Joshua 7:9

9 The Canaanites and all the other people in this country will hear about this and will surround and kill us all! Then what will you do for your own 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 Then Joshua said, "Lord God, you brought our people across the Jordan River. Why did you bring us this far and then let the Amorites destroy us? We would have been happy to stay on the other side of the Jordan.
8 Lord, there is nothing I can say now. Israel has been beaten by the enemy.
9 The Canaanites and all the other people in this country will hear about this and will surround and kill us all! Then what will you do for your own great name?"
10 The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why are you down on your face?
11 The Israelites have sinned; they have broken the agreement I commanded them to obey. They took some of the things I commanded them to destroy. They have stolen and lied and have taken those things for themselves.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.