The term "Babylonish Mantle" refers to a specific garment mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Joshua. This mantle is associated with the sin of Achan, which led to Israel's temporary defeat at Ai. The incident is a significant example of disobedience to God's commands and the consequences that follow.

Biblical Reference:

The Babylonish Mantle is mentioned in Joshua 7:21 : "When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, 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."

Context and Significance:

The context of the Babylonish Mantle is found in the narrative of the conquest of Jericho. God had commanded the Israelites to devote the entire city to destruction and to take none of the spoils for themselves, as stated in Joshua 6:18-19 : "But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury."

Achan's transgression involved taking a Babylonish Mantle, along with silver and gold, and hiding them in his tent. This act of disobedience was not merely a personal sin but had corporate implications for the entire nation of Israel. As a result, when Israel went up against Ai, they were defeated, and thirty-six men lost their lives (Joshua 7:5).

Cultural and Historical Background:

The Babylonish Mantle, described as a "beautiful Babylonian garment," likely refers to a richly embroidered or woven robe, possibly made of fine materials and adorned with intricate designs. Such garments were highly prized in the ancient Near East and symbolized wealth and status. Babylon, known for its luxury and opulence, was renowned for producing such exquisite textiles.

Theological Implications:

The incident of the Babylonish Mantle underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the seriousness of sin. Achan's covetousness and subsequent actions violated the covenant relationship between God and Israel. His sin brought judgment not only upon himself but also upon the community, illustrating the collective responsibility of the people of God.

The account also highlights the principle of consecration and the need for holiness among God's people. The devoted things were to be set apart for the Lord, and any violation of this command was seen as a breach of the sacred trust between God and His people.

Resolution and Aftermath:

After the sin was revealed, Achan confessed, and the items he had taken were recovered. The judgment was swift and severe: Achan, along with his family and possessions, was taken to the Valley of Achor and stoned to death, and then burned with fire (Joshua 7:24-26). This act of judgment served to remove the sin from the midst of Israel and restore the nation's standing before God.

The Valley of Achor, meaning "trouble," became a symbol of the consequences of sin but also of the possibility of redemption and hope, as later prophetic writings would suggest (Hosea 2:15).

The account of the Babylonish Mantle serves as a sobering reminder of the need for faithfulness and the dangers of covetousness, emphasizing the call to live in accordance with God's will and purposes.Babylonish Mantle

BABYLONISH MANTLE

man'-tl (the King James Version Babylonish Garment): One of the articles taken by Achan from the spoil of Jericho (Joshua 7:21). In the Hebrew "a mantle of Shinar." Entirely gratuitous is the suggested correction of Shinar to se`ar, making "a hairy mantle." The Greek has psilen poikilen, which Josephus apparently understood to mean "a royal garment all woven out of gold" (Ant., V, i, 10). The Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) calls it a "scarlet pallium," and some of the rabbinical traditions make it a purple robe. Such classical writers as Pliny and Martial speak of the weaving of embroidered stuffs as a famous industry of Babylonia. Many tablets that have been deciphered indicate that the industry was indeed widely extended, that its costly products were of great variety and that some of them were exported to distant markets; in fine, that the account in Joshua is characterized by great verisimilitude.

Willis J. Beecher

Tenth Commandment
... Recall how it tempted Achan to steal a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred
shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

A Spiritual Revival
... In his study of the causes leading to the Babylonish captivity, Ezra had learned
that ... heard this thing," he says, "I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 51 a spiritual revival.htm

Preface to the Anti-Manich??an Writings.
... shoes, the one red, the other green; the mantle of azure blue, that changed color
as he moved; the ebony staff in his right hand, and the Babylonish book under ...
/.../preface to the anti-manichaean writings.htm

CHAPTER III.
... into an idol is as little justified as the changing of the mantle into a ... interpreters
are divided, and refer it either to the Assyrian, the Babylonish, or the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chapter iii.htm

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