Achan (AY-kuhn) is remembered in Scripture through choices and relationships that still deserve careful reading.
Birth year: Unknown.
Death year: Unknown.
Active during: Israel’s entry into Canaan.
Home region: The Israelite camp near Jericho; events connected with Ai.
Main passages: Joshua 6:17–19; 7:1–26; 22:20; 1 Chronicles 2:7.
Story and role
Achan was an Israelite from the tribe of Judah who secretly took items devoted to destruction after Jericho fell. His hidden act affected the wider community and was exposed after Israel’s defeat at Ai.
What the record preserves
The biblical passages show the choices, relationships, and consequences that made Achan part of the larger story. They should be read in context rather than reduced to a single label.
Limits of the evidence
The precise location of biblical Ai remains debated. The map uses a common orientation point without claiming certainty.
Explore the places connected with Achan on a modern reference map.
Read further
Joshua 6:17–19; 7:1–26; 22:20; 1 Chronicles 2:7, NIV; BiblicalTraining reference library.