Joshua 7:7 kjv
And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
Joshua 7:7 nkjv
And Joshua 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 destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!
Joshua 7:7 niv
And Joshua said, "Alas, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
Joshua 7:7 esv
And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!
Joshua 7:7 nlt
Then Joshua cried out, "Oh, Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side!
Joshua 7 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num. 11:1-2 | "And when the people complained in the hearing of the LORD...Moses prayed." | Israel's complaints in the wilderness. |
| Num. 14:1-4 | "...And said to one another, 'Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.'" | People's desire to return instead of entering. |
| Deut. 1:27-28 | "...you grumbled in your tents and said, 'Because the LORD hated us...'" | Israel's grumbling at Kadesh-barnea. |
| Ex. 5:22-23 | "Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, 'O Lord, why have You done evil...'" | Moses' similar lament/questioning to God. |
| Job 23:2-3 | "Today also my complaint is bitter... Oh, that I knew where I might find Him..." | A lament expressing deep sorrow and desire for God's presence. |
| Ps. 42:3 | "My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me, 'Where is your God?'" | Distress, perceived divine absence, scorn. |
| Ps. 44:9-10 | "But You have rejected us and disgraced us...You made us turn back..." | National lament for defeat and perceived abandonment. |
| Ps. 73:16-17 | "But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God..." | Difficulty understanding God's ways before clarity. |
| Lam. 3:18-20 | "So I say, 'My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD.'" | Deep despair in lamentations. |
| Jer. 20:7-8 | "O LORD, You have deceived me... I have become a laughingstock all the day..." | Prophet's lament and feeling betrayed by God. |
| Matt. 26:39 | "...'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me...'" | Jesus' human distress and prayer of submission. |
| 2 Cor. 4:8-9 | "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair..." | Apostle's perseverance amidst distress and confusion. |
| Phil. 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication..." | Admonition against anxiety and for prayer to God. |
| Heb. 10:39 | "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith..." | Warning against shrinking back from faith/calling. |
| Isa. 55:8-9 | "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD." | God's superior wisdom and understanding. |
| Rom. 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | God's sovereign good purpose even in adversity. |
| 1 Pet. 5:7 | "Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." | Encouragement to cast burdens upon God. |
| Ps. 106:24-25 | "Then they despised the pleasant land...grumbled in their tents..." | Israel's persistent pattern of discontent. |
| John 6:66-67 | "After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him." | Those who choose to turn back from challenging paths. |
| Gen. 50:20 | "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." | God's sovereign control over seemingly bad events. |
| Ps. 77:7-10 | "Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His compassion?" | A Psalmist questioning God's past actions and compassion. |
| Judg. 2:1-3 | "The angel of the LORD...said, 'I brought you up from Egypt... you have not obeyed My voice.'" | Consequences of disobedience related to covenant. |
Joshua 7 verses
Joshua 7 7 Meaning
Joshua chapter 7, verse 7 captures Joshua's profound distress and questioning of God's wisdom and purpose after Israel's unexpected defeat at Ai. He laments to the Lord GOD, expressing bewilderment as to why God led them across the Jordan only for them to face destruction at the hands of the Amorites. Joshua even wishes that Israel had remained content east of the Jordan River, thereby implying a preference for a less challenging existence over the divinely appointed, but presently difficult, path into the Promised Land. This moment reveals the deep despair and human vulnerability of even a great leader facing perceived divine abandonment and a potential reversal of God's promises.
Joshua 7 7 Context
Joshua chapter 7 immediately follows Israel's miraculous, complete victory at Jericho (Chapter 6), where God ensured the city's destruction and prohibited anyone from taking spoil for themselves. The sudden defeat at Ai, involving only a small contingent of Israelite soldiers, is therefore a jarring and terrifying reversal of fortune. This defeat signifies not just a tactical loss, but a deeper spiritual crisis. Joshua's lament in verse 7 is spoken after the reconnaissance of Ai and the subsequent, surprising rout of Israelite forces, leading to demoralization among the people (Josh. 7:5). Unknown to Joshua at this point, Achan's sin of taking devoted things from Jericho (Josh. 7:1) had caused God to withdraw His blessing and brought judgment upon the entire community, making Israel vulnerable. Joshua's anguished cry reflects his desperate concern for God's honor among the nations and the future of God's covenant promises, which seem imperiled by this setback. The "beyond the Jordan" refers to the Transjordanian territory where the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh had settled.
