Joshua 7:13

“Up, sanctify the people, etc.] The word “up” not only signifies getting up from the ground on which he lay, but to bestir himself, and to be active in what he would now be enjoined and directed to do, and in the first place to “sanctify the people”, that is, by giving them orders to do it themselves: and say, sanctify yourselves against tomorrow; either by some ceremonial ablutions, or by the performance of moral duties, as prayer, repentance, and good works; or rather, they were to “prepare” themselves, as the Targum and Kimchi interpret it, to get ready against the morrow, and expect to be thoroughly searched, in order to find out the person who had taken the accursed thing: for thus saith…”

“Sanctify yourselves - Purify yourselves from that defilement which you have all in some sort contracted by this accursed fact, and prepare yourselves to appear before the Lord, expecting the sentence of God for the discovery and punishment of the sin, and that the guilty person might hereby be awakened, and brought to a free confession of his fault. And it is a marvellous thing that Achan did not on this occasion acknowledge his crime; but this is to be imputed to the heart - hardening power of sin, which makes men, grow worse and worse; to his pride, being loath to take to himself the shame of such a mischievous and infamous action; and to his vain conceit, whereby he might think others…”

“7:13 Command the people to purify themselves: See study note on 3:5.”

“sanctify: Jos 3:5; Exo 19:10-15; Lam 3:40, Lam 3:41; Joe 2:16, Joe 2:17; Zep 2:1, Zep 2:2 an accursed: Jos 7:11; Ch2 28:10; Mat 7:5 take away: Co1 5:1-6, Co1 5:11-13 Joshua 7:14”