Joshua 7 · a question people ask
One man took the things. Why does the LORD say, "Israel has sinned" (7:11)?
The chapter says it both ways. "The children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan… took some of the devoted things" (7:1). The LORD tells Joshua, "Israel has sinned" and "they have even taken some of the devoted things" (7:11), and Achan says, "I have truly sinned against the LORD" (7:20). At Ai, "The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them" (7:5). Later in the book Israel remembers it: "Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man didn’t perish alone in his iniquity" (22:20). Christians read this in two main ways, each resting on verses. Both agree that the way through was the one the LORD gave: "You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you" (7:13), and that once it was done, "The LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger" (7:26).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
One people before the LORD
Those who hold this view read Israel as one people in one covenant, so that what one member did was counted to all until it was dealt with. The chapter says "the children of Israel committed a trespass" (7:1) and "Israel has sinned" (7:11). Jericho's warning was given to all: take of the devoted thing, and "you would make the camp of Israel accursed and trouble it" (6:18). And the tribes later fear the same for another wrong: "tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel" (22:18).
Joshua 6:18 · Joshua 7:1 · Joshua 7:11 · Joshua 22:18
Achan's guilt, the whole camp's trouble
Those who hold this view read the guilt as Achan's own: the one taken is judged "because he has transgressed the LORD’s covenant" (7:15), he says, "I have truly sinned against the LORD" (7:20), and Chronicles remembers him as "Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing" (1 Chronicles 2:7). On this reading, "Israel has sinned" (7:11) speaks of a wrong done inside Israel, and the whole camp stood under it, "There is a devoted thing among you, Israel" (7:13), until it was taken away.
Joshua 7:13 · Joshua 7:15 · Joshua 7:20 · 1 Chronicles 2:7
The verses
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against the children of Israel.”
“The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them. They chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. The hearts of the people melted, and became like water.”
“Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken some of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.”
“Get up! Sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for the LORD, the God of Israel, says, “There is a devoted thing among you, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you.””