The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the LORD takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households. And the household that the LORD takes shall come near man by man. And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God's first words to Joshua aren't about the defeat itself, but a pointed question: "Why are you lying on your face?" This highlights that while the people sinned, Joshua's reaction of despair, rather than immediate action to discover the hidden sin, was misplaced.
What Joshua 7:10-15 means
After a devastating defeat at the hands of the small city of Ai, Joshua and the Israelites are utterly demoralized, and Joshua prostrates himself in grief and confusion. The LORD interrupts Joshua's lament, revealing that Israel's failure wasn't due to lack of power, but because one person has sinned and brought a curse upon them all by taking forbidden spoils from Jericho. God instructs Joshua to rise up and prepare the people to identify the guilty party through a divinely orchestrated process.
From Lament to Action
Joshua is found prostrate in despair after a devastating defeat. Why does God immediately call him to 'get up'?
From Grief to God's Mission
When disaster strikes, our natural instinct can be to collapse under the weight of sorrow and confusion. Joshua, facing the unexpected defeat at Ai, fell on his face, overwhelmed. But God's response isn't to comfort his grief directly; it's to redirect his energy.
The Command: "Get up!" This isn't harshness; it's an urgent call to move from passive despair to active engagement. God knows that prolonged, unfocused lament can become a trap, hindering the necessary steps forward.
The Purpose: Joshua isn't meant to just mourn the defeat; he's meant to diagnose it. The defeat isn't a sign of God's abandonment, but a symptom of sin within the camp. God's command is the first step in uncovering the root cause.
The Shift: This moment highlights a crucial truth: while acknowledging our failures and seeking God is vital, we are called to action when faced with sin's consequences. God's plan is always to restore and move forward, and that requires us to rise up and participate in His solution.
The Hidden Cause of Defeat
Why would a whole nation be defeated by a small city? The answer lies not in military strategy, but in a hidden sin.
Sin's Pervasive Power
Joshua's prostrate position was a physical manifestation of Israel's spiritual crisis. God quickly reveals that the defeat wasn't due to a lack of divine power, but a deliberate breach of His command.
The Accursed Thing: The core issue was the sin of taking what was devoted to destruction (the "accursed thing"). This wasn't just a minor infraction; it was sacrilege, stealing from God what He had claimed for Himself after the conquest of Jericho.
Understand the original words
Original language
sinnedחָטָא
chata' · Hebrew Verb
To miss the mark, violate God's law, or fall short of His standard of holiness. In a covenantal context, it signifies an act of rebellion against the Sovereign Lord.
transgressedעָבַר
abar · Hebrew Verb
A serious breach of a binding agreement or legal contract. In the Bible, it refers to the breaking of the treaty relationship established between Yahweh and His people, often involving disobedience to specific stipulations.
covenantבְּרִית
berit · Hebrew Noun
A formal, solemn promise or treaty between two parties, typically involving mutual obligations, blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience. In the Old Testament, it describes the established relationship between God and His people.
devoted thingsחֵרֶם
cherem · Hebrew Noun
Historical context
Written
Likely during the late Bronze Age, around the 14th-13th centuries BC.
Author
Traditionally understood to be Joshua, a leader in the Israelite conquest of Canaan.
Location
Written from the land of Canaan, likely after the conquest.
Genre
Narrative, featuring direct divine address and a significant literary device of divine revelation through casting lots.
Historical background
This moment reveals that even in the midst of God's powerful victories, sin can create a devastating barrier between His people and His presence, leading to immediate and severe consequences.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Jericho
After God miraculously caused the walls of Jericho to fall, the Israelites were commanded to utterly destroy everything and everyone in the city, dedicating the spoils to God.
c. 1400 BC
Achan's Sin
Achan secretly took a valuable robe, silver, and gold from Jericho, hiding them among his belongings, violating God's direct command.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Defeat at Ai
Israel's army suffered a devastating defeat at the city of Ai, fleeing in disarray as their enemies pursued them.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua's Distress
Joshua and the elders of Israel fell facedown on the ground in grief and confusion over the defeat, questioning how God could allow this.
Joshua 7:10-18: "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?"
Tunc dixit Jehova ad Josuam, Surge. Ut quid tu ita procidis super faciem tuam?
Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Peccavit Israel, atque adeo transgressi sunt pactum meum quod praecepi illis…
calvin
“
Joshua 7:10: "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?"
