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.
Joshua said to him, 'Why have you brought trouble on us? Today the LORD will bring trouble on you.' Then all the people of Israel killed him by throwing stones at him, and they burned the bodies with fire after they had stoned them to death.
This verse describes the execution of Achan and his family as punishment for his disobedience that brought defeat to Israel.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, the Israelites had just conquered Jericho under Joshua's leadership, but God had commanded that no one take any plunder from the city as it was devoted to destruction. Achan, an Israelite, disobeyed this command by secretly taking forbidden items, which provoked God's anger and resulted in Israel's defeat in the subsequent battle at Ai. As a consequence, Achan and his family were publicly executed to uphold the covenant and restore the community's standing before God.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.