Joshua 7:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For an extended period, it has been a prevailing tendency among people to venerate wealth, leading many to regard individuals as unworthy of respect unless they possess riches. This phenomenon is not novel, and what is even more troubling is that this flaw has resided deeply in human hearts for ages. When the walls of Jericho crumbled at the blast of the priests' trumpets and Joshua's leadership triumphed, it became evident to him that the courage of his people was compromised by avarice and the desire for material wealth. Achan, having taken from the city's ruins a splendid garment from Sennar, along with two hundred shekels of silver and a gold ingot weighing fifty shekels (Num. 7:21), was summoned before the Lord. He could not deny his misdeed and ultimately confessed to his transgression.

The term vesture (ψιλὴ) is translated by Aquila as long garment (στολὴ), while Josephus refers to it as upper garment (ἀλανὶς). Additionally, the term vessels (γλοσσσα) denotes a piece of gold.