The Bible Says
Joshua 7:6-9 Meaning

Joshua 7:6-9 describes Joshua’s prayers to God after Israel’s failed attempt to conquer Ai. After Joshua sent some men to scout the city, they returned with a positive report, telling him not to deploy the entire Israelite army because the people of Ai were few. Joshua commissioned three thousand men to conquer the city, but the army of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, causing terror in the Israelite camp (Joshua 7:2-5). It was the first defeat the Israelites had experienced.

This section records the reaction of the Israelites as they expressed their humiliation and grief. It begins by telling the reader that Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel (v. 6).

In ancient times, people often tore their clothes to express their sorrow or dismay. Reuben “tore his garments” when he returned to the pit and did not find Joseph there (Genesis 37:29). Likewise, King Hezekiah “tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth” when he received a threatening letter from the King of Assyria (Isaiah 37:1). Joshua and the Israelite elders used the same ritual gesture when they received the news that the inhabitants of Ai killed some Israelite men, causing their army to retreat. They prostrated before the ark of the LORD.

The ark was a chest of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold inside and out. It contained the stone tablets on which God wrote the Ten Commandments, which He gave to Moses (Exodus 25:10-16). The Bible often calls the wooden chest “the Ark of the Covenant” because it signifies God’s relationship with Israel. In this covenant, God, Yahweh (“I AM” Exodus 3:14), was the Suzerain ruler, and the Israelites were His vassals. God was their covenant partner who promised to bless them if they would trust and obey Him (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Conversely, He would punish them if they disobeyed Him (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The Suzerain (ruler) offers blessings in return for the vassals’ obedience and curses for failure to obey the covenant's stipulations.

God instructed His people to make this chest known as “the Ark of the Covenant” or “ark of the testimony” to remind them of His presence (Exodus 25:22; Numbers 10:33; Joshua 3:3; 6, 14, 15). In our passage, Joshua referred to the box as the ark of the LORD because it symbolized God’s dwelling place among the Israelites (Joshua 6:7). For this reason, Joshua and the elders prostrated themselves (bowed down) before the ark until the evening. Also, they put dust on their heads to express their agony and rejection (v. 6).

While Joshua lay on the ground, expressing his sorrow, he petitioned God. He began with a question: Alas, O Lord GOD, why did you ever bring this people over the Jordan only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? (v. 7). The term translated Lord is “Adonai” in Hebrew, which means “master” or “ruler.” The word translated as GOD is “Yahweh,” the self-existing and everlasting God, who revealed Himself to Moses during the burning bush incident (Exodus 3:14-15). The narrator in Joshua used the names Adonai and Yahweh together to emphasize God’s authority as Master of the world and Israel’s Suzerain Ruler.

Joshua does not know about the sin committed by one of the Israelites at this point. He does not understand why God has suddenly stopped favoring Israel’s efforts. Joshua wanted to know how such a powerful God who stopped the waters of the Jordan river to allow His people to enter the Promised Land now has allowed the Amorites to harm them. In this context, the Amorites refer to the inhabitants of Canaan, those living on the west side of Jordan. Specifically, the soldiers of the city of Ai. That situation troubled Joshua, prompting him to declare: If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan (v. 7). He is pondering whether it would have been better, safer, for the people of Israel to settle beyond the Jordan. Rather than fight and be slaughtered by the people of Canaan, would it not have been better to dwell on the other side of the river?

Joshua expressed his frustration and concerns through a second question: O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? (v. 8). Joshua did not know what to say because the soldiers of Ai had killed some of the Israelites. Israel retreated at the first sign of trouble, having turned their back before their enemies, accepting defeat, yielding the battle field, and exposing themselves to further loss of soldiers. The warriors of Ai chased the Israelite army eastward, down the steep hills toward Jericho, causing terror in their camp. Joshua felt helpless and worried about the perception that would spread among Israel’s enemies that Israel was weak and easily destroyed: For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth (v. 9).

Joshua’s statement that the inhabitants of Canaan might cut off their name from the earth means the enemy would remove them from the Promised Land. The Canaanites and other tribes which lived in the land would hear how Ai had won a victory over Israel, inspiring hope that the Israelites could be utterly defeated. Joshua feared that Israel’s defeat before the people of Ai might cause others to take advantage of their weakness. Their hosts might surround them and prevent any escape, and annihilate Israel. Israel’s name would be cut off entirely from the earth. No trace or word of Israel would remain.

Since, Israel was God’s chosen people, Joshua’s main concern was for the LORD’s reputation. Thus, he addressed God through a final question: And what will You do for Your great name? (v. 9).

In the ancient Near East, a name given to a person often captured the essence of that being. Significantly, the Hebrew term for name (“shem”) can mean “reputation” or “fame” (Deuteronomy 26:19; 2 Samuel 8:13; Zephaniah 3:20). Thus, Joshua used a wordplay based on the term name to challenge God to think about His reputation since the Israelites belonged to Him.

In other words, Israel’s removal from Canaan would disgrace their LORD since the other nations would conclude that He was less powerful than their gods. Joshua questioned Yahweh about Israel’s failure because he did not know that Achan had stolen forbidden items in Jericho, bringing God’s punishment on the community of Israel (v. 1), as stipulated in the covenant between Israel and the Lord. God was fulfilling His promise to give negative consequences if Israel violated the covenant. Joshua entreated God to think about the implications of their defeat and possible removal from the Promised Land.

In the following passage, the Lord will reveal to Joshua the source of the rift between Himself and His people.