Discovery BoxJoshua 7:6-13 
Context7:6 Joshua tore his clothes; 1 he and the leaders 2 of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening 3 and threw dirt on their heads. 4 7:7 Joshua prayed, 5 “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 6 before its enemies? 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will turn against us and destroy the very memory of us 7 from the earth. What will you do to protect your great reputation?” 8
7:10 The Lord responded 9 to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there face down? 10 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment! 11 They have taken some of the riches; 12 they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions. 13 7:12 The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. 14 I will no longer be with you, 15 unless you destroy what has contaminated you. 16 7:13 Get up! Ritually consecrate the people and tell them this: ‘Ritually consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because the Lord God of Israel says, “You are contaminated, 17 O Israel! You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove what is contaminating you.” 18
1 sn Tearing one’s clothes was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Gen 37:34; 44:13).
2 tn Or “elders.”
3 tn Heb “and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the
4 sn Throwing dirt on one’s head was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Lam 2:10; Ezek 27:30).
5 tn Heb “said.”
6 tn Heb “turned [the] back.”
7 tn Heb “and cut off our name.”
8 tn Heb “What will you do for your great name?”
9 tn Heb “said.”
10 tn Heb “Why are you falling on your face?”
11 tn Heb “They have violated my covenant which I commanded them.”
12 tn Heb “what was set apart [to the
13 tn Heb “and also they have stolen, and also they have lied, and also they have placed [them] among their items.”
14 tn Heb “they turn [the] back before their enemies because they are set apart [to destruction by the
15 tn The second person pronoun is plural in Hebrew, indicating these words are addressed to the entire nation.
16 tn Heb “what is set apart [to destruction by the
17 tn Heb “what is set apart [to destruction by the
18 tn Heb “remove what is set apart [i.e., to destruction by the
