Joshua 7

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:6

EXPOSITION JOSHUA 'S PRAYER AND GOD 'S ANSWER .— And Joshua rent his clothes. A token of grief usual among the Jews (see Genesis 37:29 , 84; Genesis 44:13 , etc. Knobel cites Le Genesis 21:10 ); and though Joshua was not the high priest, yet from his peculiar position he might be expected to adopt somewhat of the high priest's demeanour, and at least not to display this outward sign of grief without the strongest reason. The words "before the ark" are omitted in the ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:6-15

The humiliation. I. — THE BITTERNESS OF REPENTANCE . 1. The sting of sin is sharper than its pleasure. The uneasiness which followed on Achan's transgression far outweighed any pleasure he could have derived from it. For, first, the possession of his treasure was itself a trouble. He had to hide it in his tent, and to watch carefully lest any one should discover it. Next, he brought death upon thirty-six of his innocent fellow-countrymen. Lastly, he brought the keenest... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:7

Wherefore hast thou at all brought. The LXX . seems in some way to have read עבד for עבר ; they translate "why did thy servant cross?" But their rendering is a clear grammatical blunder, for the Masorites remark that the ה is to be preserved. Would to God we had been content. Calvin makes some severe remarks on Joshua's folly and want of faith under this reverse. But it may be paralleled by the conduct of most Christians in adversity. How few are there who can bear even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:8

What shall I say? To encourage the people who will be downcast by this defeat, while their enemies will gather courage. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:9

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it. The invariable argument of Moses ( Exodus 32:12 ; Numbers 14:13-16 ; Deuteronomy 9:28 ; Deuteronomy 32:26 , Deuteronomy 32:27 ). The disgrace which the sin of man brings upon the cause of the Lord is a real and very terrible thing (cf. 2 Samuel 12:14 ; Ezekiel 36:23 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:10

Get thee up. Not puerile lamentation, but action, is ever the duty of the soldier of the Lord. If defeat assails either the individual or the cause, there is a reason for it, and this must be promptly searched out, and with God's aid be discovered. The sin or error once found out and put away, the combat may be renewed and brought to a successful issue. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:11

Israel hath sinned. A simple but satisfactory explanation. It is not God who changes. It is we who frustrate His counsels of love and protection against our enemies. We have here another assertion of the principle that if one member suffer all the members suffer with it. Achan's sin was the sin of all Israel. So the sin of one man is still the sin of the whole Church. And have also stolen. The accusation is cumulative. Israel, which was all involved in the sin of one among their number,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:12

Therefore . This plain statement disposes of the idea that the repulse before Ai was simply the result of Joshua's rashness in sending so small a body of troops. The vivid narrative of the detection of Achan, obviously taken from contemporary records, precedes the account of the final capture of the city, although Joshua, who, as we have seen, does not neglect to employ human means, resolves to take greater precautions before making a second attack. Not a hint is dropped that the former... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:13

Sanctify the people. See note on Joshua 3:5 . Thou canst not stand before thine enemies. Observe the singular number here, intensifying the testimony of the whole history to the fact that Israel was one body before the Lord. And observe, moreover, how the existence of secret sin, even though unknown to and undetected by him in whom it lurks, has power to enfeeble the soul in its conflict with its enemies. Hence we learn the duties Of watchfulness and careful examination of the soul by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:14

Taketh , i.e; by lot, as in 1 Samuel 14:42 ( הַפִילוּ make it fall; cf. 1 Samuel 10:20 ) (cf. Jonah 1:7 ; also Proverbs 18:18 ). According to the families. The gradual centering of the suspicion upon the offender is one of the most striking features of the history. The genealogies of the children of Israel were very strictly kept, as the Books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah show. Achan's name is carefully given in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles if. 7. The... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:6-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:14

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands