Theft: Achan
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Introduction

The account of Achan is a significant biblical narrative that highlights the consequences of theft and disobedience to God's commands. Achan's account is found in the Book of Joshua, specifically in Joshua 7. This event occurs during the Israelites' conquest of Canaan, following their miraculous victory at Jericho.

Biblical Context

After the fall of Jericho, God commanded the Israelites to devote the entire city to destruction, sparing only Rahab and her family. The Israelites were instructed not to take any of the devoted things 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 those things, you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring disaster upon it. All the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury."

The Sin of Achan

Despite the clear command, Achan, a member of the tribe of Judah, succumbed to temptation. He took some of the devoted items, including a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. Achan's actions were a direct violation of God's command and an act of theft against the Lord.

Consequences of Achan's Theft

The immediate consequence of Achan's sin was the defeat of the Israelites at Ai. Joshua 7:4-5 records, "So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water."

Joshua, unaware of Achan's sin, sought the Lord's guidance. God revealed that Israel had sinned by taking some of the devoted things, which led to their defeat. Joshua 7:11 states, "Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them. They have taken some of what was devoted to destruction; they have stolen, lied, and put these things with their own possessions."

Achan's Confession and Punishment

Under God's direction, Joshua conducted a process to identify the guilty party. Achan was eventually singled out, and he confessed his sin. Joshua 7:20-21 records Achan's confession: "It is true; I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 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."

As a result of his theft and disobedience, Achan, along with his family and possessions, was taken to the Valley of Achor. There, they were stoned and burned, as described in Joshua 7:25 : "And Joshua said, 'Why have you brought this trouble upon us? The LORD will bring trouble upon you this day.' Then all Israel stoned them, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them."

Theological Implications

Achan's account serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin, particularly theft, and the importance of obedience to God's commands. It underscores the communal impact of individual sin, as Achan's actions brought consequences upon the entire nation of Israel. The narrative also highlights the necessity of holiness and the severe repercussions of violating God's covenant.

Conclusion

The account of Achan is a powerful illustration of the destructive nature of theft and disobedience. It calls believers to a life of integrity, obedience, and reverence for God's commands, recognizing the far-reaching effects of sin within the community of faith.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
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 middle of my tent, and the silver under it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Achan's Sin, Israel's Defeat
... The second three describe it in terms of ordinary morality, as theft, lying, and ...
to them of the properties of 'the devoted thing' which Achan has taken, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/achans sin israels defeat.htm

The Eighth Commandment
... which is the root of theft. A man covets more than his own, and this itch of
covetousness makes him scratch what he can from another. Achan's covetous humour ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 8 the eighth commandment.htm

A Description of Heart-Purity
... (ii) Covetousness is the root of theft. Achan's covetous humour made him steal that
wedge of gold which served to cleave asunder his soul from God (Joshua 7:21 ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm

Tenth Commandment
... Again: Covetousness tempts us into the violation of the eighth commandment, or theft.
Recall how it tempted Achan to steal a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

The Tenth Commandment
... Covetousness is a breach of the eighth commandment Thou shalt not steal.' It
is the root of theft: covetous Achan stole the wedge of gold. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the tenth commandment.htm

How Long Standing an Evil Love of Money Is...
... For when Achan had taken a garment of gold and two hundred shekels of silver and ...
city, he was brought before the Lord, and could not deny the theft, but owned ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxvi how long standing.htm

Chapter i.
... Accordingly as it is written in the Book of Joshua [1209] the son of Nun, when Achan
was charged with theft, he did not excuse himself with the plea of his ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/chapter i.htm

Little Sins
... Achan touched it: was not that a little thing? ... "Is it not a little one?" And so,
young man, the devil has tempted thee to commit the first petty theft. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/little sins.htm

The Wheat and the Tares
... is the cure for the hideous facts which drive men to shriek 'Property is theft.'. ...
As Achan's death warned Israel at the beginning of their entrance into the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the wheat and the tares.htm

Homilies on Galatians and Ephesians.
... Achan, his sin brought calamities upon all, [5]79. ... instanced by various cases, with
reference to the Commandments, murder, adultery, theft, perjury, assault ...
/.../homilies on galatians and ephesians.htm

Resources
Why is "You shall not steal" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about vandalism? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about restitution? | GotQuestions.org

Theft: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Theft

Theft and Thieves by Rachel, of the Household Gods (Teraphim)

