Joshua 7 12

Joshua 7:12 kjv

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Joshua 7:12 nkjv

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

Joshua 7:12 niv

That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

Joshua 7:12 esv

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.

Joshua 7:12 nlt

That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 12 Meaning

Joshua 7:12 reveals God's explicit judgment upon Israel for their defeat at Ai: they were rendered powerless before their enemies because of their corporate sin—specifically, the unholy taking of "devoted things" (herem) from Jericho. God declares a conditional withdrawal of His presence and assistance, stating that He will not be with them or grant them victory again unless the forbidden devoted items are purged from their midst. This verse underscores God's absolute holiness, the severity of corporate sin, and the conditional nature of His active presence and blessing based on Israel's obedience to the covenant.

Joshua 7 12 Context

Joshua chapter 7 details the immediate aftermath of Israel's stunning victory at Jericho. Despite the explicit command to completely destroy or devote to the Lord everything in Jericho (the "herem"), Achan, an Israelite soldier, disobeys by secretly taking some of the banned spoil. This individual act of transgression has corporate consequences: when Israel then faces the seemingly insignificant city of Ai, they suffer a humiliating and unexpected defeat. Joshua's anguished prayer for understanding is answered by God in this verse, who reveals that the sin of the "devoted things" is the cause. The historical context emphasizes Israel's newly established covenant with God at Sinai, where obedience was paramount to receiving divine favor and succeeding in the conquest of Canaan. This incident serves as a crucial lesson in corporate responsibility and God's unyielding holiness in the face of covenant violation, setting the stage for Achan's discovery, judgment, and Israel's subsequent restoration and victory at Ai.

Joshua 7 12 Word analysis

• Therefore (וְלָכֵן, ve·lakhen):

  • Functions as a causal connector, explicitly linking Israel's defeat to God's previously revealed reason (the sin of the "devoted things").
  • Highlights the direct divine consequence of Israel's corporate disobedience.

• the sons of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, bene Yisrael):

  • Refers to the entire Israelite community, not just the soldiers at Ai.
  • Emphasizes the concept of corporate solidarity, where the sin of an individual member affects the whole covenant nation.

• cannot stand before their enemies (לֹא יוּכְלוּ לַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיהֶם, lo yuchlu la'amod lifnei oyveihem):

  • Literally "they will not be able to stand." Implies complete tactical and moral inability to fight.
  • Points to the sudden withdrawal of divine empowerment, which was their true source of strength in battle, demonstrating Israel's weakness without God.

• they turn their backs before their enemies (וַיִּהְיוּ לְעֹרֶף לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיהֶם, vayihyu le’oreph lifnei o’yeveihem):

  • An idiom for fleeing in defeat or being routed in disgrace.
  • Visually portrays the shame and ignominy of being utterly vanquished by a weaker foe.

• because (כִּי, ki):

  • Introduces the direct and unequivocal reason for Israel's military failure.
  • Establishes a cause-and-effect relationship based on divine principles.

• they have become devoted to destruction (הָיוּ חֵרֶם, hayu cherem):

  • Herem (חֵרֶם): A crucial theological term. Refers to something irrevocably set apart for God, often for complete destruction as a mark of His judgment on unholiness, or as an offering wholly dedicated to Him.
  • Here, it means the presence of forbidden items (herem) within the camp has defiled Israel, causing them to fall under the defiling influence and potential judgment associated with "herem." Israel itself, through their allowance of the forbidden, is compromised, effectively "having" herem among them. This indicates the "contagious" nature of sin and impurity within the covenant community.

• I will no longer be with you (לֹא אֹסִיף לִהְיוֹת עִמָּכֶם, lo osif lihyot immakhem):

  • "I will not add to be with you." A definitive statement of conditional divine withdrawal.
  • Underlines that God's active, successful presence in battle is contingent upon Israel's obedience.
  • This is not abandonment of the covenant but a temporary suspension of empowering support until sin is addressed.

• unless you destroy (אִם לֹא תַשְׁמִידוּ, im lo tashmidu):

  • Establishes a clear, non-negotiable prerequisite for God's restored favor and presence.
  • The burden of actively eradicating the sin is placed upon Israel.

• the devoted things (הַחֵרֶם, ha-cherem):

  • Reiterates the core problem, specifically the stolen items Achan took.
  • Emphasizes that the impurity remains a defiling presence until completely removed.

• from among you (מִקִּרְבְּכֶם, mikkirbechem):

  • Stresses that the source of Israel's weakness and defilement is internal, originating from within their own camp.
  • Requires an internal search and purification to resolve.

Joshua 7 12 Bonus section

• The consequence of defeat at Ai (humiliation, loss of life) and the ultimate judgment on Achan and his family were severe, serving as a solemn and perpetual warning against covetousness and disobedience within God's covenant people.
• The "Valley of Achor," where Achan was punished, derives its name from the Hebrew word for "trouble" or "calamity," making it a memorial to this pivotal lesson for future generations of Israel (Joshua 7:26).
• This passage highlights God's demand for internal purity and obedience from His people before they can effectively carry out His will externally. True strength in spiritual warfare comes from being right with God.
• The principle of corporate responsibility, prominent here, underscores the interconnectedness of God's people. An unaddressed sin by one can hinder the blessing for many, urging vigilance, accountability, and a collective commitment to holiness within the community of faith.

Joshua 7 12 Commentary

Joshua 7:12 lays bare the theological reality behind Israel's unexpected defeat at Ai: it was not a military miscalculation but a spiritual crisis. God's holiness demands absolute obedience from His covenant people, especially concerning the herem (devoted things), which represent a radical separation of holy things from profane for the purpose of glorifying Him and judging evil. Achan's individual act of greed in violating the herem was viewed corporately by God as Israel's sin, making the entire community ceremonially unclean and subject to the consequences of God's wrath. This defilement directly negated God's promised presence, which was the very source of their power and success. Without His "being with them," Israel was strategically and spiritually impotent. This pivotal verse declares that divine aid and victory would not resume until the defiling objects were thoroughly identified and purged from within the community, signifying the restoration of the nation's corporate purity before God. It serves as an enduring principle that unaddressed sin within a community impedes divine blessing and mission.