Joshua 7 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 7:7, MT 7:25
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Joshua 7
Sin wounds the community: confession before Christ
Editorial Christian reading: the defeat and confession call for truthfulness and repentance. Ambrose applies Achan’s avarice to the danger that greed brings upon a whole people [AMB, §§129–130].
7:1–5 | The breach of the ban and the defeat at Ai
Verse MT 7:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:1
The sons of Israel acted unfaithfully concerning what was under the ban. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of it, and YHWH’s anger burned against the sons of Israel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:1
The sons of Israel committed a great offense and misappropriated what was under the ban. Achar son of Carmi, son of Zambri, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of it, and the Lord became angry with the sons of Israel.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Achan / Achar and Zabdi / Zambri are retained as meaningful name forms. Greek explicitly calls the offense great.
Verse MT 7:2 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:2
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, east of Bethel, saying, “Go up and spy out the land.” The men went up and spied out Ai.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:2
Joshua sent men to Ai, which is near Bethel, saying, “Spy out Ai.” The men went up and spied out Ai.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the point of departure, Beth-aven, and the eastern orientation.
Verse MT 7:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:3
They returned to Joshua and said, “Do not send up all the people. Let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Do not weary all the people by sending them there, for they are few.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:3
They returned to Joshua and said, “Do not let all the people go up. Let about two or three thousand men go up and capture the city by siege. Do not bring all the people there, for they are few.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The proposed force agrees; Greek calls for capture by siege and lacks the explicit concern about wearying the people.
Verse MT 7:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:4
About three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled before the men of Ai.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:4
About three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The force and its flight correspond.
Verse MT 7:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:5
The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, pursued them from the gate to Shebarim, and struck them on the descent. The people’s hearts melted and became like water.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:5
The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, pursued them from the gate, and crushed them on the descent. The people’s heart was terrified and became like water.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek has no place-name Shebarim and uses “crushed”; Hebrew gives a named endpoint. Both report the same approximate casualties.
7:6–15 | Joshua’s lament and God’s reply
Verse MT 7:6 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:6
Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face to the earth before the ark of YHWH until evening, he and the elders of Israel. They put dust on their heads.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:6
Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down on the earth before the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel. They put dust on their heads.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek says “before the Lord” without explicitly mentioning the ark.
Verse MT 7:7 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:7
Joshua said, “Alas, Lord YHWH! Why did You bring this people across the Jordan to give us into the Amorites’ hand and destroy us? If only we had been content to remain beyond the Jordan!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:7
Joshua said, “I beg You, Lord, why did Your servant bring this people across the Jordan to hand them over to the Amorites and destroy us? If only we had remained and settled beside the Jordan!
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew addresses God as the one who brought them across; Greek assigns that action to “Your servant.” This materially changes the complaint’s agency.
Verse MT 7:8 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:8
Please, Lord, what can I say now that Israel has turned its back before its enemies?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:8
What can I say, since Israel has turned its back before its enemy?
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the renewed direct appeal to the Lord; the report of retreat corresponds.
Verse MT 7:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:9
The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear, surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What will You do for Your great name?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:9
When the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land hear, they will surround us and wipe us from the earth. What will You do for Your great name?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew emphasizes Israel’s name being cut off; Greek says Israel itself will be wiped out. Both appeal to God’s great name.
Verse MT 7:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:10
YHWH said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:10
The Lord said to Joshua, “Rise! Why have you fallen on your face like this?
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The command and question correspond.
Verse MT 7:11 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:11
Israel has sinned. They have also transgressed My covenant that I commanded them. They have taken what was under the ban, stolen, lied, and put it among their own belongings.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:11
The people have sinned and transgressed the covenant I made with them. They stole from what was under the ban and put it among their belongings.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek compresses the repeated accusations and lacks the explicit lying charge.
Verse MT 7:12 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:12
The sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies because they have become subject to the ban. I will no longer be with you unless you destroy what is under the ban from your midst.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:12
The sons of Israel will not be able to stand before their enemies. They will turn their backs before their enemies because they have become subject to the ban. I will no longer be with you unless you remove what is under the ban from among yourselves.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Destroy / remove differs in expression; both make removal of the offense necessary for continued divine presence.
Verse MT 7:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:13
Rise, consecrate the people, and say: ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: What is under the ban is among you, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you remove it from your midst.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:13
Rise, consecrate the people, and tell them to be consecrated for tomorrow. Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘What is under the ban is among you. You cannot withstand your enemies until you remove it from among you.’
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The consecration and warning correspond.
