Joshua 7 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Joshua 7 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land began around 1450 B.C., which places the events in Joshua 7 at approximately 1450 B.C.

• The events in Joshua 7 took place between Israel destroying Jericho and their victory over the city of Ai.

CHARACTERS:

• Joshua - Moses’ assistant while he led the people in the wilderness. God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites into Canaan after Moses’ death.

• Achan – A man from the tribe of Judah, from the family of the Zerahites, and the household of Zabdi. Achan disobeyed God and caused three dozen of his fellow Israelites to die in battle.  

WHERE:

• Joshua 7 centers around the city of Ai. Ai is described as being near Beth-aven, east of Bethel.

OUTLINE:

• THE ISRAELITES ARE DEFEATED AT AI (7:1-9):

  • In Joshua 6, God forbid any Israelite from taking spoil from Jericho, but one of the Israelites disobeyed.

  • His disobedience brought grave consequences on the camp of Israel.

  • Joshua sent a small portion of the army (3,000) men to fight against the city of Ai, but they were routed, and 36 Israelite men were killed.

  • Joshua was distraught and cried to the Lord, inquiring why He hadn’t given them victory after promising to support their military.

• ACHAN’S SIN IS DISCOVERED (7:10-26):

  • God told Joshua the reason Israel lost the battle was because someone in the camp disobeyed Him and took spoils from Jericho.

  • He gave Joshua a way to identify the culprit. In the morning, Joshua was to call all of Israel to him and select one of the tribes by lot (a method of random selection).

  • After the tribe was selected, a family was to be selected by lot.

  • After the family was selected, a household was to be selected.

  • After the household was selected, an individual would be identified.

  • God would providentially guide the lot selection to lead Joshua to the individual who disobeyed.

  • The next morning, Joshua did exactly as the Lord commanded, and the lot selected a man named Achan from the tribe of Judah.

  • Achan confessed his sin and told Joshua he found a beautiful robe, some silver, and a gold bar in Jericho and coveted them.

  • Men were sent to Achan’s tent, and they discovered the items buried there.

  • As punishment, Achan and all his household were stoned and then burned at place called the Valley of Achor.

  • When this was done, the anger of the Lord abated.
    

APPLICATION:

• There is no such thing as a secret sin.

• You may be able to hide things from your neighbors, your friends, and your fellow church members, but you can be assured everything will be exposed in the end?

• What do you have buried in your tent?

• It’s better to confess your sin now and receive the forgiveness of God than to face the “fierceness of His anger” when you’re called to judgement on the final day.