Keraia
Joshua 7

Joshua 7:21

The Sin of Achan · Joshua 7:16–26
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Translations

Modern
When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, 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.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And I saw among the spoils one beautiful cloak of Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and one wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, and I coveted them and took them, and there they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver is under it.”
Latin
Vidi enim inter spolia pallium coccineum valde bonum, et ducentos siclos argenti, regulamque auream quinquaginta siclorum: et concupiscens abstuli, et abscondi in terra contra medium tabernaculi mei, argentumque fossa humo operui.

Original

Hebrew
English
When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, 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.”

Notes

Joshua 7:21

  • They should have burned the cloak with the rest of Jericho’s goods. It came from Babylon, showing that long-distance trade was important in the ancient Near East.

  • two hundred shekels of silver: Achan took pieces or piles of silver that others would use as money. They did not invent actual coins until the 600s BC.

  • I coveted them: See the tenth commandment (Exodus 20:17). Achan’s desire for what he saw led him to steal.

Joshua 7:1–26

After Jericho became part of Israel, Joshua's first military task was to secure a position in the hill country. Conquering Jericho boosted Israel's confidence and left the people of Canaan feeling discouraged and without hope. However, everything depended on Israel's obedience to God. The sin of one man and its consequences show the importance of the command to destroy Jericho (see “Complete Dedication” Theme Note).

Events

Measurements

  • two hundred shekels of silver: About 5 lb (2.3 kg)
  • fifty shekels: About 1.26 lb (569.8 g)

Places

Shinar: Ancient region in Mesopotamia, associated with Babylon

Glossary

Achan, Achar Ai Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Conquest and Allotment of the Land Covet, Covetousness Criminal Law and Punishment Curse, Cursed Embroiderer, Embroidery Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Minerals and Metals Tribe of Dan

Topics

Babylon: Remarkable For: Manufacture of Garments Covetousness: Achan Covetousness: Achan, in Hiding the Treasure Covetousness: Leads to Theft Discipline of Armies, for Disobedience of Orders Dishonesty: Achan Hides the Wedge of Gold and the Babylonian Garment Disobedience to God of Achan, in Hiding the Wedge of Gold and the Babylonian Garnient Evidence: Self-Criminating Gold: Wedge of Intercession: Exemplified Pleading of the Guilty Self-Condemnation: Achan Self-Incrimination: Achan Shekel used to Weigh Silver Shekel used to Weigh: Gold Temptation: Achan Temptation: Yielding to Achan The Armies of Israel: Strict Discipline Observed In Theft: Achan