Joshua 7:21 — English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website
I saw a beautiful robe from Babylonia among the things we had taken. I saw five pounds of silver. And I saw a gold bar that weighed 20 ounces. I wanted them, so I took them. I hid them in the ground inside my tent. The silver is on the bottom."
What Does This Mean?
This verse is from Joshua speaking. He admits to taking valuable items from Jericho, which he was not supposed to do. He hid these items in his tent, showing his guilt and disobedience.
Explained for Children
Imagine if you found a really cool toy in a place you weren't supposed to take anything from. Joshua did something similar but with valuable things from a city. He hid them like a kid would hide a toy they shouldn't have taken.
Historical Background
Joshua 7 was written by Joshua or his contemporaries around 1400-1300 BCE. It is part of the historical narrative of the Israelites entering the Promised Land. The audience would have been the Israelites themselves, and the cultural setting was one of warfare and divine command.
Living It Out Today
Today, if someone takes something that doesn't belong to them and hides it, it's the same as lying. This verse reminds us that hiding our wrongdoings doesn't make them go away and can lead to deeper trouble.
