Enciclopedia Cattolica Vol. I, 1948 Sacred Scripture Peoples and figures

Achan

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Also known as: Latin: Akān

ACHAN. - Son of Charmi, of the tribe of Judah (Heb. 'Akān "afflicting" [?]; Septuagint 'Aẓāp; cf. the name ākran in Num. 1:13; 2:27). Taking part in the conquest of Jericho, heedless of the divine anathema, he hid underground in his own tent a scarlet cloak, 200 shekels of gold and a wedge of gold, belonging to the enemies. Having thus forfeited the divine blessing, Joshua's army was partially defeated by the small garrison of Ai. "The foolish Achan" (Dante, Purg., XX, 109), designated by lot as the guilty one, confessed his guilt and was condemned, together with his family, to stoning as a terrible warning to others, while all his property was to be given to the flames. The sentence was carried out in a valley south of Jericho and Gilgal, which was therefore named that of 'Achor or of the "troubler." By contamination with that name is explained the change of A. to Akar in I Chron. 2:7 (Josh. 6:17-19; 7:1-26).

Faustino Salvoni

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By Faustino Salvoni

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Translated from the Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I (1948), col. 215.

More by Faustino Salvoni: Achaz (Heb. 'Aḥaz, 'He [God] Holds') · Ahithophel · Absalom (Hebrew 'Abšalôm "The Father is Peace") · Abner (Hebrew: 'the father is light') · Abisai (Hebrew *Abīfai*)

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Chicago

Salvoni, Faustino. “Achan.” In Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I, col. 215. Città del Vaticano: Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1948. https://azioneromana.com/article/achan.

MLA

Salvoni, Faustino. “Achan.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I, Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1948, col. 215. Azione Romana, https://azioneromana.com/article/achan.

BibTeX

@incollection{ec1_achan,
  author    = {Salvoni, Faustino},
  title     = {Achan},
  booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica},
  volume    = {I},
  pages     = {215},
  note      = {Cited by column},
  publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico},
  address   = {Città del Vaticano},
  year      = {1948},
  url       = {https://azioneromana.com/article/achan}
}

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