Justin Houtz

Joshua 7-8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5

DateVersionReading Plan
March 20, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Joshua 7-8

Observation & Interpretation

Joshua 7 begins directly on the heels of the capture of Jericho in chapter 6 and that the people broke faith in regard to the devoted things. Achan had wrongfully taken some of the devoted things and the LORD’s anger burned against Israel. Joshua sent men to spy out the land who returned and told Joshua that they need only send 3,000 men to defeat Ai. Joshua proceeded accordingly, sending about 3,000 men, but they fled before the men of Ai and about thirty-six of Israel’s men were killed. Joshua responded in anguish and asked the LORD why He had brought the people over the Jordan at all and what He would do for His great name.

The LORD told Joshua to get up and that Israel had sinned, transgressed the covenant and taken some of the devoted things. This was the reason why the people of Israel could not stand before their enemies. The LORD told Joshua to get up, consecrate himself and bring the tribes near the LORD through a process that would reveal the perpetrator of this treachery. Achan was found to be the one who had stolen the items and hidden them inside his tent. Joshua sent messengers who retrieved the items and laid them before the LORD. “Spreading out the goods in the Lord’s presence amounted to giving to him what was rightfully his.” (CSB Notes). All Israel burned Achan with stones, raised a great heap over him and the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore the place was called the Valley of Achor.

Chapter 8 begins with the LORD telling Joshua not to fear or be dismayed, but take all the fighting men with him to go up to Ai. The LORD told Joshua that He had given the king of Ai and all his people, city and land into Joshua’s hand. Joshua sent 30,000 men to go out by night. Through a tactically sound campaign of setting an ambush and drawing the people out of their city, the people of Israel defeated the king of Ai and captured the land. Joshua then built an altar to the LORD on Mount Ebal, just as Moses had commanded the people as was written in the Book of the Law of Moses. Joshua read all that Moses had commanded before the assembly of Israel including the women, little ones and sojourners who lived among them.

Application

It seems important to draw from these chapters the stark contrast between proceeding with and without the LORD. In any significant endeavor we seek, it should be our earnest desire that He is with us and that we are acting in accord with His Word. May we enter such things in full surrender to Him, realizing that a profitable outcome is only achieved by His presence.

Resources