Discovery BoxJoshua 7:5-8 
Context7:5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from in front of the city gate all the way to the fissures 1 and defeated them on the steep slope. 2 The people’s 3 courage melted away like water. 4
7:6 Joshua tore his clothes; 5 he and the leaders 6 of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening 7 and threw dirt on their heads. 8 7:7 Joshua prayed, 9 “O, Master, Lord! Why did you bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us? 7:8 If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated 10 before its enemies?
Joshua 7:12
Context7:12 The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. 11 I will no longer be with you, 12 unless you destroy what has contaminated you. 13
1 tn The meaning and correct translation of the Hebrew word שְׁבָרִים (shÿvarim) is uncertain. The translation “fissures” is based on usage of the plural form of the noun in Ps 60:4 HT (60:2 ET), where it appears to refer to cracks in the earth caused by an earthquake. Perhaps deep ravines or gorges are in view, or the word is a proper noun (“all the way to Shebarim”).
2 sn The precise geographical location of the Israelite defeat at this “steep slope” is uncertain.
3 tn Or “army’s.”
4 tn Heb “and the heart of the people melted and became water.”
5 sn Tearing one’s clothes was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Gen 37:34; 44:13).
6 tn Or “elders.”
7 tn Heb “and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the
8 sn Throwing dirt on one’s head was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Lam 2:10; Ezek 27:30).
9 tn Heb “said.”
10 tn Heb “turned [the] back.”
11 tn Heb “they turn [the] back before their enemies because they are set apart [to destruction by the
12 tn The second person pronoun is plural in Hebrew, indicating these words are addressed to the entire nation.
13 tn Heb “what is set apart [to destruction by the
