Joshua 7:9

9 The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will you do for your 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 Joshua said, "Ah, Lord God! Why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all, to hand us over to the Amorites so as to destroy us? Would that we had been content to settle beyond the Jordan!

8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned their backs to their enemies!

9 The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will you do for your great name?"

10 The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why have you fallen upon your face?

11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings.