Valley of trouble and gate of hope

Achan hides the stolen goods. Photo: SPJ

«It is hidden in the earth inside my tent, and the silver is underneath it» (Josh. 7:21). Achan speaks these words aloud when there was nothing left to conceal. The pit in the floor of the tent, where he had stowed his plunder, became the center of this entire story. Around it unfold the defeat of an army, the despair of a leader, an interrogation, and an execution. And it all begins with a glance.

Jericho fell, its walls collapsed, and Israel entered the first city of the Promised Land. But before the assault, Joshua the son of Nun announced a condition: «the city shall be accursed, and all that is within it, to the Lord» (Josh. 6:16). The silver and gold «shall be holy to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord» (Josh. 6:19).

The ban – in Hebrew «herem» – meant the complete consecration of things to God. The spoils could not be taken for oneself. The first victory in the new land was to become a sacrificial offering. The people were taking possession of the land not as a band of marauders, but as the people of God. Everyone understood this. Well, almost everyone.

Three steps to the pit

Achan of the tribe of Judah walked through the ruined city among the other soldiers. And something caught his eye. Later he himself would describe exactly what: «a beautiful Shinar garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels; I coveted them and took them» (Josh. 7:21).

A Shinar garment was an expensive Babylonian cloak, a rare and beautiful item. By our measures, the silver amounted to about two kilograms, and the gold to a little over half a kilogram. For an ordinary soldier, it was a veritable fortune.

Next, Achan does what any petty thief does: he hides his loot. He digs a pit in the middle of his tent. On top he piles things, rugs, bedding. It seems that no one will ever find out about his scheme.

A deadly slaughter

After Jericho, the Israelites moved on to the small town of Ai. The scouts reported: there were few people there, and two or three thousand men would be enough. About three thousand set out against the enemy.

And suddenly – a rout. The men of Ai drove the Israelites from the gate and struck them down on the descent from the hill. About thirty-six men died. For an army that had only just seen the walls of Jericho fall before its onslaught, it was a shock. Scripture says that «the hearts of the people melted and became as water».

Joshua lay on his face before the ark until evening. He did not understand what had happened. And God answered him: «there is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies» (Josh. 7:13). Moreover, God speaks of the guilt of the whole people: «the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things» (Josh. 7:1). Though only Achan had stolen.

Why does everyone answer for sin?

This question has tormented Bible interpreters in every age. Why did thirty-six men die for the theft of a single man? Why does God say «Israel has sinned» if only one man sinned?

Blessed Theodoret of Cyrus gives an answer that explains a great deal. Achan thought that he would hide both from men and from God. Therefore it pleased God both to expose him and to instill fear in all, “so that those who keep God’s laws would reprove those who transgress them; for otherwise they themselves may also be subjected to the same punishment.”

There is a similar thought in Jewish tradition. The sages of the Talmud observed that even a sinful people is still called Israel: like a myrtle among thorns, it remains a myrtle. A shared sin does not abolish shared honor. But this gives no right to turn a blind eye to evil.

The Confession of the Offender

In the morning the search for the culprit of all the troubles begins. Lots are cast by tribes, then by clans, by families – and finally the lot points to Achan.

Joshua, the stern commander, speaks unexpectedly gently: “My son, give glory to the Lord… and tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me” (Josh. 7:19). Achan confesses to the theft he committed. He tells everything: what he saw along his way, what he coveted, where he hid it all. Messengers run to the tent and find the treasure.

A Heap of Stones in the Valley of Trouble

The end of this story is tragic. Achan is led out to the valley and stoned. What became of his family is unknown. Some interpreters believed that his children knew about the hiding place and shared their father’s guilt. Others point out that the Law says: children are not answerable for their fathers. 

Over the place of execution they raised “a great heap of stones, which remains to this day” (Josh. 7:26). The valley was named Achor – “trouble”, as a warning: this is where a greedy glance leads.

It might seem that we could end here. But the biblical story unexpectedly returns to this valley many centuries later. The Prophet Hosea, speaking of how God will bring an unfaithful people back to Himself, promises: “and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope” (Hos. 2:15). 

What Lies in Our Tent?

Each of us has his own tent. And almost every one of us has something hidden beneath its floor. Not necessarily gold. It may be a grievance we have not forgiven. A lie that no one knows about. A habit that we shamefacedly conceal at confession.

We think that we alone will answer for everything. But the story of Achan speaks of something else. A hidden sin does not remain unnoticed. It weakens the family, the parish, the community. And whoever sees evil but keeps silent about it bears no less responsibility.

Joshua gave Achan a chance: “tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” God gives the same opportunity to each person. Confession does not cancel the consequences, but it lessens the guilt. Then even the valley of trouble can become a door of hope – if we finally bring what is hidden out into God’s light.

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