Joshua 7

Joshua 7:1

THe children] One of them, whose misdeed was imputed to all the people, untill such time as by diligent enquiry and just punishment, they were justified, and the offence purged, verse 12 Achan] called Achar also, 1 Chronicles 2:7 Zabdi] who is also called Zimri, 1 Chronicles 2:6.

Joshua 7:2

Go up] For out of the plaine of Jericho, they went towards the mountainous places of the Countrey.

Joshua 7:6

Put dust] A ceremony used in great mournings, and lamentations, 1 Samuel 4:12. 2 Samuel 13:19. Nehemiah 9:1. Job 2:12. Now Joshuas grief was not for the small number of the people which was lost, but because it was a signe of Gods wrath, because he favored not this enterprise according to his promise, and might thereby turne the peoples hearts from beleeving, and cause them to saint.

Joshua 7:7

Would to God] There is some excesse in this wish, contrary to Gods expresse command, but the generall sense is good: It had been better for us to have had lesse land, and fewer goods, and that thy name had not been exposed to the blasphemies of thine enemies, through these accidents, if thou wilt suffer them.

Joshua 7:9

What wilt thou do] How is it possible that thy great glory should not be disabled by this our losse? Exodus 32:2. Num. 14 13.

Joshua 7:11

My Covenant] The command which they had accepted of, with a voluntary submission to the punishment.

Joshua 7:12

They were] by this offence they have made themselves guilty of the same destruction, to which the accursed thing was condemned: The accursed] man who is guilty thereof, and is thereby become accursed himselfe.

Joshua 7:13

Sanctifie] Prepare them by ceremoniall purifications, abstinences, prayers and devotions, to appeare before God, that the offender being discovered and punished, the people may be freed from the offence, see Joshua 3:5.

Joshua 7:14

To your tribes] See concerning this chusing out, and severing the people, upon Exodus 6:14 Taketh] which shall be drawn by lot, or pointed out some other way, not specified, whereby that tribe may be stayed until the offender be found out, the other tribes being sent away free.

Joshua 7:15

That is taken] That is discovered to be guilty of it: Be burnt] as the accursed things ought to be, Deuteronomy 13:16.

Joshua 7:17

Man by man] By poll, the heads of families, which scended from Za, Genesis 38:30.

Joshua 7:19

Give] Humble thy selfe before him by a sincere confession; acknowledging him to be the searcher of the hearts, the witnesse of all secret facts, and the judger of sins, 1 Samuel 6:5. Jeremiah 13:16. John 9:24.

Joshua 7:23

Laid them out] This phrase seemeth to shew some detestation, Before the Lord] before the Arke of God, where this solemn act was done.

Joshua 7:24

Of Achor] Of trouble, so called by reason of this acciident, v. 26.

Joshua 7:25

Stoned them] An extreame severity for example, which neverthelesse admitteth no complaint, seeing God was author thereof, whose judgements are always just, though incomprehensible and beyond all human reason.

Joshua 7:26

Raised] According to the custome, over the bodies of them, which died ignominiously, Joshua 8:29. 2 Samuel 18:17. Lamentations 3:53.