What is the meaning of Joshua 22:20? Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction • The eastern tribes remind their brothers of a specific historical fact: Achan’s deliberate theft of items that had been “set apart for destruction” at Jericho (Joshua 7:1, 11). • These “devoted things” belonged wholly to the LORD (Deuteronomy 7:26); touching them was an act of direct rebellion, not a minor lapse. • Scripture records Achan “saw,” “coveted,” “took,” and “hid” (Joshua 7:21). The progression mirrors the first sin in Genesis 3:6, underscoring how every transgression starts in the heart. • By recalling the exact lineage—“son of Zerah”—the speaker underscores that no one is exempt; even a man from Judah, Israel’s leading tribe, fell. • The warning is timeless: whatever God designates as His must remain His (Malachi 3:8–10; Acts 5:1–4). bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel • When Achan sinned, “the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites” (Joshua 7:1). Corporate solidarity meant the entire nation was held accountable. • Thirty-six soldiers died at Ai (Joshua 7:5). God Himself declared, “You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove the devoted things” (Joshua 7:13). • The principle appears throughout Scripture: – Exodus 32:35—plague after the golden calf. – Numbers 14:22–23—wilderness generation barred from Canaan. – 1 Corinthians 12:26—“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” • Sin never stays private; its ripple effect touches families, churches, even nations (Proverbs 14:34). Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin! • Judgment fell on Achan, his sons, daughters, livestock, and possessions (Joshua 7:24–25). Under covenant law, family members shared both blessings and curses (Exodus 20:5–6). • The eastern tribes use this memory to argue: your present actions will not be isolated; they will imperil all of us (Joshua 22:17–18). • Similar scenes reinforce the lesson: – Numbers 16:31–33—Korah’s household swallowed by the earth. – 2 Samuel 24:15—70,000 Israelites die after David’s census. – Acts 5:5–11—Ananias and Sapphira struck down, and “great fear seized the whole church.” • God’s justice may appear severe, yet it protects the community and upholds His holiness (Hebrews 12:28–29). summary Joshua 22:20 reminds Israel—and us—that unfaithfulness to God’s clear commands carries communal consequences. Achan’s hidden sin provoked divine wrath, cost the lives of fellow Israelites, and ultimately destroyed his own family. The verse urges wholehearted obedience, vigilance against secret compromise, and a sober recognition that personal choices can bless or harm the entire body of believers. |
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