5 And the men H582 of Ai H5857 smote H5221 of them about thirty H7970 and six H8337 men: H376 for they chased H7291 them from before H6440 the gate H8179 even unto Shebarim, H7671 and smote H5221 them in the going down: H4174 wherefore the hearts H3824 of the people H5971 melted, H4549 and became as water. H4325
And as soon as we had heard H8085 these things, our hearts H3824 did melt, H4549 neither did there remain H6965 any more courage H7307 in any man, H376 because H6440 of you: for the LORD H3068 your God, H430 he is God H430 in heaven H8064 above, H4605 and in earth H776 beneath.
And upon them that are left H7604 alive of you I will send H935 a faintness H4816 into their hearts H3824 in the lands H776 of their enemies; H341 and the sound H6963 of a shaken H5086 leaf H5929 shall chase H7291 them; and they shall flee, H5127 as fleeing H4499 from a sword; H2719 and they shall fall H5307 when none pursueth. H7291
And the Amorites, H567 which dwelt H3427 in that mountain, H2022 came out H3318 against H7125 you, and chased H7291 you, as bees H1682 do, H6213 and destroyed H3807 you in Seir, H8165 even unto Hormah. H2767
And it came to pass, when all the kings H4428 of the Amorites, H567 which were on the side H5676 of Jordan H3383 westward, H3220 and all the kings H4428 of the Canaanites, H3669 which were by the sea, H3220 heard H8085 that the LORD H3068 had dried up H3001 the waters H4325 of Jordan H3383 from before H6440 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 until we were passed over, H5674 that their heart H3824 melted, H4549 neither was there spirit H7307 in them any more, because H6440 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
Therefore shall all hands H3027 be faint, H7503 and every man's H582 heart H3824 shall melt: H4549
And it shall be, when they say H559 unto thee, Wherefore sighest H584 thou? that thou shalt answer, H559 For the tidings; H8052 because it cometh: H935 and every heart H3820 shall melt, H4549 and all hands H3027 shall be feeble, H7503 and every spirit H7307 shall faint, H3543 and all knees H1290 shall be weak H3212 as water: H4325 behold, it cometh, H935 and shall be brought to pass, H1961 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joshua 7
Commentary on Joshua 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
More than once we have found the affairs of Israel, even when they were in the happiest posture and gave the most hopeful prospects, perplexed and embarrassed by sin, and a stop thereby put to the most promising proceedings. The golden calf, the murmuring at Kadesh, and the iniquity of Peor, had broken their measures and given them great disturbance; and in this chapter we have such another instance of the interruption given to the progress of their arms by sin. But it being only the sin of one person or family, and soon expiated, the consequences were not so mischievous as of those other sins; however it served to let them know that they were still upon their good behaviour. We have here,
Jos 7:1-5
The story of this chapter begins with a but. The Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was noised through all that country, so the foregoing chapter ends, and it left no room to doubt but that he would go on as he had begun conquering and to conquer. He did right, and observed his orders in every thing. But the children of Israel committed a trespass, and so set God against them; and then even Joshua's name and fame, his wisdom and courage, could do them no service. If we lose our God, we lose our friends, who cannot help us unless God be for us. Now here is,
Jos 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,
Jos 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, v. 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 immediately, while he was yet speaking (Isa. 65:24), as that to Daniel, Dan. 9:20, etc.
Jos 7:16-26
We have in these verses,