Joshua 7:8

8 Please, my Lord! What can I say after {Israel has fled from its enemies}?

Joshua 7:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 7:8

O Lord, what shall I say
For the comfort and encouragement of the people of Israel, in vindication of thy power and faithfulness, and against the charge of weakness in thyself, unfaithfulness to thy promises, and unkindness to thy people, brought by our enemies:

when Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies?
or after they have done it; what is to be said now, this being the case? he speaks as a man confounded, and at the utmost loss how to account for the power, the providence, and promises of God.

Joshua 7:8 In-Context

6 And Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.

7 And Joshua said, "Ah, my Lord! Why did you bring this people across the Jordan to give us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content and stayed beyond the Jordan.

8 Please, my Lord! What can I say after {Israel has fled from its enemies}?

9 The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear [of this], and they will surround us and cut off our name from the land. What will you do, for your great name?"

10 And Yahweh said to Joshua, "Stand up! {Why} [have] you fallen on your face?

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "Israel has turned its neck before its enemies"