Achan’s sin has made him and his family and everything he owns devoted to destruction; so he, his family, and his animals are all stoned to death, while his belongings are all burned. Thus the Lord’s order is finally obeyed, and he was no longer furious.

The execution takes place in Trouble Valley (Revised Standard Version “Valley of Achor”). The Hebrew noun akor means “trouble.” Joshua’s words in verse 25 contain a play on words: Achan has brought … trouble (Hebrew verb akar) on Israel, and now the Lord will … bring trouble on him.

As in the case of Circumcision Hill (5.3), the name Trouble Valley here was given to the valley as a result of the execution of Achan. At the time of the writing of this account, the place still had that name and the pile of stones was still there.

In the phrase over him Achan is in focus; however, the meaning is surely “over them,” including everything that was burned, especially Achan and his relatives.

Then the LORD was no longer furious may need to be translated, “After the death of Achan, the LORD was no longer furious with the people of Israel.” Or “After the people of Israel had put Achan to death, the LORD was no longer angry with them.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .