In the conquest of Canaan, Israel experienced both miraculous victories and humiliating defeats. One of the most sobering moments in their journey is found in the account of Achan, a man whose secret sin brought national judgment. His life is a warning about the seriousness of disobedience and the cost of hidden rebellion against the commands of God.
Who Was Achan?
Achan was a member of the tribe of Judah. He lived during the time of Joshua, after Israel crossed the Jordan and began conquering the Promised Land. His name means “troubler,” which is fitting for what his actions would bring upon the entire nation.
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.” (Joshua 7:1)
The phrase “children of Israel committed a trespass” is striking, because it was Achan who sinned, yet God held the nation accountable. This reveals how seriously the Lord regards covenant obedience and how the sin of one can defile many (1 Corinthians 5:6).
The Sin of Achan
Before the fall of Jericho, God had given clear instructions: all the spoils of the city were to be devoted to Him. They were “accursed things,” meaning they were to be destroyed or placed in the treasury of the Lord.
“And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.” (Joshua 6:18)
Achan ignored this command. When he saw the riches of Jericho, he coveted them and secretly hid them in his tent.
“When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” (Joshua 7:21)
Achan’s confession reveals a pattern familiar to all sin: he saw, he coveted, he took, and he hid… just as Eve did in the garden (Genesis 3:6). Sin is always seductive, deceptive, and destructive.
The Consequences of His Sin
After the miraculous fall of Jericho, Israel was confident in their strength. But when they went to battle against Ai, a much smaller city, they were defeated.
“So the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim… Therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.” (Joshua 7:5)
Joshua was devastated. He fell before the Lord in mourning, not knowing why Israel had suffered such a loss. But God revealed the truth:
“Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them… Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies.” (Joshua 7:11–12)
Notice again: though it was Achan’s sin, the entire nation suffered defeat. God’s presence and power were removed until the sin was judged. The holiness of God demands purity among His people.
Judgment and Purging of the Sin
God instructed Joshua to sanctify the people and bring them tribe by tribe, family by family, until the guilty party was revealed. Achan was eventually exposed. Joshua confronted him, and Achan confessed.
“And Joshua said, ‘Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.’ So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.” (Joshua 7:25)
The valley where Achan was executed was named “Valley of Achor,” meaning “trouble.” His sin brought death not only to himself but to his family, his possessions, and thirty-six innocent soldiers. Hidden sin always has a ripple effect.
“Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
Consequences of Personal Sin
Achan’s actions reveal the weight of personal sin and its consequences on the collective body. It also shows that God’s judgment is thorough and just. This is not cruelty, it is righteousness. In a theocratic nation where God Himself dwelled among the people, sin could not be tolerated.
But even in this dark account, there is a shadow of hope. The Valley of Achor (once a place of judgment), would later be mentioned by the prophet Hosea as a place of restoration:
“I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope…” (Hosea 2:15)
Only God can turn a place of judgment into a doorway of mercy. But that mercy never comes without repentance, cleansing, and reverence for God’s holiness.
My Final Thoughts
Achan’s sin was not simply the theft of silver and gold. It was disobedience to the Word of God. It was rebellion, deception, and greed. And though it was done in secret, God saw it all.
In the New Testament, we are reminded that the Church is to remain holy… not by stoning sinners, but by confronting and purging sin through discipline, restoration, and reverence:
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (1 Corinthians 5:6)
Achan reminds us that God is not mocked. Our hidden sins, our private compromises, our buried idols… they hinder the work of God, quench the Spirit, and bring destruction if left unchecked.
Let us fear the Lord, walk in the light, and remember this truth:
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
