約書亞記：第 7 章
- 馬克牧師
- Jan 7
- 12 min read
亞干犯罪
1 以色列人在當滅的物上犯了罪；因為猶大支派中，謝拉的曾孫，撒底的孫子，迦米的兒子亞干取了當滅的物；耶和華的怒氣就向以色列人發作。
2當下，約書亞從耶利哥打發人往伯特利東邊、靠近伯‧亞文的艾城去，吩咐他們說：「你們上去窺探那地。」他們就上去窺探艾城。 3他們回到約書亞那裏，對他說：「眾民不必都上去，只要二三千人上去就能攻取艾城；不必勞累眾民都去，因為那裏的人少。」 4於是民中約有三千人上那裏去，竟在艾城人面前逃跑了。 5艾城的人擊殺了他們三十六人，從城門前追趕他們，直到示巴琳，在下坡殺敗他們；眾民的心就消化如水。
6 約書亞便撕裂衣服；他和以色列的長老把灰撒在頭上，在耶和華的約櫃前俯伏在地，直到晚上。 7約書亞說：「哀哉！主耶和華啊，你為甚麼竟領這百姓過約旦河，將我們交在亞摩利人的手中，使我們滅亡呢？我們不如住在約旦河那邊倒好。 8主啊，以色列人既在仇敵面前轉背逃跑，我還有甚麼可說的呢？ 9迦南人和這地一切的居民聽見了就必圍困我們，將我們的名從地上除滅。那時你為你的大名要怎樣行呢？」
10耶和華吩咐約書亞說：「起來！你為何這樣俯伏在地呢？ 11以色列人犯了罪，違背了我所吩咐他們的約，取了當滅的物；又偷竊，又行詭詐，又把那當滅的放在他們的家具裏。 12因此，以色列人在仇敵面前站立不住。他們在仇敵面前轉背逃跑，是因成了被咒詛的；你們若不把當滅的物從你們中間除掉，我就不再與你們同在了。 13你起來，叫百姓自潔，對他們說：『你們要自潔，預備明天，因為耶和華－以色列的神這樣說：以色列啊，你們中間有當滅的物，你們若不除掉，在仇敵面前必站立不住！』 14到了早晨，你們要按着支派近前來；耶和華所取的支派，要按着宗族近前來；耶和華所取的宗族，要按着家室近前來；耶和華所取的家室，要按着人丁，一個一個地近前來。 15被取的人有當滅的物在他那裏，他和他所有的必被火焚燒；因他違背了耶和華的約，又因他在以色列中行了愚妄的事。」
16於是，約書亞清早起來，使以色列人按着支派近前來，取出來的是猶大支派； 17使猶大支派近前來，就取了謝拉的宗族；使謝拉的宗族，按着家室人丁，一個一個地近前來，取出來的是撒底； 18使撒底的家室，按着人丁，一個一個地近前來，就取出猶大支派的人謝拉的曾孫，撒底的孫子，迦米的兒子亞干。 19約書亞對亞干說：「我兒，我勸你將榮耀歸給耶和華－以色列的神，在他面前認罪，將你所做的事告訴我，不要向我隱瞞。」 20亞干回答約書亞說：「我實在得罪了耶和華－以色列的神。我所做的事如此如此： 21我在所奪的財物中看見一件美好的示拿衣服，二百舍客勒銀子，一條金子重五十舍客勒，我就貪愛這些物件，便拿去了。現今藏在我帳棚內的地裏，銀子在衣服底下。」
22 約書亞就打發人跑到亞干的帳棚裏。那件衣服果然藏在他帳棚內，銀子在底下。 23他們就從帳棚裏取出來，拿到約書亞和以色列眾人那裏，放在耶和華面前。 24約書亞和以色列眾人把謝拉的曾孫亞干和那銀子、那件衣服、那條金子，並亞干的兒女、牛、驢、羊、帳棚，以及他所有的，都帶到亞割谷去。 25約書亞說：「你為甚麼連累我們呢？今日耶和華必叫你受連累。」於是以色列眾人用石頭打死他，將石頭扔在其上，又用火焚燒他所有的。 26眾人在亞干身上堆成一大堆石頭，直存到今日。於是耶和華轉意，不發他的烈怒。因此那地方名叫亞割谷，直到今日。
各位弟兄姊妹平安！今天我們讀的是《約書亞記》第七章。在第六章中，我們剛剛看到約書亞帶領以色列人取得了一場大勝，靠著上帝的大能，耶利哥城的堅固城牆倒塌，他們成功奪取了這座象徵性極強的城市。這是以色列人進入迦南地後的第一場勝利，也是極為轟動的一場神蹟。
