Joshua 7:4-5

7:4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the men of Ai. 7:5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from in front of the city gate all the way to the fissures ¹  and defeated them on the steep slope. ²  The people’s ³  courage melted away like water. ⁴ 

Joshua 7:8-12

7:8 If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated ⁵  before its enemies? 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will turn against us and destroy the very memory of us ⁶  from the earth. What will you do to protect your great reputation?” ⁷ 

7:10 The Lord responded ⁸  to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there face down? ⁹  7:11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment! ¹⁰  They have taken some of the riches; ¹¹  they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions. ¹²  7:12 The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. ¹³  I will no longer be with you, ¹⁴  unless you destroy what has contaminated you. ¹⁵ 

¹ tn The meaning and correct translation of the Hebrew word שְׁבָרִים (shÿvarim) is uncertain. The translation “fissures” is based on usage of the plural form of the noun in Ps 60:4 HT (60:2 ET), where it appears to refer to cracks in the earth caused by an earthquake. Perhaps deep ravines or gorges are in view, or the word is a proper noun (“all the way to Shebarim”).

² sn The precise geographical location of the Israelite defeat at this “steep slope” is uncertain.

³ tn Or “army’s.”

⁴ tn Heb “and the heart of the people melted and became water.”

⁵ tn Heb “turned [the] back.”

⁶ tn Heb “and cut off our name.”

⁷ tn Heb “What will you do for your great name?”

⁸ tn Heb “said.”

⁹ tn Heb “Why are you falling on your face?”

¹⁰ tn Heb “They have violated my covenant which I commanded them.”

¹¹ tn Heb “what was set apart [to the Lord].”

¹² tn Heb “and also they have stolen, and also they have lied, and also they have placed [them] among their items.”

¹³ tn Heb “they turn [the] back before their enemies because they are set apart [to destruction by the Lord].”

¹⁴ tn The second person pronoun is plural in Hebrew, indicating these words are addressed to the entire nation.

¹⁵ tn Heb “what is set apart [to destruction by the Lord] from your midst.”