Joshua 7:6-9

Joshua 7:6-9

[6] And Joshua  rent  his clothes,  and fell  to the earth  upon his face  the ark  of the LORD  until the eventide,  he and the elders  of Israel,  and put  dust  upon their heads.  [7] And Joshua  said,  Alas, O  Lord  GOD,  wherefore hast thou at all  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!  [8] O  Lord,  what shall I say,  when  Israel  turneth  their backs  before  their enemies!  [9] For the Canaanites  and all the inhabitants  of the land  shall hear  of it, and shall environ us round,  and cut off  our name  from the earth:  and what wilt thou do  unto thy great  name? 

What does Joshua 7:6-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Even Joshua had lost the divine perspective temporarily. His complaining lament sounds like Israel"s murmuring in the wilderness (cf. Exodus 16:3; Numbers 14:2-3; et al.). However, he also had a concern for the continuing honor of Yahweh ( Joshua 7:9; cf. Exodus 32:11-12; Numbers 14:13; Deuteronomy 9:28). As Moses, Joshua desired above everything that God would receive glory. Unfortunately he did not yet possess the stability and objectivity that characterized Moses" later years because he had not yet walked with God as closely or as long as Moses had.
"Joshua had fallen on his face once before, when he confronted the divine messenger ( Joshua 5:14). That was in the humility of worship. This is in the humility of defeat and shame." [1]