Joshua 7:6-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 7:6-9

We have here an account of the deep concern Joshua was in upon this sad occasion. He, as a public person, interested himself more than any other in this public loss, and is therein an example to princes and great men, and teaches them to lay much to heart the calamities that befal their people: he is also a type of Christ, to whom the blood of his subjects is precious, Ps. 72:14. Observe, I. How he grieved: He rent his clothes (Josh. 7:6), in token of great sorrow for this public disaster, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 7:10-15

We have here God's answer to Joshua's address, which, we may suppose, came from the oracle over the ark, before which Joshua had prostrated himself, Josh. 7:6. Those that desire to know the will of God must attend with their desires upon the lively oracles, and wait at wisdom's gates for wisdom's dictates, Prov. 8:34. And let those that find themselves under the tokens of God's displeasure never complain of him, but complain to him, and they shall receive an answer of peace. The answer came... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:6

And Joshua rent his clothes ,.... As was usual in those ancient times, on hearing bad news, and as expressive of grief and trouble F18 "Tum pius", Aeneas, &c.; Virgil. Aeneid. l. 5. prope finem. ; see Genesis 37:29 , and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord, until the eventide ; in a posture of adoration and prayer, in which he continued till even; how long that was cannot be said, since the time is not mentioned when the army returned from Ai; very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:7

And Joshua said, alas! O Lord God ,.... What a miserable and distressed condition are we in! have pity and compassion on us; who could have thought it, that this would have been our case? wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us : who are mentioned either for the whole people of the land of Canaan; or rather, because the people of Israel were now in that part of the country which they inhabited: these words... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:10

And the Lord said unto Joshua, get thee up ,.... From the ground where he lay prostrate, with his face to it: this he said, not as refusing his supplication to him, but rather as encouraging and strengthening him; though chiefly he said this in order to instruct him, and that he might prepare for what he was to do: wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face ? in this manner, so distressed and dejected; or for this thing, as the Targum, for this defeat of the army; something else is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:11

Israel hath sinned ,.... For though one only had committed the sin, others might have known of it, and connived at it; however, there was sin committed among them, and it must be discovered, the guilt charged, and punishment inflicted: and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them ; not the law given on Mount Sinai, called the covenant, though in general that was now broken, inasmuch as they then promised to hear and obey all that the Lord should say unto them, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:12

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies ,.... Being forsaken of God for the sin committed among them: but turned their backs before their enemies : had not courage to face them, but fled as soon as they appeared: because they were accursed ; of God for the accursed thing that had been taken, as was threatened would be their case, should they take any of it; Joshua 6:18 , neither will I be with you any more, until ye take away the accursed thing... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:6

Joshua rent his clothes , etc. - It was not in consequence of this slight discomfiture, simply considered in itself, that Joshua laid this business so much to heart; but Because the people melted, and became as water, and there was little hope that they would make any stand against the enemy; and Because this defeat evidently showed that God had turned his hand against them. Had it not been so, their enemies could not have prevailed. Put dust upon their heads -... read more

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