Joshua 7:6

“And Joshua rent his clothes, etc.] As was usual in those ancient times, on hearing bad news, and as expressive of grief and trouble f102; (see <013729> Genesis 37:29,34 <180120>Job 1:20); and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord, until the eventide; in a posture of adoration and prayer, in which he continued till even; how long that was cannot be said, since the time is not mentioned when the army returned from Ai; very probably it was some time in the afternoon: this was done before the ark of the Lord, the symbol of the divine Presence, not in the most holy place, where that usually was, and into which Joshua might not enter, but in the tabernacle of the great court,…”

“Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth . . . before the ark . . . he and the elders--It is evident, from those tokens of humiliation and sorrow, that a solemn fast was observed on this occasion. The language of Joshua's prayer is thought by many to savor of human infirmity and to be wanting in that reverence and submission he owed to God. But, although apparently breathing a spirit of bold remonstrance and complaint, it was in reality the effusion of a deeply humbled and afflicted mind, expressing his belief that God could not, after having so miraculously brought His people over Jordan into the promised land, intend to destroy them, to expose them to the insults of their triumphant…”

“On these signs of mourning, compare the marginal references and Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 20:6; 1 Samuel 4:12. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Rent his clothes - In testimony of great sorrow, for the loss felt, the consequent mischief feared, and the sin which he suspected. His face - In deep humiliation and fervent supplication. Until the even - tide - Continuing the whole day in fasting and prayer. Put dust upon their heads - As was usual in case of grief and astonishment. Joshua 7:7”

“7:6 Israel’s leaders tore their clothing and threw dust on their heads, common public gestures of grief or despair in the ancient Near East. By falling face down before the Ark of the Lord, Joshua belatedly acknowledged that Israel needed God’s direction in the battle against Ai.”

“rent: Gen 37:29, Gen 37:34; Num 14:6; Sa2 13:31; Ezr 9:3-5; Est 4:1; Job 1:20; Act 14:14 fell: Num 16:22, Num 16:45; Sa2 12:16 until the eventide: Jdg 20:23, Jdg 20:26, Jdg 21:2; Sa2 1:12 put dust: Rending the clothes, beating the breast, tearing the hair, throwing dust upon the head, and falling prostrate, were usual signs of deep affliction and distress among the ancient Israelites. In illustration of this custom, see note on Sa1 4:12, when the messenger brought tidings to Eli of the discomfiture of the armies of Israel by the Philistines; again, in the case of Tamar, Sa2 13:19, and in Neh 9:1, when a whole nation, "assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them." In the…”

“Joshua and the elders of the people were also deeply affected, not so much at the loss of thirty-six men, as because Israel, which was invincible with the help of the Lord, had been beaten, and therefore the Lord must have withdrawn His help. In the deepest grief, with their clothes rent (see at Lev 10:6) and ashes upon their heads, they fell down before the ark of the Lord (vid., Num 20:6) until the evening, to pour out their grief before the Lord. Joshua's prayer contains a complaint ( Jos 7:7) and as question addressed to God ( Jos 7:8, Jos 7:9). The complaint, "Alas, O Lord Jehovah, wherefore hast Thou brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to…”