然而，當我們來到第七章時，故事卻發生了急劇的轉折。在攻擊下一座城池艾城時，這座城明顯規模較小，防禦也不如耶利哥堅固，但以色列人卻遭遇慘敗，這場戰役還讓以色列人死了三十六個人，這對於剛剛大獲全勝的他們來說，無疑是巨大的挫折。這座小城竟然比耶利哥城更難攻陷，讓以色列人陷入恐懼和困惑。
這場敗仗的影響不僅停留在軍事上，更對約書亞的信心產生了極大的動搖。這位剛剛被上帝確立為新領袖的人，在遭遇這場挫折後，竟然說出了類似當年以色列人在曠野中常說的抱怨之詞。他向上帝發出疑問，似乎在質疑當初過約旦河的意義：「主啊，難道我們留在約旦河的那邊不是更好嗎？我們過來這裡，難道是為了滅亡嗎？」
一場敗仗，讓剛剛士氣高漲的約書亞和以色列百姓一下喪了膽氣。
不過幸好上帝很快就啟示約書亞，祂說：「以色列人犯了罪，違背了我所吩咐他們的約。他們有人偷竊，又行詭詐，取了當滅的物。」上帝在上一章中剛剛顯明了祂的命令，也讓以色列人親眼目睹了約旦河的神蹟，以及耶利哥城的崩塌，這些明顯而震撼的神蹟清楚地表明了上帝的能力和同在。然而，即使在這樣清晰的神蹟面前，仍有人起了貪念。
約書亞明確頒布了命令，吩咐百姓不可拿取任何東西，所有戰利品都要歸給上帝。然而，偏偏有人因貪心違背了這條命令，偷偷私藏了戰利品。這正是上帝所憎惡的行為，也揭示了人性中最大的弱點之一：貪心。
貪心是極大的危險，它使人將自己的慾望放在上帝之前，將自己的利益凌駕於對上帝的順服之上。聖經告訴我們，貪心與拜偶像是一樣的罪，因為它顯示出一顆背離上帝、專注於自身利益的心。正如我在財務講座中提到的，人性的貪念往往成為我們與上帝之間最大的阻礙。
更值得深思的是，這起罪行不僅影響了犯錯的亞干個人，還連累了整個以色列民族。亞干一人的犯罪，卻導致了整個民族在艾城遭遇了慘敗。 這提醒我們，個人的罪惡不僅僅是個人的問題，還可能對整個教會以及共同體造成很大的破壞。
在這一章的結尾，我們看到亞干受到了他應得的懲罰。他被石頭打死，他所有的一切都被火焚燒，這場因貪念引發的災禍才算告一段落。以色列百姓除去他們中間的罪，重新回到上帝面前。
當然在這件事情之中，我們也要看到，約書亞身為領袖似乎忽略了一件至關重要的事。當攻擊耶利哥城的時候，他特別清楚地先求告上帝，並讓約櫃走在百姓的前面。然而，在第七章一開始，當他們準備進攻艾城時，探子回來說：「這個城沒什麼了不起，我們甚至都不用派全部的人去，只要派兩三千個人就夠了。」
從這段記錄中，我們幾乎可以聽到這段話中流露出的驕傲，以及他們對艾城的輕視。他們剛剛在耶利哥城取得了一場大勝，就認為自己所向無敵，覺得這個小城根本不值一提，輕鬆就可以拿下。這驕傲的態度十分明顯。最終，他們只派了三千人上去攻城，而這也表明，約書亞作為領袖，並沒有在出發前認真求問上帝。如果他在出發前先求問上帝，上帝早就會啟示他們：「你們中間有人拿了當滅的物。」如此一來，就不會在領了一場敗仗後才回來哭訴和悔改。
這裡給我們一個非常重要的屬靈教訓：我們是先求問上帝，還是自以為是地先去做事情，然後失敗後再回來求問上帝呢？我們是否也經常在做決定時，心裡已經認定了某些事情，甚至對上帝說：「主啊，我要去做這件事了，請祝福我！」然而當事情失敗後，又回頭問上帝：「上帝啊，祢不是祝福我嗎？為什麼這件事會失敗呢？」
這段經文提醒我們，真正的順服在於事先求問上帝的旨意，而不是按照自己的意志行事，再要求上帝為我們的決定背書。當我們謙卑地將一切交託給上帝，祂必以祂的智慧指引我們前行，免去我們因驕傲和自以為是而遭遇的失敗。願我們從約書亞的經歷中吸取教訓，學會事事先求問上帝，讓祂的旨意引導我們的腳步。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續讀第八章的故事。
Ai Defeats the Israelites
1But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.
2Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. 3When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.”
4So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.
6Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening. 7Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! 8Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? 9For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”
10But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. 12That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.
13“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.
14“In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the Lord will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the Lord will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the Lord will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one by one. 15The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the Lord and has done a horrible thing in Israel.”
Achan’s Sin
16Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was singled out. 17Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. 18Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out.
19Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.”
20Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. 21Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”
22So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest. 23They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord.
24Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. 25Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. 26They 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.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you! Today we are studying Joshua Chapter 7. In Chapter 6, we witnessed Joshua leading the Israelites to a great victory. By the power of God, the mighty walls of Jericho collapsed, and they successfully captured this highly symbolic city. It was their first triumph after entering the Promised Land—a truly miraculous and resounding victory.
However, when we turn to Chapter 7, the story takes a dramatic turn. When attacking the next city, Ai—a much smaller and weaker city compared to Jericho—the Israelites suffered a devastating defeat. Thirty-six men died in the battle, and this unexpected loss left the Israelites terrified and confused. How could such a small city pose a greater challenge than Jericho?
This defeat not only impacted the Israelites militarily but also deeply shook Joshua's faith. The newly established leader of Israel expressed words of doubt reminiscent of the complaints often voiced by the Israelites in the wilderness. He questioned God, saying, "Lord, wouldn’t it have been better for us to stay on the other side of the Jordan? Did we cross here just to be destroyed?" A single defeat drained the morale of both Joshua and the Israelites, who had been riding high on their earlier victory.
Fortunately, God quickly revealed the cause of the defeat to Joshua, saying, “Israel has sinned and broken my covenant. They have stolen some of the devoted things, lied about it, and hidden the items among their belongings.” Despite God’s clear commandments and miraculous demonstrations of His power—the parting of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho’s walls—someone had acted against His explicit instructions.
Joshua had explicitly commanded that all spoils from Jericho were to be devoted to God and nothing was to be taken for personal use. Yet, driven by greed, someone disobeyed this command. This serves as a stark reminder of one of humanity’s greatest weaknesses: greed.
Greed is exceedingly dangerous because it places personal desires above God, prioritizing self-interest over obedience. Scripture equates greed with idolatry because it reveals a heart that turns away from God and focuses solely on material gain. As I’ve mentioned in discussions on financial stewardship, human greed often becomes the greatest obstacle in our relationship with God.
What’s even more troubling is that Achan’s sin did not just affect him individually; it brought calamity upon the entire nation. One man’s disobedience led to Israel’s humiliating defeat at Ai. This underscores a sobering truth: personal sin often has far-reaching consequences, potentially harming the entire community or church.
At the end of this chapter, Achan receives the punishment he deserves. He and everything he owned were destroyed, bringing an end to the disaster caused by his greed. Only after removing this sin from among them did the Israelites return to God’s favor.
Additionally, this story highlights a significant leadership lapse on Joshua’s part. When preparing to attack Jericho, Joshua sought God’s guidance and ensured the Ark of the Covenant went before the people. However, at the start of Chapter 7, when preparing to attack Ai, Joshua’s spies returned saying, “This city is not a big deal. We don’t even need to send everyone—just two or three thousand men will suffice.”
This report reveals an air of arrogance and underestimation of Ai. After their miraculous victory at Jericho, the Israelites believed they were invincible. They viewed Ai as an insignificant target, not worth serious consideration. Joshua’s decision to send only three thousand men without consulting God further reflects this attitude.
If Joshua had sought God’s counsel beforehand, God would have revealed the hidden sin in their midst. Instead, the Israelites only turned to God after suffering defeat.
This narrative offers a profound spiritual lesson: Do we seek God’s guidance first, or do we act on our own initiative and only turn to God when things go wrong? How often do we make decisions, saying, “Lord, I’m going to do this; please bless it,” only to return later asking, “God, why did this fail? Weren’t You with me?”
The story reminds us that true obedience involves seeking God’s will first, not acting according to our own desires and expecting God to endorse our plans. When we humbly entrust everything to God, He will guide us with His wisdom, sparing us from failures rooted in pride and self-reliance.
Let us learn from Joshua’s experience to always seek God’s direction before taking action, allowing His will to guide our steps.
Thank you for listening, and tomorrow we will continue with the story in Chapter 8.
Blessings to all!
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