What does Joshua 7:26 mean?
"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." - Joshua 7:26
The Bible verse Joshua 7:26 from the King James Version (KJV) reads, "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."
This verse comes at the end of the story of Achan's sin in the book of Joshua. The context of this verse is the Israelites' conquest of the city of Jericho. The Lord had instructed the Israelites to destroy everything in the city and take nothing for themselves. However, Achan disobeyed this command and took some of the forbidden items and hid them in his tent. As a result, the Lord's anger burned against the Israelites, and they suffered defeat in their next battle at the city of Ai.
After discovering Achan's sin, the Israelites stoned him and his family to death, and then they piled a heap of stones over his remains. This act of stoning and piling stones over Achan's body was a way of purging the evil from their midst and demonstrating their obedience to the command of the Lord.
The valley where this event took place was named "The valley of Achor," which means "trouble" or "disaster." This name serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the severity of the Lord's judgment.
The themes present in this verse and the surrounding narrative include obedience, consequences of sin, and the Lord's justice. The story of Achan's sin serves as a warning to the Israelites and to all believers about the importance of following the Lord's commands and the severity of the consequences when disobedience occurs.
The pile of stones serves as a symbol of the judgment and the consequences of Achan's sin. It also serves as a physical reminder of the event, to serve as a deterrent for others who might be tempted to disobey the Lord's commands. The naming of the valley as "The valley of Achor" is also significant, as it serves as a lasting reminder of the trouble that disobedience brings and the importance of remaining faithful to the Lord.
Furthermore, the turning away of the Lord's anger after the judgment of Achan and the piling of stones is a testament to the Lord's mercy and forgiveness. Despite the severity of the disobedience, the Lord does not abandon His people. Instead, He offers a path to redemption and a way to restore the relationship.
Overall, Joshua 7:26 is a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience, the severity of the consequences of sin, and the mercy and justice of the Lord. It serves as a cautionary tale for believers to remain faithful and obedient to the Lord's commands and serves as a testimony to the Lord's mercy and forgiveness even in the face of disobedience.
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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 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." - Joshua 7:26
Joshua 18:26 - "And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,"
Joshua 15:26 - "Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,"
Joshua 24:26 - "¶ And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD."
Joshua 10:26 - "And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening."
Joshua 8:26 - "For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai."
"And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah," - Joshua 18:26
"Amam, and Shema, and Moladah," - Joshua 15:26
Joshua 19:26 - "And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;"
Joshua 21:26 - "All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained."
Joshua 7:16 - "¶ So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:"
Joshua 7:22 - "¶ So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it."
Joshua 13:26 - "And from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;"
Joshua 7:10 - "¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?"
Joshua 10:7 - "So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour."
Joshua 1:7-9
Joshua 11:7 - "So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them."
Joshua 5:7 - "And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way."
Joshua 9:26 - "And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not."
Joshua 7:20 - "And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:"
Joshua 22:26 - "Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:"
Joshua 7:7 - "And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!"
Joshua 6:26 - "¶ And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it."
Joshua 7:23 - "And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD."
Joshua 3:7 - "¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee."
Proverbs 7:26
Joshua 19:7 - "Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:"
Joshua 12:7 - "¶ And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;"
Judges 2:7 - "And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel."