📖 Biblical Definition
Achan was the Israelite of the tribe of Judah who took devoted spoil from Jericho — a Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels — directly against the LORD’s herem-ban which had devoted Jericho’s wealth to YHWH (Joshua 6:18-19; 7). His secret sin caused Israel’s humiliating defeat at the smaller city of Ai. After Joshua sought the LORD and was directed to identify the offender by lot, Achan was singled out by tribe, family, household, and finally by name. He confessed: "I saw... I coveted... I took... I hid" (7:21). He and his household were stoned and burned in the Valley of Achor. Hidden sin in one corrupts the whole camp.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Took banned spoil from Jericho; caused Israel's defeat at Ai.
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Israelite of the tribe of Judah who violated the herem-ban on Jericho's spoil by taking a Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold (Josh 7:21). His hidden sin caused Israel's defeat at the small city of Ai — thirty-six men died because one man sinned. Identified through lot, confessed, and was stoned with his household in the Valley of Achor ("trouble"). Hosea later prophesies the Valley of Achor as a future "door of hope" (Hos 2:15) — the place of judgment becomes the place of new beginning.
📖 Key Scripture
Joshua 7:1 — "But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan... took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel."
Joshua 7:21 — "When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold... then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent."
Hosea 2:15 — "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."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
The story is sometimes read as merely harsh; missed is the corporate-solidarity principle and the future hope Hosea names for the place.
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One man's hidden sin caused public defeat. The corporate-solidarity principle is uncomfortable to modern individualism but biblical: Israel sinned, not just Achan. The death seems harsh; the principle is sober.
Recover the hope: Hosea takes the same Valley of Achor and names it future door-of-hope. The God who judges sin is the God who turns judgment-places into hope-places when His people repent.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Achan / Achar.
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['Hebrew', 'H5912', 'Achan', 'Achan']
['Hebrew', 'H5916', 'akar', 'to trouble']
Usage
"One hidden sin defeated the army."
"Valley of Achor: judgment then door-of-hope."
"Corporate solidarity is biblical."