INTRODUCTION: The victory at Jericho was sweet, but the tears of joy soon turned to tears of regret. Trials and temptations most often come on the heels of victory. The victory at Jericho will now be overshadowed by the loss against a much weaker foe in the people at Ai.

1. ACHAN TAKES THE ACCURSED THING (Joshua 7:1But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, 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.
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1. The Trespass – Achan took of the accursed thing.
1. The Offender
1. Achan, the son of Carmi
1. Achan is called by the name Achar in 1 Chronicles 2:7And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.
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2. The name Achar means “troubler” (1 Chronicles 2:7And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.
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3. This explains the naming of the valley (Joshua 7:26And 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.
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2. The son of Zabdi
3. The son of Zerah
1. Zerah was the son of Judah and Tamar (1 Chronicles 2:4And Tamar his daughter in law bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
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2. Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:4And Tamar his daughter in law bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
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4. Of the tribe of Judah
2. The Repercussion – The anger of the Lord was kindled.
2. ISRAEL FALLS BEFORE AI (Joshua 7:2-5 [2] And Joshua sent men from Jericho to 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. [3] And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. [4] So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. [5] And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
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1. Spies Sent to Ai (Joshua 7:2-3 [2] And Joshua sent men from Jericho to 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. [3] And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
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1. Joshua sent spies to view the land at Ai (Joshua 7:2And Joshua sent men from Jericho to 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.
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2. The spies return with news of certain victory (Joshua 7:3And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
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1. They do not recommend sending all the people.
2. They suggest somewhere around 2,000 or 3,000 men go up to fight.
3. The people of Ai are but a few.
2. The Battle Ensues (Joshua 7:4-5 [4] So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. [5] And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
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1. Joshua plays it safe and sends 3,000 (Joshua 7:4So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
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2. The Israelites are defeated (Joshua 7:4-5 [4] So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. [5] And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
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1. The 3,000 fled before the men of Ai (Joshua 7:4So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
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2. Thirty-six men were killed in the battle (Joshua 7:5And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
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3. The men of Ai chased the Israelites out of town (Joshua 7:5And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
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4. The heart of the Israelites melted (Joshua 7:5And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
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3. JOSHUA CRIES UNTO THE LORD (Joshua 7:6-9 [6] And Joshua rent 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. [7] And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore 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! [8] O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! [9] For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall 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?
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1. Joshua Mourns before the Lord (Joshua 7:6And Joshua rent 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.
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1. He rent his clothes.
2. He and the elders fell to the earth before the ark of the Lord.
3. He and the elders put dust upon their heads.
2. Joshua Questions the Lord (Joshua 7:7-9 [7] And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore 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! [8] O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! [9] For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall 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?
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1. Why? (Joshua 7:7And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore 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!
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1. Why did you bring us over to deliver us unto the Amorites?
2. Why weren’t we content to stay on the other side of Jordan?
2. What do I say? (Joshua 7:8O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
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3. What about our enemies? (Joshua 7:9For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall 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?
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1. The enemies will hear of this.
2. They will cut off our name from the earth.
1. The word environ is made up of en and viron
1. The prefix en means in.
2. The word viron means to circle.
2. The Lord provides support for this definition by using the words us round after the word environ.
3. What will happen to the Lord’s “great name”?
4. THE LORD ANSWERS JOSHUA’S PRAYER (Joshua 7:10-15 [10] And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? [11] Israel 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. [12] Therefore the 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. [13] Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an 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. [14] In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 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. [15] And it shall be, that he 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 folly in Israel.
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1. The Lord Questions Joshua (Joshua 7:10And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
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2. The Lord Informs Joshua (Joshua 7:11-12 [11] Israel 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. [12] Therefore the 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.
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1. Israel transgressed the Lord’s covenant (Joshua 7:11Israel 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.
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2. Therefore the people could not stand before their enemies (Joshua 7:12Therefore the 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.
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3. The Lord will not be with them unless they destroy the accursed thing (Joshua 7:12Therefore the 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.
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3. The Lord Instructs Joshua (Joshua 7:13-15 [13] Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an 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. [14] In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 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. [15] And it shall be, that he 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 folly in Israel.
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1. Joshua is to sanctify the people (Joshua 7:13Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an 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.
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2. A trial will be held in the morning (Joshua 7:14-15 [14] In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 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. [15] And it shall be, that he 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 folly in Israel.
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1. The people will be brought before the Lord according to their tribes (Joshua 7:14In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 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.
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2. The tribe will be narrowed to families (Joshua 7:14In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 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.
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3. The family will be narrowed to households (Joshua 7:14In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 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.
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4. The household will be narrowed to men (Joshua 7:14In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 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.
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5. The guilty will be judged (Joshua 7:15And it shall be, that he 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 folly in Israel.
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5. JOSHUA SEEKS OUT THE SIN IN THE CAMP (Joshua 7:16-18 [16] So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: [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: [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, was taken.
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1. The Tribe of Judah Is Taken (Joshua 7:16So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
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2. The Household Is Identified (Joshua 7:17And 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:
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1. The family of the Zarhites is taken.
2. The household of Zabdi is taken.
3. Achan Is Taken (Joshua 7:18And 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, was taken.
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6. ACHAN CONFESSES HIS SIN TO JOSHUA (Joshua 7:19-23 [19] And Joshua said unto Achan, My 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. [20] And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: [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 midst of my tent, and the silver under it. [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.
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1. Joshua Calls for a Confession from Achan (Joshua 7:19And Joshua said unto Achan, My 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.
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1. Joshua calls for Achan to give God glory.
2. Joshua calls for confession.
2. Achan Confesses (Joshua 7:20-21 [20] And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: [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 midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
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1. Achan admits to sinning (Joshua 7:20And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
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2. Achan provides the details of his sin (Joshua 7:21When 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.
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3. Achan tells the whereabouts of the stolen goods (Joshua 7:21When 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.
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3. Achan’s Tent Is Searched (Joshua 7:22-23 [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.
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1. Joshua sends messengers to search the tent of Achan (Joshua 7:22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
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2. The things that had been covered were manifest before all (Joshua 7:23And 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.
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7. ACHAN IS PUNISHED FOR HIS SIN (Joshua 7:24-26 [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.
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1. Achan Is Brought to the Valley of Achor (Joshua 7:24And 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.
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2. Achan Is Executed for His Crime (Joshua 7:25-26 [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.
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1. Joshua condemns Achan for his trouble (Joshua 7:25And 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.
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2. Achan and his family are stoned and burnt (Joshua 7:25And 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.
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3. A great heap of stones were raised over Achan (Joshua 7:26And 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.
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4. The Lord’s anger turned from the people (Joshua 7:26And 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.
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CONCLUSION: Sin is a horrible cancer. The lusts of one man led to a defeat in battle, the loss of innocent lives, and the discouragement of an entire nation. Surely the Lord was correct when He said, ”Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
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