29:15, Luk 12:2
Reciprocal: Gen 34:27 – they Lev 14:35 – a plague Jos 7:1 – committed Jos 7:11 – Israel Jos 22:18 – he will be 1Sa 15:9 – the best 2Ki 7:8 – hid it Ecc 5:11 – what Ecc 11:9 – in the sight Jer 22:17 – thine eyes Jon 1:12 – for Mat 13:22 – the care Mat 26:9 – General Act 1:18 – with Jam 1:14 – when
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 7:21. When I saw a goodly Babylonish garment Such garments were composed with great art, of divers colours, and of great price, as appears both from the Scriptures and from heathen authors. Two hundred shekels Not in coin, but in weight; for as yet they received and paid money by weight. When I saw He accurately describes the progress of his sin, which began at his eye. This he permitted to gaze upon these things. Hereby his desire for them was inflamed, and that desire induced him to take them, and, having taken, to resolve to keep them, and to that end, hide them in his tent. Then I coveted them See what comes of suffering the heart to go after the eyes, and what need we have to make a covenant with our eyes! He was drawn away, like Eve, of his own lust, and enticed; and lust having conceived, by getting the consent of his will, brought forth sin, and sin, being committed, brought forth death. Thus we see, that they who would be kept from sinful actions, must check and mortify sinful desires, particularly the desire of wealth, which we more especially term covetousness. For of what a world of evil is the love of money the root! How does it draw men into, and drown men in, destruction and perdition! 1Ti 6:9. They are hid in my tent, and the silver under it That is, under the Babylonish garment; covered with it, or wrapped up in it.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly {k} Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
(k) Such a rich garment as the states of Babylon wore.