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.
Israel has sinned and broken the agreement I made with them. They have taken some of the forbidden items, stolen them, lied about it, and hidden these things among their own belongings.
God is saying that Israel has broken their promise to Him by taking forbidden items from a conquered city, then lying and hiding what they did.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Joshua, after the Israelites conquered Jericho, God had commanded that all the devoted things in the city be destroyed as they were accursed, emphasizing the importance of total obedience to His covenant. However, Achan from the tribe of Judah disobeyed by secretly taking some of these forbidden items, which led to Israel's unexpected defeat in their next battle at Ai. This incident underscores the ancient Israelite understanding that individual sins could bring collective consequences under God's law.
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