Joshua 7:7-11

7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?

9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?

11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.

Joshua 7:7-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 7

For the trespass of Achan the children of Israel were smitten and put to flight by the men of Ai, Jos 7:1-5; which gave him and the elders of the people great concern, both for Israel and for the name of the Lord, which was expressed by Joshua in prayer to God, Jos 7:6-9; when the Lord informed him of the reason of it, and gave him directions for finding out the guilty person, and for the punishment of him, Jos 7:10-15; which directions Joshua followed, and the person was found out, who being urged to a confession made one, Jos 7:16-21; upon which he and all he had, with the things he had taken, were burnt with fire, Jos 7:22-26.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 4:3
• 2. S Exodus 5:22; S Numbers 14:16
• 3. Exodus 32:12; S Deuteronomy 9:28
• 4. Deuteronomy 28:58; 1 Samuel 12:22; Psalms 48:10; Psalms 106:8; Jeremiah 14:21
• 5. S Exodus 9:27; Deuteronomy 29:27; Joshua 24:16-27; 2 Kings 17:7; Hosea 10:9
• 6. ver 15; Joshua 6:17-19; Joshua 23:16; Judges 2:20; 1 Samuel 15:24; Psalms 78:10
• 7. Acts 5:1-2
• 8. ver 21