10 . Get thee up ] Joshua might well infer that the people had incurred the Divine displeasure, but it was no time for unavailing remorse—he must be up and trying to detect and put away the sin.
cambridge
Frequently asked questions
What does Joshua 7:10-15 mean?
God's first words to Joshua aren't about the defeat itself, but a pointed question: "Why are you lying on your face?" This highlights that while the people sinned, Joshua's reaction of despair, rather than immediate action to discover the hidden sin, was misplaced.
Explain the meaning of Joshua 7:10-15
After a devastating defeat at the hands of the small city of Ai, Joshua and the Israelites are utterly demoralized, and Joshua prostrates himself in grief and confusion. The LORD interrupts Joshua's lament, revealing that Israel's failure wasn't due to lack of power, but because one person has sinned and brought a curse upon them all by taking forbidden spoils from Jericho. God instructs Joshua to rise up and prepare the people to identify the guilty party through a divinely orchestrated process.
What is the context of Joshua 7:10-15?
After a devastating defeat at the hands of the small city of Ai, Joshua and the Israelites are utterly demoralized, and Joshua prostrates himself in grief and confusion. The LORD interrupts Joshua's lament, revealing that Israel's failure wasn't due to lack of power, but because one person has sinned and brought a curse upon them all by taking forbidden spoils from Jericho. God instructs Joshua to rise up and prepare the people to identify the guilty party through a divinely orchestrated process.
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Covenantal Violation: This act was a direct transgression of the covenant God had made with Israel. By disobeying this specific command, they broke faith with Him and forfeited His protection and presence.
Consequences: The immediate result was catastrophic: Israel couldn't stand before their enemies. God makes it clear: "neither will I be with you any more, except you destroy the accursed thing from among you." Sin creates a barrier between God and His people, rendering them vulnerable.
Universal Guilt: While one person (Achan) committed the act, the entire nation suffered the consequences until the sin was dealt with. This demonstrates how one person's sin can affect the whole community and highlights the importance of corporate responsibility and purification.
The Necessity of Sanctification
God doesn't just want the sin found; He demands a people made 'holy' to face Him and their enemies.
Preparing to Meet God
Following the revelation of sin, God instructs Joshua to "sanctify the people." This wasn't just a call to confess; it was a command to prepare themselves through a process of ritual cleansing and self-examination.
What is Sanctification? In this context, sanctification means being set apart for God. It involves a separation from sin and a dedication to holiness. It's an outward and inward preparation to stand before God and His enemies.
The Process: God outlines a detailed method: identifying the sin by tribe, then family, then household, and finally by individual. This systematic approach ensured the guilty party would be found, and the innocent would be cleared.
Divine Revelation: This wasn't a human investigation but a divine one. God would 'take' the guilty unit, demonstrating His sovereign hand in uncovering the hidden sin.
Why Such Rigor? Israel could not stand before their enemies as long as the 'accursed thing' remained among them. True victory and God's presence required purity. Their sin had made them spiritually unclean, and they needed to be cleansed before they could be restored to a right relationship with God and experience His power again.
Objects or persons set apart specifically for God’s use, or in the context of judgment, things set apart for total destruction as an act of holy warfare. Once declared as such, these items belong entirely to God and cannot be used for common purposes.
consecrateקָדַשׁ
qadash · Hebrew Verb
To set apart or sanctify for a holy purpose. It involves cleansing or preparing oneself to stand in the presence of a holy God, separating from common or unclean things to be fit for service or worship.
the LORDיְהוָה
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, revealing His faithfulness, self-existence, and His active role as the redeemer and ruler of Israel.
lotגּוֹרָל
goral · Hebrew Noun
A method of divine decision-making or seeking God's will where the outcome is considered a direct revelation of His sovereignty. It was used to identify individuals or groups in matters of judgment or selection.
outrageous thingנְבָלָה
nebalah · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting something that is morally shameful, scandalous, or a gross violation of social and religious boundaries. It refers to an act that is profoundly offensive to the holiness of God and the integrity of His covenant community.
God Identifies the Sin
The LORD spoke to Joshua, revealing that Israel's defeat was due to a hidden sin within the camp – the accursed thing taken from Jericho.
c. 1400 BC
Discovery and Punishment of Achan
Through a divinely guided process of elimination, Achan was identified, confessed his sin, and, along with his family and possessions, was executed by stoning and burning.
Breakdown of Joshua 7:10-15
"The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their…" — God's first words to Joshua aren't about the defeat itself, but a pointed question: "Why are you lying on your face?" This highlights that while the people sinned, Joshua's reaction of despair, rat…
