Joshua 7:5

KJV

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them [from] before the gate [even] unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the men {H582} of Ai {H5857} smote {H5221} of them about thirty {H7970} and six {H8337} men {H376}: for they chased {H7291} them from before {H6440} the gate {H8179} even unto Shebarim {H7671}, and smote {H5221} them in the going down {H4174}: wherefore the hearts {H3824} of the people {H5971} melted {H4549}, and became as water {H4325}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The men of 'Ai killed some thirty-six of them and chased them from before their gate all the way to Sh'varim, attacking them on the descent. The hearts of the people melted and turned to water.

Berean Standard Bible

And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

American Standard Version

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men; and they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them at the descent: and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 7:5 recounts the humiliating defeat of the Israelites at Ai, where a small contingent of thirty-six men were killed and the rest chased in disarray, causing the entire nation's morale to collapse into fear and despair. This unexpected rout, following the miraculous victory at Jericho, served as a stark and painful revelation of God's disfavor due to unconfessed sin within the camp, profoundly impacting the people's confidence and spiritual state.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the initial, overconfident assessment of Ai by Joshua's reconnaissance team in [Joshua 7:2-3](/joshua/7-2 "Joshua 7:2-3 - Reconnaissance of Ai"), who suggested only a small force was needed. The disastrous outcome described in [Joshua 7:5](/joshua/7-5 "Joshua 7:5 - Defeat at Ai") directly contradicts their assessment and sets the stage for Joshua's lament and inquiry to God in [Joshua 7:6-9](/joshua/7-6 "Joshua 7:6-9 - Joshua's Lament"). The entire chapter, [Joshua 7](/joshua/7 "Joshua 7 - Achan's Sin and Defeat at Ai"), functions as a pivotal narrative turning point, shifting from the triumphant conquest of Jericho in [Joshua 6](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho") to a moment of national crisis and divine judgment, revealing the devastating consequences of Achan's sin, which is exposed later in the chapter ([Joshua 7:16-26](/joshua/7-16 "Joshua 7:16-26 - Achan's Confession and Punishment")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were in the initial stages of conquering Canaan, a land promised to them by God. Their military success was not based on conventional strength but on divine intervention and their obedience to God's covenant. The defeat at Ai, a seemingly minor city compared to Jericho, was therefore not just a military setback but a theological crisis. Culturally, the "melting of hearts" was a common idiom for extreme fear and loss of courage in the ancient Near East, often signifying a complete demoralization in the face of an enemy. The pursuit "from before the gate even unto Shebarim" indicates a complete rout, with the Israelites fleeing in panic from the city's immediate vicinity to a likely geographical feature (perhaps quarries or broken ground) that offered no defense, emphasizing the utter humiliation of their retreat.
* **Key Themes:** [Joshua 7:5](/joshua/7-5 "Joshua 7:5 - Defeat at Ai") powerfully underscores several key themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **corporate consequences of individual sin**, demonstrating that Achan's private transgression ([Joshua 7:1](/joshua/7-1 "Joshua 7:1 - Achan's Sin")) brought divine disfavor and defeat upon the entire nation. Secondly, it emphasizes **divine sovereignty and Israel's dependence on God's favor**, revealing that their strength and success were entirely contingent on God's presence and their obedience, not their military prowess or numbers. This contrasts sharply with God's earlier promise of success if they obeyed ([Joshua 1:7-9](/joshua/1-7 "Joshua 1:7-9 - God's Charge to Joshua")). Finally, the verse vividly portrays **fear and demoralization**, a stark reversal of the confidence and awe that characterized Israel after the miraculous fall of Jericho ([Joshua 6:20](/joshua/6-20 "Joshua 6:20 - The Fall of Jericho's Walls")), serving as a humbling lesson that forced Joshua and the people to confront their spiritual state.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Smote (Hebrew, _nāḵāh'_):** This verb, often translated as "strike," "kill," or "defeat," carries a strong sense of violent impact and decisive action. Here, it denotes the lethal effectiveness of the men of Ai against the Israelites, highlighting the severity of the defeat and the loss of life. Its repetition ("smote of them," "smote them in the going down") emphasizes the relentless and successful assault by the enemy.
* **Melted (Hebrew, _māsaṣ'_):** This word literally means "to dissolve," "to melt," or "to flow away." When applied to the heart, as it is here, it is a powerful idiom for the complete loss of courage, resolve, and strength, akin to something solid turning to liquid. It conveys a profound sense of panic, fear, and utter demoralization, where internal fortitude drains away.
* **Water (Hebrew, _mayim'_):** Used metaphorically in conjunction with "melted," "water" intensifies the image of utter collapse and weakness. Unlike the solid, unyielding heart of a brave warrior, a heart "as water" is formless, unstable, and utterly without resilience. It signifies a state of extreme terror and helplessness, where all courage has evaporated.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men:"** This clause immediately establishes the devastating outcome of the battle. The number, "thirty and six," though seemingly small in the context of a national army, represents a significant and humiliating loss, especially considering the Israelites' recent, effortless victory at Jericho and their expectation of similar divine intervention. It signifies the direct, lethal consequence of God's disfavor.
* **"for they chased them [from] before the gate [even] unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down:"** This part details the extent and nature of the rout. The pursuit "from before the gate" indicates that the Israelites were defeated even before they could properly engage or retreat into a defensive position, suggesting a swift and decisive victory for Ai. "Unto Shebarim," likely a geographical feature like quarries or broken ground, emphasizes the depth of their panicked flight. The phrase "smote them in the going down" further highlights the vulnerability of the fleeing Israelites, as they were attacked while retreating downhill, making them easy targets and compounding their humiliation.
* **"wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water."** This final clause describes the psychological and spiritual impact of the defeat on the entire nation. The vivid idiom "hearts of the people melted, and became as water" powerfully conveys a complete collapse of morale, courage, and resolve. It signifies profound fear, despair, and a loss of confidence in God's presence and their own ability, a stark contrast to their previous triumphs and a sign of deep spiritual distress.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs powerful **Imagery** and **Metaphor** to convey the profound psychological impact of Israel's defeat. The phrase "the hearts of the people melted, and became as water" is a vivid **idiom** that serves as a striking **metaphor** for extreme fear and demoralization. It evokes the tangible sensation of something solid dissolving into a formless, weak liquid, effectively communicating the complete loss of courage and resolve. This imagery is a form of **hyperbole**, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of their terror beyond a simple statement of fear. The **contrast** between Israel's previous confidence after Jericho and their current state of panic also serves as a potent literary device, highlighting the severity of their spiritual condition and the immediate consequences of divine disfavor. The **repetition** of "smote" underscores the brutal reality of their defeat.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The defeat at Ai, as encapsulated in [Joshua 7:5](/joshua/7-5 "Joshua 7:5 - Defeat at Ai"), serves as a profound theological lesson on the seriousness of sin and the absolute necessity of corporate holiness for God's people. It demonstrates that God's covenant faithfulness to Israel was contingent upon their obedience, and even the hidden sin of one individual could break that covenant relationship, leading to divine judgment and corporate defeat. This event underscores that Israel's strength was not in their numbers or military might, but solely in the presence and favor of Yahweh, which was withdrawn due to unconfessed transgression. The melting of their hearts signifies not merely a tactical defeat but a spiritual crisis, revealing that their confidence was rooted in God's active presence, which was now absent.