Theft and Thieves: Achan

Theft and Thieves: Figurative

Theft and Thieves: General Scriptures Concerning

Theft and Thieves: Judas

Theft and Thieves: Micah

Theft and Thieves: The Spies of Laish

Theft is an Abomination

Theft: Achan

Theft: All Earthly Treasure Exposed To

Theft: Brings a Curse on Those Who Commit It

Theft: Brings the Wrath of God Upon Those Who Commit It

Theft: Connected With Murder

Theft: Defiles a Man

Theft: Excludes from Heaven

Theft: Forbidden

Theft: from the Poor Specially Forbidden

Theft: Heavenly Treasure Secure From

Theft: Illustrates the Guilt of False Teachers

Theft: Includes Fraud Concerning Wages

Theft: Includes Fraud in General

Theft: Micah

Theft: Mosaic Law Respecting

Theft: Proceeds from the Heart

Theft: Rachel

Theft: Saints: Warned Against

Theft: Shame Follows the Detection of

Theft: Shechemites

Theft: The Wicked: Addicted To

Theft: The Wicked: Associate With Those Who Commit

Theft: The Wicked: Commit, Under Shelter of the Night

Theft: The Wicked: Consent to Show Who Commit

Theft: The Wicked: Destroy Themselves By

Theft: The Wicked: Lie in Wait to Commit

Theft: The Wicked: May, for a Season, Prosper In

Theft: The Wicked: Plead Excuses For

Theft: The Wicked: Repent not of

Theft: The Wicked: Store up the Fruits of

Theft: They Who Connive At: Hate Their own Souls

Theft: They Who Connive At: Shall be Reproved of God

Theft: Woe Denounced Against

Related Terms

Thief (41 Occurrences)

Lift (283 Occurrences)

Genubath (1 Occurrence)

Pilfer (2 Occurrences)

Steal (29 Occurrences)

Code (6 Occurrences)

Ten (234 Occurrences)

Stealing (8 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Commandments (181 Occurrences)

Crimes (22 Occurrences)

Crime (45 Occurrences)

Hammurabi

Agriculture

Owns (13 Occurrences)

Landmark (5 Occurrences)

Last (1087 Occurrences)

Guard (185 Occurrences)

Wicked (476 Occurrences)

Impiety (9 Occurrences)

Thee-ward (1 Occurrence)

Thefts (4 Occurrences)

Repayeth (16 Occurrences)

Restitution (21 Occurrences)

Rachel (42 Occurrences)

Robbery (18 Occurrences)

Dies (71 Occurrences)

Deceit (160 Occurrences)

Mercurius (1 Occurrence)

Men's (76 Occurrences)

Mercury (1 Occurrence)

Pilfering (2 Occurrences)

Purposes (67 Occurrences)

Punishments (31 Occurrences)

Plunder (118 Occurrences)

Perjury (3 Occurrences)

Punishment (417 Occurrences)

Proselyte (2 Occurrences)

Blood-guiltiness (4 Occurrences)

Bloodguiltiness (15 Occurrences)

Bloodshed (43 Occurrences)

Bloodguilt (9 Occurrences)

Bribe (27 Occurrences)

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)

Crib (3 Occurrences)

Annas (4 Occurrences)

Sunrise (25 Occurrences)

Stealth (3 Occurrences)

Speech (107 Occurrences)

Breaking (69 Occurrences)

Repay (79 Occurrences)

Slavery (31 Occurrences)

Amorites (82 Occurrences)

Restore (122 Occurrences)

Happens (32 Occurrences)

Slave (148 Occurrences)

Shed (73 Occurrences)

Borrowing (1 Occurrence)

Sold (92 Occurrences)

Philemon (2 Occurrences)

Struck (373 Occurrences)

Guilty (131 Occurrences)

Guilt (180 Occurrences)

Ass (95 Occurrences)

Hosea (6 Occurrences)

Hospitality (9 Occurrences)

Pay (212 Occurrences)

Risen (169 Occurrences)

Pontius (4 Occurrences)

Pilate (60 Occurrences)

Host (261 Occurrences)

Surely (587 Occurrences)

Jacob (361 Occurrences)

Joshua (211 Occurrences)

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)

Resurrection (42 Occurrences)

Covenant (309 Occurrences)

Theft of Micah's Idols
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