📖 Joshua — Chapter 7 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel Rcommitted a trespass in the accursed thing: for TAchan, the son of Carmi, the son of TZabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
Joshua 7:2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho Rto Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
Joshua 7:3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let Tabout two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to Rlabour thither; for they are but few.
Joshua 7:4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they Rfled before the men of Ai.
Joshua 7:5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: Rfor they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them Tin the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
Joshua 7:6 And Joshua Rrent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
Joshua 7:7 And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, Rwherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
Joshua 7:8 O LORD, Rwhat shall I say, when Israel turneth their Tbacks before their enemies!
Joshua 7:9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land Rshall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
Joshua 7:10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; Rwherefore Tliest thou thus upon thy face?
Joshua 7:11 RIsrael hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Joshua 7:12 Therefore Rthe children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Joshua 7:13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is Ran accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
Joshua 7:14 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that Rthe tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.
Joshua 7:15 And it shall be, that Rhe that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought Tfolly in Israel.
Joshua 7:16 So Joshua Rrose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
Joshua 7:17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:
Joshua 7:18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, Rwas taken.
Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, RMy son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, RIndeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
Joshua 7:21 When RI saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a Twedge 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.
Joshua 7:22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and Tlaid them out before the LORD.
Joshua 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, Rtook 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 7:25 And Joshua said, RWhy 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.
Joshua 7:26 And they Rraised 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 TAchor, unto this day.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Joshua 7:1–9 — Defeat at Ai
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Achan's taking of the accursed thing stands behind Israel's defeat at Ai. Joshua and the elders grieve and seek an explanation before the LORD.
Key Truth: Hidden disobedience affects the community's life.
Check What You Remember
1. Who took of the accursed thing? (Joshua 7:1)
Find it in Joshua 7:1 (KJV).
2. At what city was Israel defeated? (Joshua 7:4–5)
Find it in Joshua 7:4–5 (KJV).
3. About how many men of Israel were killed? (Joshua 7:5)
Find it in Joshua 7:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Joshua 7:10–15 — The LORD identifies the problem
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD tells Joshua that Israel has transgressed the covenant and must remove the accursed thing. The people are to prepare for an ordered identification of the offender.
Key Truth: The defeat cannot be addressed while the covenant violation is retained.
Check What You Remember
1. What had Israel transgressed? (Joshua 7:11)
Find it in Joshua 7:11 (KJV).
2. What must be removed from Israel's midst? (Joshua 7:13)
Find it in Joshua 7:13 (KJV).
3. What were the people told to do before the next day? (Joshua 7:13)
Find it in Joshua 7:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Joshua 7:16–26 — Achan's confession and judgment
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Achan is identified and confesses that he coveted, took, and hid the goods. The account concludes with judgment and the naming of the valley Achor.
Key Truth: Achan's account traces wrongdoing from desire to concealment.
Check What You Remember
1. In which tribe was Achan identified? (Joshua 7:16–18)
Find it in Joshua 7:16–18 (KJV).
2. What garment had he coveted? (Joshua 7:21)
Find it in Joshua 7:21 (KJV).
3. Where had the goods been hidden? (Joshua 7:21)
Find it in Joshua 7:21 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Numbers 32:23 — This warning provides a related reminder of sin's consequences.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Which truth from this chapter do you want to remember? What question or related Scripture would you like to explore next? You can keep these thoughts in your private Notes below.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the LORD explain Israel’s defeat?
2. What condition is stated for the LORD’s continued presence?
3. How does the identification narrow until Achan is taken?
4. What sequence does Achan confess concerning the spoils?
5. What change closes the account after judgment at Achor?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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