Joshua 7:26

And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

And they raised {H6965} over him a great {H1419} heap {H1530} of stones {H68} unto this day {H3117}. So the LORD {H3068} turned {H7725} from the fierceness {H2740} of his anger {H639}. Wherefore the name {H8034} of that place {H4725} was called {H7121}, The valley {H6010} of Achor {H5911}, unto this day {H3117}.

Over him they piled a great mound of stones, which is there to this day. Finally ADONAI turned away from his fierce anger. And this is why that place is called the Valley of Akhor [trouble] to this day.

And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.

And they raised over him a great heap of stones, unto this day; and Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

Commentary

Joshua 7:26 (KJV) marks the solemn conclusion of the incident involving Achan's transgression, detailing the lasting memorial and the turning of God's wrath from Israel.

Context

This verse concludes the narrative of Achan's sin, which led to Israel's defeat at Ai after their miraculous victory at Jericho. God had commanded Israel to consecrate all plunder from Jericho to Him, forbidding anyone from taking anything for themselves (Joshua 6:18). Achan, however, disobeyed, secretly taking a Babylonian garment, silver, and gold. This act of disobedience brought God's anger upon the entire nation, resulting in their defeat and the loss of 36 men at Ai. Following a process of inquiry and Achan's confession (Joshua 7:20-21), he and his family were brought to the Valley of Achor and executed by stoning, as described in Joshua 7:25. Verse 26 describes the final act of this judgment and its enduring legacy.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Holiness: The stoning of Achan and the raising of the stone heap demonstrate God's absolute holiness and His intolerance for sin within His covenant community. His anger was fierce because sin defiled the camp and broke His covenant.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Achan's individual sin had profound corporate consequences, affecting the entire nation and leading to their defeat. This highlights the serious nature of sin and its ripple effect.
  • Restoration of God's Favor: Once the sin was identified and dealt with, the text explicitly states, "So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger." This shows God's faithfulness to His covenant, removing His wrath when justice was served, allowing Israel to move forward.
  • A Lasting Memorial: The "great heap of stones" served as a permanent physical reminder and warning to future generations about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of obedience to God's commands.

Linguistic Insights

The name of the place, "Achor" (Hebrew: Χ’ΦΈΧ›Χ•ΦΉΧ¨, 'akhor), is particularly significant. It directly means "trouble," "disaster," or "calamity." The naming of the valley as "The valley of Achor" was a perpetual linguistic memorial, ensuring that the story of Achan's trouble, and the trouble he brought upon Israel, would be forever associated with that geographical location. The phrase "unto this day" emphasizes the historical reality and enduring impact of these events for the original readers.

Significance and Application

Joshua 7:26 provides powerful lessons for believers today. It underscores that sin, even when hidden, has serious consequences, not only for the individual but often for the wider community. God's holiness demands that sin be addressed and removed. The turning of God's anger signifies His mercy and willingness to restore favor once sin is dealt with, paving the way for repentance and forgiveness.

While the Old Testament justice system was severe and immediate, this passage points to the unchanging nature of God's holiness and His expectation of obedience. It also foreshadows a future hope, as the prophet Hosea later reinterprets the Valley of Achor, declaring that it would become a "door of hope" (Hosea 2:15), illustrating God's power to transform places of trouble into opportunities for blessing and new beginnings through His grace.

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Cross-References

  • Hosea 2:15 (5 votes)

    And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

  • Isaiah 65:10 (5 votes)

    And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

  • Deuteronomy 13:17 (4 votes)

    And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

  • 2 Samuel 18:17 (3 votes)

    And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

  • Joshua 8:29 (3 votes)

    And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, [that remaineth] unto this day.

  • Lamentations 3:53 (3 votes)

    They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

  • Joshua 7:24 (3 votes)

    And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.