Achan

Called also Achar, i.e., one who troubles (1 Chr. 2:7), in commemoration of his crime, which brought upon him an awful destruction (Josh. 7:1). On the occasion of the fall of Jericho, he seized, contrary to the divine command, an ingot of gold, a quantity of silver, and a costly Babylonish garment, which he hid in his tent. Joshua was convinced that the defeat which the Israelites afterwards sustained before Ai was a proof of the divine displeasure on account of some crime, and he at once adopted means by the use of the lot for discovering the criminal. It was then found that Achan was guilty, and he was stoned to death in the valley of Achor. He and all that belonged to him were then consumed by fire, and a heap of stones was raised over the ashes.

People and places

Selected passages

Show passage in OET: JOS 7:1

OET-RV JOS 7:1

7 However the Israelis disobeyed the command about not taking anything. Akan (son of Karmi, son of Zavdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Yehudah (Judah)) took something that was prohibited, so Yahweh was angry with the Israelis.

OET-LV JOS 7:1

7 And_ the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _acted _unfaithfully unfaithfulness in_thing[s] and_ ˊĀkān the _son _of Karmī/(Carmi) the _son _of Zaⱱdiy the _son _of Zeraḩ of_the _tribe _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) _he/it _took some _of the _devoted_thing[s] and_ the _anger of_YHWH _it _glowed/burnt on_the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: JOS 7:19-26

OET-RV JOS 7:19

19 Then Yehoshua told Akan, “My son, now honour Yahweh the god of Yisrael and give thanks to him. And tell me now what you’ve done—don’t hide it from me.”

OET-RV JOS 7:20

20 “It’s true,” Akan replied, “I’ve sinned against Yahweh the god of Yisrael. This is what I did:

OET-RV JOS 7:21

21 I saw a beautiful Babylonian cloak and two hundred silver pieces and a tongue-shaped piece of gold (weighing six-hundred grams) there inside Yeriho (Jericho). I wanted them so I took them, and they’re hidden in the ground under my tent, with the silver underneath.”

OET-RV JOS 7:22

22 Yehoshua sent some messengers and they ran to the tent, and sure enough, it was all hidden there in the ground with the silver underneath.

OET-RV JOS 7:23

23 They took it out of the tent and brought it back to Yehoshua and all the people, and spread it out in front of Yahweh.

OET-RV JOS 7:24

24 Then Yehoshua took Akan and the silver, the cloak, the gold along with his children and his animals, his tent and everything he owned, and took them to the Akor Valley along with all the people,

OET-RV JOS 7:25

25 and he said, “Why did you cause trouble for us? Yahweh will trouble you today.” And the people executed him by throwing rocks at him. Then they threw rocks at them all and burnt the bodies

OET-RV JOS 7:26

26 and piled rocks over them which are still there to this day and Yahweh’s anger subsided. That’s why that place is called ‘Akor’ (i.e., ‘Trouble’) Valley to this day.

OET-LV JOS 7:19