Joshua 7 6

Joshua 7:6 kjv

And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

Joshua 7:6 nkjv

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

Joshua 7:6 niv

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads.

Joshua 7:6 esv

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

Joshua 7:6 nlt

Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the LORD until evening.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 6 Meaning

Joshua 7:6 depicts Joshua and the elders of Israel expressing profound grief, humiliation, and desperate supplication before the Lord after Israel's defeat at Ai. Their actions—tearing clothes, falling prostrate before the Ark of the Lord until evening, and putting dust on their heads—are ancient Near Eastern customs signifying extreme sorrow, national lament, repentance, and an earnest appeal for divine intervention and revelation regarding the cause of God's disfavor. It underscores their complete dependence on God for victory and their recognition of a breach in the covenant relationship.

Joshua 7 6 Context

Joshua 7:6 follows the inexplicable defeat of Israel at Ai, immediately after their triumphant and seemingly effortless victory over Jericho. Unbeknownst to Joshua and the majority of the Israelites, the defeat was not due to military weakness or strategic error but to the sin of Achan, who had violated God's explicit command by taking devoted plunder from Jericho. The verses immediately prior (7:1-5) describe Israel's overconfidence in attacking Ai and their subsequent devastating rout, causing the "hearts of the people melted and became as water." Joshua's reaction, alongside the elders, is a display of shock, despair, and deep spiritual agony.

Historically, this event occurs early in Israel's conquest of Canaan. Their very entry into the land, their sustenance, and their success are contingent upon their covenant faithfulness to God. This defeat signals a breakdown in that relationship, raising urgent questions about God's presence among them and their ability to fulfill His commission. The ark of the covenant, central to the conquest and symbol of God's presence and power (as seen at Jericho), now sits as a silent witness to their shame, necessitating a deep, public plea for God's favor and guidance.

Joshua 7 6 Word analysis

• And Joshua rent (vayiqra): From the Hebrew verb קָרַע (qara), meaning "to tear," "to rend." In this context, it refers specifically to the tearing of one's outer garment. This was a universally recognized symbolic act in the ancient Near East and among the Israelites, signifying extreme emotional distress, sorrow, indignation, despair, and sometimes even rage or horror. It's an outward, immediate, and visible expression of profound inner anguish, signifying a deep-seated reaction to tragic or deeply distressing news. It is not merely an emotional outburst but a performative act indicating spiritual and national crisis.

• his clothes: Referring to Joshua's outer garments. The act was public and demonstrative, signifying his shared agony with the people. It's a visible abandonment of personal dignity in favor of corporate lament and humiliation before God.

• and fell to the earth (vayipol al-ha'aretz): From נָפַל (naphal), "to fall." This phrase describes falling prostrate, flat on one's face. It is a posture of absolute submission, humility, helplessness, deep reverence, adoration, and supplication. In times of crisis or prayer, it demonstrated complete self-abasement before a superior being, in this case, the Lord. It signifies a giving up of self and a desperate plea.

• upon his face: Reinforces the posture of prostration, indicating utmost reverence, humility, and also deep despair or utter brokenness. This position symbolizes utter unworthiness and an acknowledgment of God's supreme authority.

• before the ark of the Lord (li-fney aron YHWH): "Before" (li-fney) literally means "in the face of" or "in the presence of." The "ark of the Lord" (aron YHWH) refers to the Ark of the Covenant, the holiest object in Israel. The Ark symbolized God's manifest presence, His throne among His people, and the physical representation of His covenant. To fall before it was to fall directly before the Divine presence, acknowledging God's sovereignty and seeking direct communication from Him. It also highlighted that the crisis was ultimately a crisis with God. The use of YHWH, the personal covenant name of God, underscores the deep relationship and trust that was now under strain.

• until the eventide (ad ha-erev): This specifies the duration of their prostration. "Until evening" signifies an extended, protracted period of mourning, intercession, and earnest waiting upon God. It demonstrates persistent and intense prayer, a deep earnestness that would not cease until some answer or relief was perceived. It suggests an unwillingness to resume normal activities until God's presence was restored or His will made known.

• he and the elders of Israel: This indicates that the act was not merely Joshua's personal grief but a collective, official act of national lament led by the designated representatives (z’qenim) of the community. The elders represented the people and their actions indicated a shared responsibility and communal plea, highlighting the corporate nature of Israel's covenant relationship with God—sin and blessing affected the whole nation.

• and put dust upon their heads (va-ya'aluaphar al-rosham): Another powerful, ancient ritual of mourning and abasement. "Dust" (``aphar) or ashes, symbolized mortality, deep grief, sorrow, humility, degradation, self-condemnation, and often repentance. Pouring or sprinkling it on the head was a physical embodiment of their lowliness and their acknowledgement of the severity of their predicament before God. It visually declared that they were "dust and ashes" before Him, unworthy, and fully broken.

Joshua 7 6 Bonus section

• A Culture of Lament: This verse offers insight into the cultural expressions of profound grief and repentance in ancient Israel. These were not abstract concepts but were visibly and physically enacted, embodying the inner state.
• Corporate Responsibility: The incident powerfully illustrates the principle of corporate responsibility or solidarity in the Old Testament, where the sin of one (Achan) could bring judgment and consequence upon the whole community. This underscores the need for holiness and accountability within the covenant people.
• God's Honor at Stake: While grieving for his people, Joshua's subsequent prayer in Joshua 7:7-9, which follows this lament, reveals his ultimate concern for God's reputation among the Canaanite nations. The defeat at Ai wasn't just a loss for Israel; it presented a theological problem: how would the surrounding nations perceive Israel's God, the One who miraculously defeated Jericho? This deeply practical concern about God's name reflects true spiritual leadership.
• A Forerunner of Humiliation and Revival: This moment of profound humiliation for Israel becomes the necessary precursor to their understanding of sin, repentance, and eventual revival, enabling God's renewed favor and success in the conquest. It highlights that breakthroughs often follow periods of intense self-abasement and sincere seeking of God.

Joshua 7 6 Commentary

Joshua 7:6 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating the profound crisis that enveloped Israel after their defeat at Ai. Joshua’s and the elders’ actions are not mere expressions of despair, but deeply symbolic religious rites signifying national lament, communal repentance, and an earnest appeal for God's intervention. Their physical humiliation – tearing clothes, falling prostrate for hours before the Ark, and covering themselves with dust – reflected the spiritual devastation within the camp. This was not a plea from a position of strength, but from absolute brokenness and confusion, echoing ancient customs for responding to overwhelming disaster or divine judgment.

The setting, "before the Ark of the Lord," emphasizes that this was a crisis of their relationship with God. They recognized that the military defeat was not a random misfortune, but a manifestation of God's disfavor, threatening the very core of their identity as God's chosen people and the fulfillment of His promises for the land. Their prolonged vigil "until eventide" highlights their persistence and urgent need for an answer, demonstrating their dependence on divine guidance.

This scene powerfully contrasts with the celebratory mood after Jericho and highlights the severity of corporate sin. Although Achan alone committed the transgression, its consequences affected the entire nation, revealing the communal nature of the covenant and the purity required for God to be present among them. Joshua, as leader, fully embraced the corporate burden, representing the people's grief and spiritual desperation, preparing the way for God's revelation of the sin and subsequent restoration. It's a stark reminder that true leadership, in moments of spiritual crisis, involves deep humility, shared burden, and persistent, earnest intercession before God.