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Joshua 7:8

Verse 8 of 26. The 7th of 24 chapters in Joshua, in History.

4So about three thousand men of the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai.

5The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them. They chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. The hearts of the people melted, and became like water.

6Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the LORD’s ark until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.

7Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? I wish that we had been content and lived beyond the Jordan!

8Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after Israel has turned their backs before their enemies?

9For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?”

10The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that?

11Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken some of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.

12Therefore the children of Israel can’t stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will not be with you any more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

Read Joshua 7

World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.