Joshua 7:9

9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round , and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

Joshua 7:9 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 7:9

For the Canaanites
Those that dwell on the east and on the west of the land, see ( Joshua 11:3 ) ; who were one of the seven nations:

and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear [of it];
of this defeat; not only the Amorites, among whom they now were, and the Canaanites before mentioned, but the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites;

and shall environ us round;
come with all their forces from all parts of the land, and surround us, so that there will be no escaping for us:

and cut off our name from the earth;
utterly destroy us, that we shall be no more a nation and people, and the name of an Israelite no more be heard of, see ( Psalms 83:4 ) ;

and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
this, though mentioned last, was uppermost in the heart of Joshua, and was reserved by him as his strongest argument with God to appear for them and save them; since his own glory, the glory of his perfections, his wisdom, goodness, power, truth, and faithfulness, was so much concerned in their salvation.

Joshua 7:9 In-Context

7 And Joshua said , Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content , and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

8 O Lord, what shall I say , when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies !

9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round , and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up ; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

11 Israel hath sinned , and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen , and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.