Bible Commentaries
Joshua 7

Verse 1

children = sons.

a trespass = a treachery, unfaithfulness. Hebrew ma'al. App-43 . Compare Leviticus 6:2 . Deu 32:51 . 1 Chronicles 5:25 , breach of faith or trust.

accursed = devoted. Compare Joshua 6:17 , &c.

Achan Troubler; called Achar, 1 Chronicles 2:7 .

took. Septuagint has enosphisanto = took for themselves, i.e. sacrilege. Same word as in Acts 5:1 , Acts 5:2 of Ananias and Sapphire.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

men. Hebrew, plural of ish or 'enosh . App-14 .

Ai. Near Beth-el. Compare Genesis 12:8 ; Genesis 13:3 .

Beth-aven = House of vanity.

Beth-el = House of God. Compare Genesis 28:19 .

Verse 3

go up = go toilingly thither.

men = Hebrew. ish . App-14 .

Verse 5

melted = became as water. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6 .

Verse 7

Alas. Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6

Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah . See App-4 .

wherefore. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

would to God. Hebrew "would that". No "to God "in Hebrew text.

Verse 8

O LORD *, Hebrew O Adonai; but this is one of the 134 places altered from Jehovah to Adonai by the Sopherim

turneth = hath [once] turned.

Verse 9

what. ? Figure of speech , Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 10

said. See note on Joshua 3:7 .

Verse 11

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

for = and. All these "ands" might be well rendered "moreover".

Verse 12

(10-13) There is a minute correspondence between Joshua 7:10-13 , an Extended alternation of five members each, for which we have no space; also between Joshua 7:14 and Joshua 7:16-18 .

Verse 13

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 14

taketh = taketh [by lot], i.e. by the Urim and Thummim. Sec note on Exodus 28:30 and Numbers 26:55 . The Urim stone bringing to "light" the guilty, and the Thummim declaring the "perfection" or innocence.

man = geber. App-14 .

Verse 15

burnt = burnt up, but not necessarily alive, Hebrew. saraph. See App-43 .

Verse 17

family Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read plural "families".

man by man . Some codices, with two early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "by their households".

Verse 19

give . . . glory to the LORD. All the Vulgate versions corrupt this passage by omitting "to Him". The Portuguese version of Figuoredo changes "Him" to "me".

Verse 21

a = one.

Babylonish. Hebrew = "of Shinar", i.e. of Babylonia.

shekels. See App-51 .

Wedge = bar. Hebrew tongue: put by Figure of speech, Metonymy (of Adjunct) for a coin of this shape ( App-6 ).

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6 ).

it. Feminine. Probably referring to the garment.

Verse 23

the midst. Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ).

Verse 24

son of Zerah. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species) for great-grandson. App-6 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysendeton ( App-6 ), emphasising each particular.

Verse 25

Why. . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ).

troubled . . . trouble. Hebrew. Achored . . . Acker .

stoned them : i.e. the people, not the property.

Verse 26

the fierceness. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ).