The story of Achan’s sin in Joshua 7 may be troubling to casual Bible readers. It’s the kind of story used as evidence by those who wish to believe the God of the Old Testament was all wrath and judgment, while the God of the New Testament is love and forgiveness. But we understand that the One who cut his covenant with the people of Israel is the One who raised our Savior from the dead. He is the unchanging, holy, and eternal God of heaven and earth.
So shouldn’t Achan have received some grace?
(I appreciate the opportunity to have another piece posted on For the Church.)
Do you accept the reading that Achan’s wife and children were not stoned with him? As I read the text, it’s unclear, and it seems to be unclear to translators as well. I hope it was just Achan, but judging by the standards of the times, I’m not sure.
Yes, judging by times, it can be very harsh. The passage does not mention Achan’s wife at all, so I don’t know if she’s present with the children or has already passed away. I think the question about stoning the family comes in at vv 25-26, where it says the congregation stoned “him” and then in the next sentence they burned and stoned “them.” The next sentence says they raised a pile of stones over “him.” So I don’t know.
I remember reading a note suggesting Achan’s property was burned with him in the sight of his children, but they were not killed themselves. I like that interpretation, but it seems a small mercy, because I assume destroying everything their father owned would hurt them a lot. On the other hand, thirty-six innocent men from other families were killed because of Achan’s personal choice, so stoning Achan’s family would fit the consequences of sin, just as it did in the garden where one man’s sin has led to countless deaths.
I’m referring to the ESV in the verses above. The KJV is the same, but I see that the NASB uses “them” throughout v 25. I can’t swim in these Hebrew textual waters.
The cry goes out to Ori!