Joshua 7 7 Word analysis
- And Joshua said: This initiates a deeply personal and emotional expression from a leader typically depicted as courageous and resolute.
- Alas (אָהּ, ah): An interjection expressing grief, lament, sorrow, or anguish. It is a cry of profound distress, indicative of intense emotional pain and disappointment.
- O Lord GOD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, Adonai Yahweh): This dual address is significant. Adonai (Lord/Master) acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and Joshua's submission. Yahweh (LORD) refers to the covenant-keeping God, the "I AM" who acts faithfully towards His people. Pairing them signifies a desperate, direct appeal to God in His supreme authority and covenant faithfulness, even while questioning Him.
- why have You brought (לָמָּה הֵבֵאתָ, lamah hevetah): A rhetorical question expressing confusion, accusation, and anguish. It challenges God's divine leading and perceived purpose. Similar "why" questions appear in lament Psalms (e.g., Ps. 22:1) and Moses' complaints (Ex. 5:22).
- this people: Refers to Israel. There's a slight emotional detachment, highlighting their collective plight and perhaps suggesting Joshua views them as passive recipients of God's action.
- over the Jordan: This alludes to the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (Josh. 3-4), a powerful demonstration of God's faithfulness and power. The contrast between that triumph and the present defeat deepens Joshua's confusion.
- only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites: "To deliver into the hand of" implies an intentional act of abandonment or defeat. The "Amorites" are mentioned specifically, often representing the formidable Canaanite inhabitants (Gen. 15:16; Deut. 1:20), indicating fear of being vanquished by the local powers, contrary to God's promises of victory.
- to destroy us?: The ultimate fear of national annihilation. This indicates Joshua's complete despair, fearing the covenant itself is unraveling, and God's name would be shamed (Josh. 7:9).
- Would that we had been content: An expression of regret and a wish for a different, easier past. It implies a desire to avoid the challenges and dangers of their current mission.
- to dwell beyond the Jordan: Refers to the land east of the Jordan River. It implies a wish for remaining in a supposedly "safer" or "less promised" territory, rather than enduring the difficulties and opposition in the promised land of Canaan itself. It echoes the wilderness generation's longing for Egypt when faced with hardship (Num. 14:1-4).
Joshua 7 7 Bonus section
This lament from Joshua, a successor to Moses, starkly mirrors previous instances of Israel's grumbling and desires to retreat during the wilderness wanderings, specifically at Kadesh-barnea (Num. 14) and throughout their journey. The phrase "would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!" expresses a preference for an unfulfilled, less challenging promise over the rigors of entering the full inheritance God had planned. This tendency to prefer immediate comfort over the difficult path of obedience and faith in God's greater plan is a recurring theme in biblical narratives. It serves as a reminder that a life following God is not always free from distress or the temptation to shrink back, but true faith presses into God for answers and correction.
Joshua 7 7 Commentary
Joshua's lament in Joshua 7:7 is a profound portrayal of a divinely appointed leader grappling with unexpected adversity and despair. His raw expression of anguish—questioning God's intentions, regretting the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, and fearing complete annihilation—underscores the very real human struggle of faith in the face of suffering. This is not an act of rebellion, but a desperate cry to God, acknowledging His ultimate authority even in bitter confusion.
The lament highlights the dramatic shift in perception from triumph (Jericho) to tragedy (Ai), bringing Joshua to the brink of despair for both Israel and, critically, for God's reputation among the surrounding nations. His fear that God would abandon His covenant people and allow their destruction reveals his deep concern for the vindication of God's name (which he states explicitly in the following verses, Josh. 7:9).
God does not rebuke Joshua for this impassioned questioning, but immediately responds by revealing the hidden sin that caused Israel's defeat (Josh. 7:10-15). This teaches that while God allows honest expressions of lament and confusion, the underlying issue is often one of disobedience or unaddressed sin among His people, not divine caprice. The verse serves as a reminder that even strong leaders experience moments of doubt, and that genuine wrestling with God in prayer is permissible and can lead to divine revelation and guidance.