Joshua 7:2-12

2 cumque mitteret Iosue de Hiericho viros contra Ahi quae est iuxta Bethaven ad orientalem plagam oppidi Bethel dixit eis ascendite et explorate terram qui praecepta conplentes exploraverunt Ahi

3 et reversi dixerunt ei non ascendat omnis populus sed duo vel tria milia virorum pergant et deleant civitatem quare omnis populus frustra vexatur contra hostes paucissimos

4 ascenderunt ergo tria milia pugnatores qui statim terga vertentes

5 percussi sunt a viris urbis Ahi et corruerunt ex eis triginta et sex homines persecutique sunt eos adversarii de porta usque Sabarim et ceciderunt per prona fugientes pertimuitque cor populi et instar aquae liquefactum est

6 Iosue vero scidit vestimenta sua et cecidit pronus in terram coram arca Domini usque ad vesperum tam ipse quam omnes senes Israhel miseruntque pulverem super capita sua

7 et dixit Iosue heu Domine Deus quid voluisti transducere populum istum Iordanem fluvium ut traderes nos in manus Amorrei et perderes utinam ut coepimus mansissemus trans Iordanem

8 mi Domine Deus quid dicam videns Israhelem hostibus suis terga vertentem

9 audient Chananei et omnes habitatores terrae ac pariter conglobati circumdabunt nos atque delebunt nomen nostrum de terra et quid facies magno nomini tuo

10 dixitque Dominus ad Iosue surge cur iaces pronus in terra

11 peccavit Israhel et praevaricatus est pactum meum tuleruntque de anathemate et furati sunt atque mentiti et absconderunt inter vasa sua

12 nec poterit Israhel stare ante hostes suos eosque fugiet quia pollutus est anathemate non ero ultra vobiscum donec conteratis eum qui huius sceleris reus est

Joshua 7:2-12 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.