Joshua 7:26

26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor[a] ever since.

Joshua 7:26 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.
New Living Translation (NLT)
26 They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the LORD was no longer angry.
The Message Bible (MSG)
26 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.
American Standard Version (ASV)
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones, unto this day; and Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
26 They made such a large pile of stones over Achan that it is still there today. Then the LORD withdrew his burning anger. For this reason that place is still called the valley of Achor today.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
26 and raised over him a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
26 They placed a large pile of rocks on top of Achan's body. The place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since. That pile is still there to this very day. After the people killed Achan, the LORD turned his burning anger away from them.

Joshua 7:26 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 7:26

And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this
day
That is, at the place where he suffered, or where they laid his ashes, they heaped up a pile of stones over him, as a monument whereby it might be known hereafter where he was executed and was buried; and which pile continued to the writing of this history: such sort of funeral monuments were usual with the Heathens F19 also as well as with the Jews, see ( Joshua 8:29 ) ( 2 Samuel 18:17 ) ; so the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger; or the effects of it ceased; the outward face of things was altered, the dealings of God in his providence with Israel were changed; though, properly speaking, there is no change in God, nor such affections and passions in him as in man:

wherefore the name of the place was called the valley of Achor unto
this day;
from the trouble Achan met with, and the people of Israel on his account, see ( Joshua 7:24 ) ; and so it was called in the days of Isaiah and Hosea, ( Isaiah 65:10 ) ( Hosea 2:15 ) ; and where it is prophesied of as what should be in time to come: according to Bunting F20, it was twelve miles from Jerusalem; Jerom F21 says it was at the north of Jericho, but Lamy F23, following Bonfrerius, places it to the south; see ( Joshua 15:7 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F19 Vid. Pausan. Arcadica, sive, l. 8. p. 477. & Phocica, sive, l. 10. p. 616, 617.
F20 Travels of the Patriarchs p. 98.
F21 De loc. Heb. fol. 88. B.
F23 Apparat. Geograph. p. 61.

Joshua 7:26 In-Context

24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor.
25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.
26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.

Cross References 4

  • 1. 2 Samuel 18:17
  • 2. S Genesis 35:20
  • 3. S Numbers 25:4; Deuteronomy 13:17
  • 4. S ver 24; Isaiah 65:10; Hosea 2:15

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. "Achor" means "trouble."
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.