Joshua 7

Joshua 7:1-5

We have here, (1.) The sin of Adam, ver. 1. (2.) The defeat of Israel before Al theotopis, ver. 2—5. (3.) Joshua’s humiliation and prayer on that occasion, ver. 6—9. (4.) The directions God gave him for the journey away for majesty, ver. 10—15. (5.) The discovery, trial, conviction, condemnation, and execution of the criminal, ver. 16—20.

1. Chay, will. 1. BUT the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for 2. Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and 2. the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 2. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east-side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up: but let about two or three thousand men go up and finite Ai, and make not all the people to labour thither, for they are but few. 4. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Ai. 5. And the men of Ai smoke of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Sheharim, and smoke them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

The last chapter left Israel triumphant, and Joshua’s name great and glorious; this begins with a dice Bar, which thops the current of their victories, and calls them into the deepest distress; the cause of which always is sin. 1. We have an account of the sin committed, Achan the son of Carmi, of the house of Judah, had transgressed the divine command, and secretly taken of the devoted things, and hereby had brought the host under the displeasure of God. One inner thus destroys much good, the community he belonged to are defiled by him, and suffer for him. Note, (1.) Covetoufneis is among the most rooted evil tempers of the fallen mind. (2.) We must separate ourselves from sinners, if we would not share their judgments. 2. The effects of God’s displeasure quickly appeared; though the sin was committed so secretly that no eye saw him, it was not lost from God; and he takes such ways to bring the crime to light, as shall there his just indignation against it. Let not the guilty think of being concealed or excused, God will find them out, and visit them to their confusion. Confident now of success, those who were sent to view the city of Ai report the conquest only, and that the people need not be fatigued by a general march; a detached party of two or three thousand men being thought sufficient, these are accordingly lost, but found with a point at the gate of the city, they fly before their pursuers, and, with the loss of six and thirty men, escape to the camp, and fill it with terror and confusion. God had evidently forsaken them, and though the loss was small, justly were they alarmed at a defeat which pretended more dreadful consequences. Note, (1.) Though the greatest difficulties vanish when God is

our helper, the least temptation will prevail the summons he leaves us to ourselves. (2.) Whenever we provoke God’s we may expect to suffer for it. (3.) Fear and terror of conscience are the natural consequences of guilt, and the present wages of sin.

6. ¶ And Joshua sent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face, 7. before the ark of the LORD, until the even-tide, he and the elders of Israel, and put it out upon their heads. 7. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, 8. Wherefore hath thou at all brought this people over Jordan, 9. to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Lord, 10. what shall I say, when Israel untruth their backs before their enemies? 9. For the Canaanites, and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall invirtue us round, 11. and cut off our name from the earth: and 12. what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

Joshua 7:6-9

Joshua, most deeply affected with the calamities of the people, and apprehensive of more fatal consequences, 1. In deep humiliation rends his cloaths, and falls proftrate on the earth; he who was to courageous, that he never feared the face of man, trembles before an offended God. The elders of Israel join in his sorrow, and with dust on their heads, till even-tide, bewail their distresses; and not doubting but sin was the cause, look up to God for pardon and peace: if God forsake them, all is lost. Note, It is no disparagement to the most courageous and intrepid, to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, and to tremble for fear of his displeasure. 2. Joshua pours out his complaints in prayer to God, (1.) He regrets that he had passed Jordan, and not rested in the country they had before conquered; he speaks as under the prevalence of unbelief, and as apprehensive that for destruction, not for possession, they were entered the land of the Amorites. Note, (1.) The throught believers have their weaknesses and infirmities. (2.) When we find fault with God, we only discover our own folly: the judge of all the earth must do right. (3.) He appears astonished, and at a loss what to do, under this disastrous event, when Israel, instead of victory, turn their backs to their enemies. Many a faint of God hath thus been perplexed at the mysterious ways of providence, and ready to question all their former experience. (3.) He express his apprehensions of their imminent danger; encouraged by this force, the Canaanites would attack them, defenceless now if God departs, and cut them off from the earth. Note, Our fears are apt to magnify our dangers, and we are too ready, in difficulties, to defraud. (4.) He pleads the great dishonour which would be cast on God hereby, reserving this as his last argument, and what himself seemed most concerned about. Note, A gracious soul is ever more solicitous about God’s glory than his own interests; let them stand or fall, if God be exalted he asks no more.

10. ¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, “Get there up, 11. wherefore left thou thus upon thy face? 12. Israel hath sinned, and they also have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded thee: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and disassembled also, and they have put it even amongst their own stuff. 12. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from amongst you. 13. Up, 14. I finally the people, and say, I finally yourselves against to-morrow: for thus faith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before these enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. 14. In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be that the tribe which the LORD taketh, shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take, shall come by households; and the hundreds which the LORD shall take, shall come man by man. 15. And it shall be that he that is taken with the accursed thing, shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

Joshua 7:10-15

Joshua no sooner hath done speaking, than God answers him from the mercy sent, and returns his stopping heart. 1. He commands him to arise from the dust, his prayer

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| 16. ¶ So Joshua’s role up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: 17. And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zrathies: and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he brought the family of the Zrathies; and he | | |