Verse MT 7:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:14
In the morning you shall approach by your tribes. The tribe YHWH takes shall approach by clans; the clan YHWH takes shall approach by households; and the household YHWH takes shall approach man by man.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:14
In the morning all of you shall assemble by tribes. Bring forward by clans the tribe the Lord indicates; bring forward by households the clan the Lord indicates; and bring forward man by man the household the Lord indicates.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew’s “takes” and Greek’s “indicates” describe the same narrowing selection without specifying its physical mechanism.
Verse MT 7:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:15
The one taken with what is under the ban shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he transgressed YHWH’s covenant and committed an outrage in Israel.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:15
Whoever is indicated shall be burned with fire, together with everything belonging to him, because he transgressed the Lord’s covenant and committed lawlessness in Israel.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both give the same sentence and grounds; outrage / lawlessness expresses the respective moral vocabulary.
7:16–23 | Achan is identified and confesses
Verse MT 7:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:16
Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel forward by its tribes. The tribe of Judah was taken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:16
Joshua rose early and brought the people forward by tribes. The tribe of Judah was indicated.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Judah is selected in both.
Verse MT 7:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:17
He brought forward the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. He brought forward the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:17
They were brought forward by clans, and the Zerahite clan was indicated. They were brought forward man by man,
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek has no separate selection of Zabdi/Zambri at this stage.
Verse MT 7:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:18
He brought forward his household man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:18
and Achar son of Zambri, son of Zerah, was indicated.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek abbreviates the genealogy, omitting Carmi here although Carmi appears in Greek verse 1. No missing generation is supplied in translation.
Verse MT 7:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:19
Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to YHWH, the God of Israel, and make confession to Him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:19
Joshua said to Achar, “Give glory today to the Lord, the God of Israel, and make confession. Tell me what you have done, and do not hide it from me.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s “my son, please” is absent; Greek adds “today.” Both call for truthful confession.
Rabbinic: Rashi explains Joshua’s appeal as guarding confidence in the lot, which would later be used to divide the land [R7, 7:19].
Verse MT 7:20 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:20
Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against YHWH, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:20
Achar answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned before the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The confession of sin corresponds.
Verse MT 7:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:21
I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a tongue-shaped bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver beneath it.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:21
I saw among the spoil a beautiful patterned carpet, two hundred didrachms of silver, and one tongue-shaped bar of gold weighing fifty didrachms. I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground in my tent, and the silver is hidden underneath them.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Mantle from Shinar / patterned carpet and shekels / didrachms are retained independently. Greek psilē can designate a fine textile or carpet; the precise textile form remains a lexical review point.
Saints: Ambrose treats Achan’s greed as a danger to the whole people: Joshua could halt the sun, yet avarice still threatened his victory [AMB, §§129–130].
Verse MT 7:22 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:22
Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. There it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver beneath it.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:22
Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent in the camp. The things were hidden in the tent, with the silver underneath them.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both confirm the concealed goods; Greek uses a plural reference and specifies the camp.
Verse MT 7:23 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:23
They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the sons of Israel, and laid them out before YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:23
They brought the things out of the tent to Joshua and the elders of Israel and placed them before the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: All the sons of Israel / the elders of Israel changes the explicitly named witnesses.
7:24–26 | The judgment in the Valley of Achor
Verse MT 7:24 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:24
Joshua, with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the gold bar, his sons, his daughters, his ox, his donkey, his flock, his tent, and everything belonging to him. They brought them up to the Valley of Achor.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:24
Joshua took Achar son of Zerah and brought him up to the ravine of Achor, with his sons, his daughters, his cattle, his beasts of burden, all his sheep, his tent, and everything belonging to him. All the people were with him, and he brought them up to Emek-achor.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek lacks the explicit list of stolen objects and gives the location twice, once translated and once transliterated. Both include the family in the procession.
Verse MT 7:25 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:25
Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? May YHWH trouble you today!” All Israel stoned him with stones; they burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:25
Joshua said to Achar, “Why have you brought destruction upon us? May the Lord destroy you, as on this very day!” All Israel stoned him with stones.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek narrates the stoning of him only; Hebrew additionally describes burning and stoning “them.” Do not infer from Greek silence that the family was spared, or erase Hebrew’s plural actions.
Rabbinic: Rashi reads the children as witnesses to the punishment, the burning as destruction of the tent and movables, and the final plural stoning as directed at the animals [R7, 7:24–25]. This interpretation does not remove the Hebrew pronouns.
Verse MT 7:26 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 7:26
They raised a great heap of stones over him, which remains to this day. YHWH turned from His burning anger. Therefore the place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 7:26
They set a great heap of stones over him. The Lord ceased from the heat of His anger. Therefore the place was named Emek-achor, as it is to this day.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The heap, ending of wrath, and place-name correspond. Hebrew makes a wordplay with trouble; Greek transliterates the full valley name.