Jericho had fallen. Next, they attacked Ai, and they were humiliated. What happens next is one of those passages that pastors stay away from because some problems in tradition and translation. I have used the Message Bible because the writer uses an alternate, but valid translation. The question of translation in the reading of the Bible is an interesting one. The selection of one of the meanings of a word, instead of another, can affect the interpretation of the passage. Even Jewish rabbis would recite the original before they explain the passage in their contemporary language and members of the congregation can interrupt to propose alternate translations.
Joshua 7 The Message Bible
16-18 Joshua was up at the crack of dawn and called Israel up tribe by tribe. The tribe of Judah was singled out. Then he called up the clans and singled out the Zerahites. He called up the Zerahite families and singled out the Zabdi family. He called up the family members one by one and singled out Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah.
19 Joshua spoke to Achan, “My son, give glory to God, the God of Israel. Make your confession to him. Tell me what you did. Don’t keep back anything from me.”
20-21 Achan answered Joshua, “It’s true. I sinned against God, the God of Israel. This is how I did it. In the plunder I spotted a beautiful Shinar robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a fifty-shekel bar of gold, and I coveted and took them. They are buried in my tent with the silver at the bottom.”
22-23 Joshua sent off messengers. They ran to the tent. And there it was, buried in the tent with the silver at the bottom. They took the stuff from the tent and brought it to Joshua and to all the People of Israel and spread it out before God.
24 Joshua took Achan son of Zerah, took the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his ox, donkey, sheep, and tent—everything connected with him. All Israel was there. They led them off to the Valley of Achor (Trouble Valley).
25-26 Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? God will now trouble you. Today!” And all Israel stoned him—burned him with fire and stoned him with stones. They piled a huge pile of stones over him. It’s still there. Only then did God turn from his hot anger. That’s how the place came to be called Trouble Valley right up to the present time.
English Standard Version
And all Israel (AB)stoned him with stones. (AC)They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him (AD)a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then (AE)the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.[d]
The problem comes win verses 25 and 26. Notice the use of pronouns. To what do the pronouns refer? They could refer to the stolen materials or his family and possessions. Which is correct can affect the reader’s reaction to the passage. Under Middle Eastern culture and Far Eastern tradition there is a corporate responsibility for behavior. The family of a suicide bomber will be honored for his sacrifice. We are punished for Adam’s failure and released by Christ’s atonement. A Japanese or Chinese family will often suffer or exalt when one of their children perform.
In the West, we wonder at this. A Muslim will feel like he destroyed the World Trade Center because a member of his community did. He will be enraged when a Muslim dissident is killed, because he is a part of his community.
The verse is traditionally interpreted in our faith by believing that Achan and all his family and possessions were killed. Jewish scholars have traditionally had the family witness against him and witness his punishment and the destruction of the materials that he stole from God. His repentance is a bit suspect because he has been caught and God himself has fingered him. Any murderer in our system condemned to death can not expect to be pardoned if he repents and is baptised. That puts him all right with God, but society still has to be satisfied.
The New Testament has less of the corporate responsibility motif, except in the assignment of the crucifixion to ALL Jews, with the tragic consequences throughout history till the Holocaust and Palestinian events.
My Bible Study Notebook 