Christian Standard Bible
Joshua 7:6
6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.
Joshua 7:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
- New International Version (NIV)Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
Context of Joshua 7:6
4So about three thousand men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. 5The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them and chased them from outside the city gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people lost heart. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads. 7“Oh, Lord God,” Joshua said, “why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan! 8What can I say, Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?
Read all of Joshua 7Joshua 7:6 word by word
וַיִּקְרַ֨ע יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ שִׂמְלֹתָ֗יו וַיִּפֹּל֩ עַל־פָּנָ֨יו אַ֜רְצָה לִפְנֵ֨י אֲר֤וֹן יְהוָה֙ עַד־הָעֶ֔רֶב ה֖וּא וְזִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּעֲל֥וּ עָפָ֖ר עַל־רֹאשָֽׁם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
- rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
- his clothesשִׂמְלָהώimlâh · mantleH8071
- and fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: killH5307
- to the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- upon his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- until the eventideעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
- he and the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and putעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: establishH5927
- dustעָפָר‛âphâr · dustH6083
- upon their headsרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
Cross-references for Joshua 7:6
- Genesis 37:29When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.
- Numbers 14:6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes
- 2 Samuel 13:31In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
- Ezra 9:3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.
- Esther 4:1When Mordecai learned all that had occurred, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly.
- Job 1:20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
- Acts 14:14The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
- Numbers 16:22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “God, God who gives breath to all, when one man sins, will you vent your wrath on the whole community?”
- 2 Samuel 12:16David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.
- Judges 20:23They went up, wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of him, “Should we again attack our brothers the Benjaminites?” And the Lord answered, “Fight against them.”
- Judges 21:2So the people went to Bethel and sat there before God until evening. They wept loudly and bitterly,
- 2 Samuel 1:12They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword — for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel.
- 1 Samuel 4:12That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head.
- 2 Samuel 13:19Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away crying out.
- Nehemiah 9:1On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads.
- Job 2:12When they looked from a distance, they could barely recognize him. They wept aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust into the air and on his head.
Commentaries on Joshua 7:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Joshua rent his clothes, etc. - It was not in consequence of this slight discomfiture, simply considered in itself, that Joshua laid this business so much to heart; but Because the people melted, and became as water, and there was little hope that they would make any stand against the enemy; and Because this defeat evidently showed that God had turned his hand against them. Had it not been so, their enemies could not have prevailed. Put dust upon their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6On these signs of mourning, compare the marginal references and Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 20:6; 1 Samuel 4:12.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 Joshua's concern for the honour of God, more than even for the fate of Israel, was the language of the Spirit of adoption. He pleaded with God. He laments their defeat, as he feared it would reflect on God's wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness. We cannot at any time urge a better plea than this, Lord, what wilt thou do for thy great name? Let God be glorified in all, and then welcome his whole will.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Israel’s leaders tore their clothing and threw dust on their heads, common public gestures of grief or despair in the ancient Near East. By falling face down before the ark of the LORD, Joshua finally admitted that Israel needed God's guidance in the battle against Ai.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-96-9. Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth ... before the ark ... he and the elders--It is evident, from those tokens of humiliation and sorrow, that a solemn fast was observed on this occasion. The language of Joshua's prayer is thought by many to savor of human infirmity and to be wanting in that reverence and submission he owed to God. But, although apparently breathing a spirit of bold remonstrance and complaint, it was in reality the…Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 7:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Joshua 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries