Do not covet

Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. NKJV

Deuteronomy 5:21 'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's. NKJV

Covet: yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another). (Google).

The children of God knew these laws. 

If we now look at the Book of Joshua in the Bible we see that Achan admits to coveting a Babylonian item and silver and gold. 

The instruction for the beautiful Babylonian garment was to abstain from it so that God's child did not become accursed and so that Israel did not become accursed. Joshua 6:18.

Accused: under a curse. (Google)

The instruction for the silver and gold was that it was consecrated to the LORD; these items were to come into the treasury of the LORD.

Achan coveted something accursed, and something of the LORD's. 

He knew that he had done wrong, as he hid it - buried it - kept it secret. 

So Achan not only coveted something accursed (which was going to affect his whole nation), he also coveted something that belonged to God.

So who did it affect? 

• Himself.
• His family.
• His livelihood.
• His nation.