Achan
Category: Failure of obedience & greed
Could endure: Obey God’s command to devote Jericho’s plunder to Him.
“But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction.” (Joshua 6:18)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 7:25–26; Proverbs 15:27.
Chose wrongly: Took some of the devoted things and hid them.
“Achan… took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.” (Joshua 7:1)
Cross-Refs: James 1:14–15; Colossians 3:5.
Endured (negatively): Israel defeated at Ai; his whole family stoned.
“Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.” (Joshua 7:25)
Cross-Refs: Numbers 32:23; Galatians 6:7.
Why (wrong motive): Covetousness.
“I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold… I coveted them and took them.” (Joshua 7:21)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 20:17; 1 Timothy 6:9–10.
Result: Brought disaster on himself and Israel; became a warning.
“That is why that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.” (Joshua 7:26)
Cross-Refs: Hosea 2:15; 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Tribes Who Failed to Drive Out Enemies
Category: Failure of perseverance & obedience
Could endure: Fully drive out the Canaanites as God commanded.
“But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations… they will become snares and traps for you.” (Joshua 23:12–13)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 7:2–4; Judges 2:1–3.
Chose wrongly: Allowed Canaanites to remain.
“The Canaanites were not driven out completely… they continued to live among the people.” (Joshua 16:10; 17:12–13)
Cross-Refs: Numbers 33:55–56; Judges 1:27–36.
Endured (negatively): Pagan influence, future idolatry.
“They will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes.” (Joshua 23:13)
Cross-Refs: Judges 2:3; Psalm 106:34–36.
Why (wrong motive): Compromise, convenience, and tolerance.
“But the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.” (Joshua 17:12)
Cross-Refs: Judges 2:2; Proverbs 29:25.
Result: Led to Israel’s downfall in Judges.
“They did not drive them out completely, and they lived among them.” (Judges 1:28)
Cross-Refs: Judges 2:10–12; Nehemiah 13:26.
Israel’s Future Apostasy (Warning)
Category: Failure of covenant loyalty
Could endure: Serve the LORD faithfully in the land.
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness.” (Joshua 24:14)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 10:12; 1 Samuel 12:24.
Chose wrongly (future prophecy): Would forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods.
“If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you.” (Joshua 24:20)
Cross-Refs: Judges 2:11–15; Jeremiah 2:19.
Endured (negatively): Oppression, judgment, exile (later history).
“If you serve foreign gods, he will bring disaster on you and make an end of you.” (Joshua 24:20)
Cross-Refs: 2 Kings 17:6–18; Hosea 8:7–8.
Why (wrong motive): Drawn to the gods of nations around them.
“You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God.” (Joshua 24:19)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 34:14; James 4:4.
Result: Historical cycle of apostasy in Judges.
“Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua… after that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done.” (Joshua 24:31; Judges 2:10)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 78:56–58; Hebrews 3:12.