* [Deuteronomy 28:25](/deuteronomy/28-25 "Consequences of Disobedience")
* [Leviticus 26:17](/leviticus/26-17 "God's Judgment for Disobedience")
* [Psalm 22:14](/psalms/22-14 "Heart Melted Like Wax")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The crushing defeat at Ai, vividly portrayed in [Joshua 7:5](/joshua/7-5 "Joshua 7:5 - Defeat at Ai"), offers timeless lessons for believers today. It serves as a potent reminder that our spiritual victories and flourishing are not guaranteed by past successes or human strength, but are entirely dependent on our ongoing obedience and reliance on God's presence. Just as Achan's sin affected the entire community, so too can unconfessed sin, whether individual or corporate, hinder the church's effectiveness and bring about spiritual weakness or defeat. This passage calls us to a radical self-examination, urging us to confront any areas of disobedience, secret sin, or compromise that might be grieving the Holy Spirit and impeding God's blessing on our lives and communities. It underscores the importance of humility, vigilance, and a commitment to holiness, recognizing that true strength comes from walking in integrity before God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might unconfessed sin, whether individual or corporate, be hindering the spiritual progress or effectiveness of my life or my community?**
* **How does the "melting of hearts" at Ai challenge my understanding of where true strength and confidence come from in spiritual battles?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a greater sense of corporate responsibility for holiness within my church or spiritual community?**

### FAQ
**Why did the sin of one man (Achan) affect the entire nation of Israel, leading to defeat?**

Answer: The narrative in [Joshua 7](/joshua/7 "Joshua 7 - Achan's Sin and Defeat at Ai") illustrates the concept of corporate solidarity, which was a significant aspect of ancient Israelite society and theology. In God's covenant with Israel, the nation was seen as a unified entity. Achan's sin of taking forbidden plunder (devoted things, or *cherem*) from Jericho ([Joshua 7:1](/joshua/7-1 "Joshua 7:1 - Achan's Sin")) was not merely a private transgression but a violation of God's direct command to the entire community ([Joshua 6:18](/joshua/6-18 "Joshua 6:18 - Command to Destroy Jericho's Plunder")). Because the covenant was corporate, Achan's act of disobedience was considered an act of unfaithfulness by the whole nation, making them all accountable. This corporate guilt resulted in God withdrawing His favor, leading to their defeat at Ai. It taught Israel that their success and God's presence were contingent on the holiness of the entire community, not just individual piety.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The humbling defeat at Ai, where the hearts of the people "melted, and became as water" due to sin, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate solution to humanity's deepest problem: sin. While Israel's strength and courage failed because of Achan's transgression, the New Testament reveals that true victory over sin and its debilitating effects comes through the perfect obedience and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is the true Israelite, the one who perfectly fulfilled God's law where Israel failed, bearing the corporate guilt of humanity on the cross. Unlike the melting hearts of the Israelites, Jesus faced the ultimate terror of God's wrath, yet His resolve did not melt; He willingly offered Himself as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Through His death and resurrection, He secured for us a victory that is not contingent on our fluctuating obedience but on His perfect righteousness. Believers, united with Christ, are no longer subject to the corporate curse of sin but are given a new heart and the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling them to walk in obedience and experience true courage, even in the face of adversity, knowing that [in Christ, we are more than conquerors](/romans/8-37 "Romans 8:37 - More Than Conquerors"). The defeat at Ai highlights humanity's desperate need for a Savior who could perfectly atone for sin and restore the divine favor that was lost, a need gloriously met in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 2:11

And as soon as we had heard [these things], our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Joshua 2:9

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

Leviticus 26:36

And upon them that are left [alive] of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

Deuteronomy 1:44

And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, [even] unto Hormah.

Isaiah 13:7

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

Nahum 2:10

She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

Psalms 22:14

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.