“‘भियान भिन्सारे तू सबन्क यहोवा क समन्वा खड़ा होइ क होइ। सबहिं परिवार समूह यहोवा क समन्वा पेस होइहीं। दूसर परिवार समूह मँ स यहोवा एक परिवार समूह क चुनी। तब सिरिफ उहइ परिवार समूह यहोवा क समन्वा खड़ा होइ। तब बस उहइ परिवार समूह स यहोव एक कबीला क चुनी। तब सिरिफ उहइ कबीला यहोवा क समन्वा खड़ा होइ। तब यहोवा उ कबीला क प्रत्येक परिवार क परखी अउर उ मँ स एक क चुनी। तब उ परिवार अकेले यहोवा क समन्वा खड़ा होइ जउन कि उ परिवार स एक-एक क चुनी।
What Does This Mean?
This verse describes a process where God will identify the guilty party among the tribes of Israel by narrowing down the search through tribes, families, households, and finally individuals. Joshua is not the speaker, but the instruction is given by God. The key message is about God's method to find the person responsible for the sin that affected the whole community.
Explained for Children
Imagine you have a big box of toys, and one toy is missing. To find out who took it, you would first check with each group of friends, then each friend within the group, then each pocket or bag they have, until you find the toy. That's how God is going to find the person who did something wrong among the tribes.
Historical Background
This verse is part of the Book of Joshua, written by Joshua or his followers around 1400-1350 BC. The audience was the Israelites who had just entered the Promised Land. The cultural setting reflects the importance of communal responsibility and divine judgment in ancient Israel.
Living It Out Today
In a modern scenario, if a company faces a problem caused by one employee, the leadership might investigate by talking to different departments, then smaller teams within those departments, and finally, one-on-one interviews to find the person responsible. This shows how to methodically address issues in a community.
This verse is part of a larger story where Achan had taken items from Jericho, which was against God's command, leading to God's judgment on the whole community to find the guilty party.
How does this apply to modern communities?
It shows the importance of identifying and addressing individual actions that affect the whole group, promoting accountability and communal responsibility.
What does this verse teach about God's justice?
It emphasizes God's role in identifying and addressing wrongdoing, showing that divine justice is thorough and seeks to restore righteousness.
Is there a similar concept in the New Testament?
Yes, Romans 3:23 talks about everyone falling short of God's glory, highlighting the universal need for accountability and forgiveness.
