וַיִּקַּ֣ח יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ אֶת־עָכָ֣ן בֶּן־זֶ֡רַח וְאֶת־הַכֶּ֣סֶף וְאֶת־הָאַדֶּ֣רֶת וְֽאֶת־לְשֹׁ֣ון הַזָּהָ֡ב וְֽאֶת־בָּנָ֡יו וְֽאֶת־בְּנֹתָ֡יו וְאֶת־שֹׁורֹו֩ וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֹ֨ו וְאֶת־צֹאנֹ֤ו וְאֶֽת־אָהֳלֹו֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֹ֔ו וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִמֹּ֑ו וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם עֵ֥מֶק עָכֹֽור׃
(Joshua 7:24)
Syntax of Indictment
This verse captures the solemn procession of justice as Yehoshua leads the nation in confronting ʿAkan’s sin. The syntax layers object after object in one long series of coordinated accusatives introduced by the repeated marker אֶת־. This creates a crescendo of accumulation, emphasizing total confiscation.
Clause Structure and Function
- וַיִּקַּ֣ח יְהֹושֻׁ֣עַ – “And Yehoshua took”
- Qatal wayyiqtol verb opens the narrative action.
- Subject–verb order follows typical narrative syntax.
- אֶת־עָכָ֣ן בֶּן־זֶ֡רַח – “ʿAkan son of Zeraḥ”
- Direct object marked by אֶת.
- Appositional phrase clarifies identity—legal precision in identifying the condemned.
- וְאֶת־הַכֶּ֣סֶף…וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֹ֔ו – 10-fold repetition of וְאֶת
- Each object of the verb וַיִּקַּח is marked and paratactically listed.
- This syntactic piling builds intensity, suggesting exhaustive confiscation.
- Order moves from the spoils of sin (silver, cloak, tongue of gold), to family, to livestock, to dwelling, culminating in כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֹו (“all that belonged to him”).
- וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִמֹּ֑ו – “And all Yisraʾel with him”
- A prepositional adjunct modifying the action verb וַיַּעֲלוּ below.
- Sets the stage for communal involvement—syntax matches narrative unity.
- וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם עֵ֥מֶק עָכֹֽור – “And they brought them up to the Valley of ʿAkor”
- The plural verb וַיַּעֲלוּ connects with the plural subject כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל.
- Direct object אֹתָם includes all aforementioned confiscated elements—syntactic ellipsis of the entire list.
- עֵמֶק עָכֹור introduces a setting named after this event: “Valley of Trouble.”
Stylistic and Thematic Impact
| Feature | Syntactic Role | Thematic Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Repetition of וְאֶת | Direct object markers in parataxis | Exhaustive inclusion; emphasis on total judgment |
| Final summary: כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֹו | Catch-all accusative | Legal thoroughness; closure |
| National subject: וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל | Plural subject for collective action | Community justice; corporate responsibility |
| Destination clause | Locative phrase marking narrative goal | Rhetorical gravity; symbolic geography |
The Syntax of Collective Justice
The verse’s syntactic weight mimics the moral gravity of the moment: everyone and everything associated with the sin is named, counted, and removed. This overwhelming list—syntactically dense and methodical—heightens the sense of inescapable judgment and the purging of evil from within the camp.