Josh. 7 Achan takes of the accursed and devoted thing: God is angry with Israel, Josh. 7:1. Joshua sends three thousand men against Ai; they flee, and thirty-six are slain, Josh. 7:2–5. Joshua complains to God; who discovers the cause, and enjoins a lot, Josh. 7:6–15.

The children of Israel, i.e. one of them, by a very usual synecdoche or enallage, as Gen. 8:4, Gen. 19:29, Matt. 26:8, where that is ascribed to the disciples, which belonged to Judas only, John 12:4. In the accursed thing, i.e. in taking some of the forbidden and accursed goods.

Ai, called Hai, Gen. 12:8, and Alia, Neh. 11:31. They were not to go into the city of Ai, but into the country bordering and belonging to it, and there to understand the state and quality of the place and people. Beside; so the Hebrew im is used, Gen. 25:11, Gen. 35:4, Judg. 9:6, Judg. 18:3, Judg.

This was done by the wise contrivance of Divine Providence, that their sin might be punished, and they awakened and reformed, with as little hazard, and mischief, and reproach as might be; for if the defeat of these caused so great a consternation in Joshua, it is easy to guess what dread, and…

Not having their usual courage to strike a stroke, which was a plain evidence that God had forsaken them; and a useful instruction, to show them what weak and inconsiderable creatures they were when God left them; and that it was God, not their own valour, that gave the Canaanites and their land…

About thirty and six men; a dear victory to them, whereby Israel was awakened, and reformed, and reconciled to their God and Shield, and they hardened to their own ruin. In the going down; by which it seems it was a downhill way to Jericho, which was nearer Jordan.

Joshua rent his clothes, in testimony of great sorrow, as Gen. 37:34, Gen. 44:13, for the loss felt, the consequent mischief feared, and the sin which he suspected. Fell to the earth upon his face, in deep humiliation and fervent supplication.

These clauses, though well intended, and offered to God only by way of expostulation and argument, yet do savour of human infirmity, and fall short of that reverence, and modesty, and submission which he owed to God; and are mentioned as instances that the holy men of God were subject to like…

What shall I say, in answer to the reproaches cast by our insulting enemies upon us, and upon thy name? Israel; God’s own people, which he hath singled out of all nations for his own peculiar. See Poole “Gen. 1:1”, See Poole “Gen. 1:2”

Which will upon this occasion be blasphemed and charged with inconstancy, unkindness, and unfaithfulness to thine own people, and with inability to resist them, or to do thy people that good thou didst intend them. Compare Ex. 32:12, Num. 14:13, Deut. 33:27, Joel 2:17.

This business is not to be done by unactive supplication, but by vigorous endeavours for reformation.

Israel; some or one of them, as before See Poole “Josh. 7:1”. Transgressed my covenant, i.e. broken the conditions of my covenant which I have commanded them, and they have promised to perform, viz. obedience to all my commands, Ex. 19:8, Ex.

Because they were accursed, as I warned and threatened them, Josh. 6:18, they have put themselves out of my protection and blessing, and therefore are liable to the same destruction which belongs to this accursed people.

Sanctify yourselves; purify yourselves from that defilement which you have all in some sort contracted by this accursed fact, and prepare yourselves to appear before the Lord, as it is most probable they were required to do; as imploring and expecting the sentence of God for the discovery and…

Which the Lord taketh; which shall be discovered or declared guilty by the lot, which is disposed by the Lord, Prov. 16:33, and which was to be cast in the Lord’s presence before the ark. Of such use of lots, see 1 Sam. 14:41–42, Jonah 1:7, Acts 1:26.

Burnt with fire, as persons and things accursed were to be. See Num. 15:30, Num. 15:35, Deut. 13:16. All that he hath; his children and goods, as is noted, Josh. 7:24, according to the law, Deut. 13:6. He hath wrought folly; so sin is oft called in Scripture, as Gen. 34:7, Judg.

The family of Judah; either, 1. The tribe or people, as the word family sometimes signifies, as Judg. 13:2, Zech. 12:13, Amos 3:1, Acts 3:25, compared with Rev. 1:7. Or, 2. The families, as Josh. 7:14, the singular number for the plural, the chief of each of their five families, Num. 26:20–21.

He; either Joshua, or Zabdi by Joshua’s appointment.

He calls him my son, to show that this severe inquisition and sentence did not proceed from any hatred to his person, which he loved as a father doth his son, and as a prince ought to do each of his subjects.

He seems to make a sincere and ingenuous confession, and loads his sin with all just aggravations. Against the Lord; against his express command, and just rights, and glorious attributes.

He accurately describes the progress of his sin, which began at his eye, which he permitted to gaze and fix upon them, which inflamed his desire, and made him covet them; and that desire put him upon action, and made him take them; and having taken, resolve to keep them, and to that end hide them…

Joshua sent messengers, that the truth of his confession might be evident and unquestionable, which some peradventure might think was forced from him. They ran; partly longing to free themselves and all the people from the curse under which they lay; and partly that none of Achan’s relations or…

Where Joshua and the elders continued yet in their assembly, waiting for the issue of this business.

His sons and his daughters; but this seems hard and unjust, and therefore forbidden by God himself, Deut. 24:16. Answ. 1. That law was given to men, not to God, who certainly hath a more absolute right and sovereignty over men than one man hath over another. 2.

Stoned him with stones, and burned him with fire; which is easily understood, both out of the following words, and from God’s command to do so, Josh. 7:15, which doubtless was here executed. Quest. How could both these deaths be inflicted upon them? Answ.

A great heap of stones; as a monument of the sin and judgment here mentioned, that others might be instructed and warned by the example; and as a brand of infamy, as Josh. 8:29, 2 Sam. 18:17. The valley of Achor; or, the valley of trouble, from the double trouble expressed Josh. 7:25.