Joshua 7:25 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Stoned him with stones, and burned him with fire; which is easily understood, both out of the following words, and from God's command to do so, Joshua 7:15, which doubtless was here executed. Quest. How could both these deaths be inflicted upon them? Answ. It seems they were stoned to death, which was the punishment of such offenders, Numbers 15:35, and not burned to death; and therefore the stoning only of Achan is mentioned here, and not his burning; and God would have their dead carcasses burned to show his utmost detestation of such persons as break forth into sins of such a public scandal and mischief. And for the burning of Achan, commanded Joshua 7:15, it seems not likely to be meant of his burning alive, because that burning is common to him, and all that he hath, as is there expressed; but of the burning of his dead carcass, and other lifeless things, as the manner was with accursed things, Deuteronomy 13:16.