King James Version

What Does Joshua 7:24 Mean?

Joshua 7:24 in the King James Version says “And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

Joshua 7:24 · KJV


Context

22

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

23

And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. laid: Heb. poured

24

And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

25

And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

26

And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day. Achor: that is, Trouble


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Joshua and all Israel take Achan, the stolen items, his family, livestock, tent, and possessions to the Valley of Achor. The comprehensive list—'his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had'—emphasizes totality. Everything connected to Achan comes under judgment. This raises difficult questions about corporate guilt and family punishment. Ancient Near Eastern practice often included family in covenant violations, viewing households as corporate units. Whether Achan's family knew of his sin or benefited from it remains unstated, but they shared his fate. The location—Valley of Achor (Emek Akor, עֵמֶק עָכוֹר—Valley of Trouble)—gains its name from this event (verse 26). The valley becomes a memorial to sin's consequences. The participation of 'all Israel' emphasizes corporate responsibility in maintaining covenant purity. The community must actively purge sin, not merely condemn it passively.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Valley of Achor was located near Jericho, visible to the entire camp. Public execution served as communal catharsis and educational object lesson. Ancient covenant communities understood that tolerating known sin threatened divine blessing on the entire group. Archaeological evidence from ancient Near East confirms that family members were sometimes included in punishment for covenant violations, though this varied by culture and offense. The comprehensive destruction of Achan's possessions—including animals and tent—illustrates cherem principle: everything associated with the violation must be purged. The public nature of the judgment—all Israel present—created collective memory. Future generations would point to Valley of Achor as warning against covenant violation. This event became proverbial—'Achan, the troubler of Israel' (1 Chronicles 2:7).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you understand family consequences of sin in light of individual responsibility (Ezekiel 18)?
  2. What does the comprehensive destruction teach about sin's pervasive effects?
  3. How should communities balance compassion with maintaining corporate holiness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 36 words
וַיִּקַּ֣ח1 of 36

with him took

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ2 of 36

And Joshua

H3091

jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader

אֶת3 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עָכָ֣ן4 of 36

Achan

H5912

akan, an israelite

בָּנָ֡יו5 of 36

and his sons

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

זֶ֡רַח6 of 36

of Zerah

H2226

zerach, the name of three israelites, also of an idumaean and an ethiopian prince

וְאֶת7 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַכֶּ֣סֶף8 of 36

and the silver

H3701

silver (from its pale color); by implication, money

וְאֶת9 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָֽאַדֶּ֣רֶת10 of 36

and the garment

H155

something ample (as a large vine, a wide dress)

וְֽאֶת11 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לְשׁ֣וֹן12 of 36

and the wedge

H3956

the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,

הַזָּהָ֡ב13 of 36

of gold

H2091

gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky

וְֽאֶת14 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בָּנָ֡יו15 of 36

and his sons

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וְֽאֶת16 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְּנֹתָ֡יו17 of 36

and his daughters

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

וְאֶת18 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שׁוֹרוֹ֩19 of 36

and his oxen

H7794

a bullock (as a traveller)

וְאֶת20 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

חֲמֹר֨וֹ21 of 36

and his asses

H2543

a male ass (from its dun red)

וְאֶת22 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

צֹאנ֤וֹ23 of 36

and his sheep

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

וְאֶֽת24 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אָהֳלוֹ֙25 of 36

and his tent

H168

a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)

וְאֶת26 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל27 of 36
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁר28 of 36
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

ל֔וֹ29 of 36
H0
וְכָל30 of 36
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל31 of 36

and all Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

עִמּ֑וֹ32 of 36
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

וַיַּֽעֲל֥וּ33 of 36

and all that he had and they brought

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אֹתָ֖ם34 of 36
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עֵ֥מֶק35 of 36

them unto the valley

H6010

a vale (i.e., broad depression)

עָכֽוֹר׃36 of 36

of Achor

H5911

akor, the name of a place in palestine


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 7:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 7:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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