Achan was an Israelite who lived during the time of Joshua’s conquest of the land of Canaan. He is an infamous figure in the Bible for committing a serious sin that brought judgment on Israel. Here is an overview of Achan’s story and what we can learn from it:
Achan’s Sin at Jericho
In Joshua 6, we read about the miraculous fall of Jericho. God had given strict instructions that all the treasures of Jericho were to be dedicated to the Lord and not taken for personal gain (Joshua 6:18-19). However, Achan disobeyed this command. Joshua 7:1 states, “But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.”
Although Achan alone had sinned, the consequences affected the whole nation of Israel. Their next battle against the city of Ai ended in defeat because God had withdrawn His blessing due to Achan’s sin (Joshua 7:2-5). When Joshua sought the Lord about this defeat, God said, “Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings” (Joshua 7:11). It was a serious offense against God.
The Discovery and Judgment of Achan
Joshua then had the Israelites consecrate themselves before God and started an investigation to find the guilty party. Following the Lord’s guidance, the tribe of Judah was singled out. Then the clan of the Zerahites was chosen. Finally, the household of Zabdi was selected. Achan was identified as the guilty person (Joshua 7:16-18).
When confronted by Joshua, Achan confessed, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath” (Joshua 7:20-21). His sin was coveting prohibited items and secretly taking them for himself.
As judgment for this sin, Achan and all his family members, possessions, and animals were taken to the Valley of Achor. There they were stoned to death and burned with fire. A large pile of stones was heaped over Achan as a memorial to this judgment (Joshua 7:24-26).
Lessons from Achan’s Story
There are several sobering lessons we can take away from Achan’s tragic story:
- God hates sin, especially sins that break covenant with Him.
- Secret sins will eventually be found out.
- One person’s sin can affect an entire community.
- Coveting leads to more sin.
- Disobedience has serious consequences.
- Deal with sin swiftly and completely.
- Do not hide sin but confess it.
The severity of Achan’s punishment shows us how seriously God regards sin in the camp of His people. He wants His people to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 19:2). Sin cannot be tolerated or overlooked.
As the New Testament states, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). This is a consistent theme in both the Old and New Testaments. God is eager to show mercy and forgiveness when we repent, but unrestrained sin will incur judgment.
Achan in the Hall of Faith
Despite his mistakes, Achan is listed in Joshua 7:1 as the “son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.” This family lineage connects him to Zerah, the son of Judah (Genesis 38:30), and places him within the messianic family line. Several generations after Achan, King David and Jesus Christ Himself would descend from this same lineage (Matthew 1:3-6).
In God’s amazing grace, He worked through the line of fallen sinners like Achan and Zerah to bring the hope of redemption through Jesus. While Achan faced the deadly consequences of his sin, through Christ we can find forgiveness and cleansing.
As Hebrews 11 commends the faith of many Old Testament figures, some also had severe flaws like Achan – yet were still used by God. In the midst of disciplining His people, God never loses sight of the future day when sins will be washed away in Christ for all who believe.
Achan in Biblical Archaeology
The story of Achan has garnered great interest among biblical archaeologists. Many have sought evidence to corroborate the biblical account. Certain findings have been put forth as possible connections to Achan:
- The location known as et-Tell has been identified as possibly the site of ancient Ai. Excavations there revealed evidence of destruction by fire, which aligns with Joshua 8:28.
- A 1960s excavation at et-Tell discovered jars containing jewelry and coins dating back to the late Bronze Age. This was seen by some as corroborating Achan’s story of buried treasure.
- In the Jordan Valley, a site known as Khirbet el-Maqatir has been proposed as the possible location of Ai. Archaeological findings of gates, walls, and burnt remains lend credence to the biblical story.
While archaeological evidence does not prove the Bible, it can lend support to the credibility of the text. Efforts to excavate sites related to Achan’s life continue as archaeologists desire to better understand this period of biblical history.
Achan in Biblical Literature and Tradition
Beyond the account in Joshua 7, Achan is referenced a few other times in Scripture as a notorious example of the consequences of sin. In Joshua 22:20, the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh are warned not to rebel against God and follow in the footsteps of Achan. His legacy as a covenant breaker lived on.
The First Book of Chronicles also references Achan. While listing genealogies, 1 Chronicles 2:7 notes, “The son of Carmi: Achan, the troubler of Israel, who broke faith in the matter of the devoted thing.” This assigns him an infamous title in Israel’s history.
Outside of Scripture, Jewish and Christian tradition elaborated imaginatively on Achan’s story to offer commentary about the destructive power of sin. In rabbinic literature, blame for the mistake at Ai was often assigned to Achan’s eyes, and warnings against lust were drawn from his coveting. Christian writings saw Achan as an archetype of human sinfulness infecting communities.
Various sermons and works of art throughout church history have used Achan’s experiences as a cautionary tale. His actions reveal the darkness that lies within the human heart apart from God’s grace. The stoning of Achan and his family has also prompted debate about the justice of God.
The Name “Achan” and its Meaning
The Hebrew name Achan means “troubler.” This fits the role he played in Israel’s history through his disobedience. The term achar, similar to his name, is also used in the Old Testament for “bring trouble, sorrow, or pain” (e.g. Deuteronomy 31:29).
Some scholars suggest Achan’s name may have originally been Achar. In the ancient texts, the Hebrew letters for ‘k’ and ‘r’ look similar and could have been confused by copyists. So his name may have originally referenced “one who troubles/causes trouble.” The change from Achar to Achan would have happened early in Old Testament manuscripts.
Regardless of its exact etymology, his name clearly connects to the trouble his actions brought upon Israel. The name “Achan” forever links him to the concept of causing trouble by giving in to sin.
Achan’s Error Provides a Lesson
The sobering episode of Achan’s sin is recorded in detail in the Bible for good reason. It displays God’s uncompromising holiness and gives a grave warning about how one person’s choices can impact an entire group. Judgment fell not only on Achan, but his family as well. And all Israel suffered setback and defeat due to his actions.
As Christ-followers today, we must take sin seriously in our own lives and communities of faith. Paul told the Corinthians, “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). The example of Achan warns us to remove sin before it spreads.
Yet as we strive for personal and corporate holiness, the hope of the Gospel gives us confidence that God’s grace is greater than all our sin. Through Christ, we can be forgiven for all our failures and troublemaking like Achan. As believers, we have confidence that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). By God’s mercy and redeeming love, the troubler Achan is welcomed into the family line of Christ.