ACHAN (p.1; Sept. "AXav, or 'Axap, Josh. vii.
; in I Chron. ii. 7 spelt 'UV, troubler), the name of a man who when Jericho was taken and devoted to destruction fell under the temptation of secreting an ingot of gold, a quantity of silver, and a costly Babylonish garment, which he buried in his tent, deeming that his sin was hid. For this which, as a violation of a vow made by the nation as one body, had involved the whole nation in his guilt, the Israelites were defeated with serious loss, in their first attack upon Ai; and as Joshua was well assured that this humiliation was designed as the punishment of a crime which had inculpated the whole people, he took immediate measures to , discover the criminal. As in other cases the matter was referred to the Lord by the lot, and the lot ultimately indicated the actual criminal. • The conscience-stricken offender then confessed his crime to Joshua; and his confession being verified by the production of his ill-gotten treasure, the people, actuated by the strong impulse with which men tear up, root and branch, a polluted thing, hurried away not only Achan, but his tent, his goods, his spoil, his cattle, his children, to civil and military powers were carefully separated : the satrap being a very powerful civil and political chief, but having no immediate control over the troops and garrisons, the commanders of which were responsible only to the king. The satraps in
their several provinces, employed themselves in the maintenance of order and the regulation of affairs; and they also collected and remitted to the court the stipulated tribute, clear of all charges for local government and for the maintenance of the troops (Xenoph. Cyroi. viii. 6, 1-3). In later times this prudent separation of powers became neglected, in favour of royal princes and other great persons (Xenoph. A nab. i. 1, § 2), who were entrusted with the military as well as civil power in their governments ; to which cause may be attributed the revolt of the younger Cyrus, and the other rebellions and civil wars, which, by weakening the empire, facilitated its ultimate subjugation by Alexander.