1. Joshua 7:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why is there so much detail given regarding the family history of Achan?

Joshua 7:1 (ESV)

1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

The extended genealogy (family history) of Achan ties him to the tribes of Israel, and this implicates the whole nation.1