TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
World English Bible Messianic
The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. The hearts of the people melted, and became like water.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the men of Ai smote of them vpon a thirtie and sixe men: for they chased them from before the gate vnto Shebarim, and smote them in the going downe: wherfore the heartes of the people melted away like water.
Young's Literal Translation
and the men of Ai smite of them about thirty and six men, and pursue them before the gate unto Shebarim, and they smite them in Morad; and the heart of the people is melted, and becometh water.
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In the KJVVerse 5,982 of 31,102
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Commentary on Joshua 7 verses 1–5
1 ¶ But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 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.
The story of this chapter begins with a but. The Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was noised through all that country, so the foregoing chapter ends, and it left no room to doubt but that he would go on as he had begun conquering and to conquer. He did right, and observed his orders in every thing. But the children of Israel committed a trespass, and so set God against them; and then even Joshua's name and fame, his wisdom and courage, could do them no service. If we lose our God, we lose our friends, who cannot help us unless God be for us. Now here is,
I. Achan sinning, Jos 7:1. Here is only a general mention made of the sin; we shall afterwards have a more particular account of it from his own mouth. The sin is here said to be taking of the accursed thing, in disobedience to the command and in defiance of the threatening, Jos 6:18. In the sacking of Jericho orders were given that they should neither spare any lives nor take any treasure to themselves; we read not of the breach of the former prohibition (there were none to whom they showed any mercy), but of the latter: compassion was put off and yielded to the law, but covetousness was indulged. The love of the world is that root of bitterness which of all others is most hardly rooted up. Yet the history of Achan is a plain intimation that he of all the thousands of Israel was the only delinquent in this matter. Had there been more in like manner guilty, no doubt we should have heard of it: and it is strange there were no more. The temptation was strong. It was easy to suggest what a pity it was that so many things of value should be burnt; to what purpose is this waste? In plundering cities, every man reckons himself entitled to what he can lay his hands on. It was easy to promise themselves secrecy and impunity. Yet by the grace of God such impressions were made upon the minds of the Israelites by the ordinances of God, circumcision and the passover, which they had lately been partakers of, and by the providences of God which had been concerning them, that they stood in awe of the divine precept and judgment, and generously denied themselves in obedience to their God. And yet, though it was a single person that sinned, the children of Israel are said to commit the trespass, because one of their body did it, and he was not as yet separated from them, nor disowned by them. They did it, that is, by what Achan did guilt was brought upon the whole society of which he was a member. This should be a warning to us to take heed of sin ourselves, lest by it many be defiled or disquieted (Heb 12:15), and to take heed of having fellowship with sinners, and of being in league with them, lest we share in their guilt. Many a careful tradesman has been broken by a careless partner. And it concerns us to watch over one another for the preventing of sin, because others' sins may redound to our damage.
II. The camp of Israel suffering for the same: The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; he saw the offence, though they did not, and takes a course to make them see it; for one way or other, sooner or later, secret sins will be brought to light; and, if men enquire not after them, God will, and with his enquiries will awaken theirs. man a community is under guilt and wrath and is not aware of it till the fire breaks out: here it broke out quickly. 1. Joshua sends a detachment to seize upon the next city that was in their way, and that was Ai. Only 3000 men were sent, advice being brought him by his spies that the place was inconsiderable, and needed no greater force for the reduction of it, Jos 7:2, Jos 7:3. Now perhaps it was a culpable assurance, or security rather that led them to send so small a party on this expedition; it might also be an indulgence of the people in the love of ease, for they will not have all the people to labour thither. Perhaps the people were the less forward to go upon this expedition because they were denied the plunder of Jericho; and these spies were willing they should be gratified. Whereas when the town was to be taken, though God by his own power would throw down the walls, yet they must all labour thither and labour there too, in walking round it. It did not bode well at all that God's Israel began to think much of their labour, and contrived how to spare their pains. It is required that we work out our salvation, though it is God that works in us. It has likewise often proved of bad consequence to make too light of an enemy. They are but few (say the spies), but, as few as they were, they were too many for them. It will awaken our care and diligence in our Christian warfare to consider that we wrestle with principalities and powers. 2. The party he sent, in their first attack upon the town, were repulsed with some loss (Jos 7:4, Jos 7:5): They fled before the men of Ai, finding themselves unaccountably dispirited, and their enemies to sally out upon them with more vigour and resolution than they expected. In their retreat they had about thirty-six men cut off: no great loss indeed out of such a number, but a dreadful surprise to those who had no reason to expect any other in any attack than clear, cheap, and certain victory. And now, as it proves, it is well there were but 3000 that fell under this disgrace. Had the body of the army been there, they would have been no more able to keep their ground, now they were under guilt and wrath, than this small party, and to them the defeat would have been much more grievous and dishonourable. However, it was bad enough as it was, and served, (1.) To humble God's Israel, and to teach them always to rejoice with trembling. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as he that putteth if off. (2.) To harden the Canaanites, and to make them the more secure notwithstanding the terrors they had been struck with, that their ruin, when it came, might be the more dreadful. (3.) To be an evidence of God's displeasure against Israel, and a call to them to purge out the old leaven. And this was principally intended in their defeat. 3. The retreat of this party in disorder put the whole camp of Israel into a fright: The hearts of the people melted, not so much for the loss as for the disappointment. Joshua had assured them that the living God would without fail drive out the Canaanites from before them, Jos 3:10. How can this event be reconciled to that promise? To every thinking man among them it appeared an indication of God's displeasure, and an omen of something worse, and therefore no marvel it put them into such a consternation; if God turn to be their enemy and fight against them, what will become of them? True Israelites tremble when God is angry.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–5. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Joshua 7:5 vividly recounts the humiliating and unexpected defeat of the Israelite forces at Ai, where a small contingent of thirty-six men were killed and the remainder were chased in disarray from the city gate to Shebarim. This catastrophic rout, occurring immediately after the miraculous victory at Jericho, profoundly impacted the morale of the entire nation, causing their hearts to melt in fear and despair, a stark revelation of God's disfavor due to unconfessed sin within the camp.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs powerful Imagery and Metaphor to convey the profound psychological and spiritual impact of Israel's crushing defeat. The phrase "the hearts of the people melted, and became as water" is a vivid idiom that functions as a striking metaphor for extreme fear, utter demoralization, and the complete loss of courage. It evokes the tangible sensation of something solid and firm dissolving into a formless, weak liquid, effectively communicating the total collapse of internal fortitude. This imagery is a form of hyperbole, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of their terror beyond a simple statement of fear. The stark contrast between Israel's previous confidence and awe after the fall of Jericho and their current state of panic and despair also serves as a potent literary device, highlighting the severity of their spiritual condition and the immediate consequences of divine disfavor. The repetition of the verb "smote" (H5221) underscores the brutal and relentless reality of their defeat and the effectiveness of the enemy's assault.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The crushing defeat at Ai, as vividly encapsulated in Joshua 7:5, serves as a profound theological lesson on the gravity of sin and the absolute necessity of corporate holiness for God's covenant people. It unequivocally demonstrates that God's covenant faithfulness to Israel was contingent upon their collective obedience, and even the hidden sin of one individual could sever that covenant relationship, leading to divine judgment and corporate defeat. This event underscores that Israel's true strength was not derived from their numbers or military prowess, but solely from the active presence and favor of Yahweh, which was withdrawn due to unconfessed transgression. The "melting of their hearts" signifies not merely a tactical military defeat but a deep spiritual crisis, revealing that their confidence and courage were rooted entirely in God's active presence, which was now conspicuously absent.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The crushing defeat at Ai, so vividly portrayed in Joshua 7:5, offers timeless and profound lessons for believers today. It serves as a potent reminder that our spiritual victories, our effectiveness in ministry, and our personal flourishing are never guaranteed by past successes or human strength, but are entirely dependent on our ongoing obedience, our corporate holiness, and our unwavering reliance on God's active presence. Just as Achan's hidden sin affected the entire community of Israel, so too can unconfessed sin—whether individual or corporate—hinder the church's effectiveness, bring about spiritual weakness, or even lead to defeat in our spiritual battles. 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, our families, and our communities. It underscores the vital importance of humility, vigilance, and an unyielding commitment to holiness, recognizing that true strength, courage, and spiritual vitality come only from walking in integrity and faithful obedience before God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the sin of one man (Achan) affect the entire nation of Israel, leading to defeat?
Answer: The narrative in Joshua 7 powerfully illustrates the theological concept of corporate solidarity, which was a fundamental aspect of ancient Israelite society and God's covenant with them. In God's eyes, the nation of Israel was considered a unified entity, a single body. Achan's sin of taking forbidden plunder (devoted things, or cherem) from Jericho (Joshua 7:1) was not merely a private transgression but a direct violation of God's explicit command given to the entire community (Joshua 6:18). Because the covenant was corporate, Achan's act of disobedience was considered an act of unfaithfulness by the whole nation, making them all accountable for the breach. This corporate guilt resulted in God withdrawing His favor and protection, leading directly to their humiliating defeat at Ai. It served as a stark and painful lesson to Israel that their success and God's presence among them were entirely contingent on the holiness and obedience 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 the debilitating presence of sin, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate solution to humanity's deepest problem: sin and its paralyzing effects. While Israel's strength and courage failed because of Achan's transgression, the New Testament reveals that true and lasting victory over sin and its debilitating consequences comes not through human effort or perfect obedience to the law, but through the perfect obedience and sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ. He is the true Israelite, the one who perfectly fulfilled God's law where Israel repeatedly failed, bearing the corporate guilt of humanity on the cross. Unlike the melting hearts of the Israelites in the face of a minor foe, Jesus faced the ultimate terror of God's wrath and the full weight of human sin in Gethsemane and on Calvary, yet His resolve did not melt; He willingly offered Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Through His death and glorious resurrection, He secured for us a victory that is not contingent on our fluctuating obedience but on His perfect righteousness and finished work. Believers, united with Christ by faith, 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 newness of life and experience true courage and spiritual fortitude, even in the face of overwhelming adversity, knowing that in Christ, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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 and completely met in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.