Joshua 7:14

"Get up! Sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for the LORD, the God of Israel, says, “There is a devoted thing among you, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you.”"

Key Reflection

This command from Joshua 7:14 instructs the people to prepare themselves spiritually by removing sin—specifically, the guilty person who has defiled the camp. This action symbolizes the need for individual and communal repentance before facing spiritual or physical adversaries.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The Lord taketh -i. e. by lot. The Hebrew word for lot suggests that small stones, probably white and black ones, were used. These were probably drawn from a chest (compare the expressions inJoshua 18:11;Joshua 19:1). The lot was regarded as directed in its result by God (margin reference); and hence, was used on many important occasions by the Jews and by other nations in ancient times. For example: (1), for apportionment, as of Canaan among the twelve tribesNumbers 26:55; of the Levitical cities (Joshua 21:4ff); of spoil or captives taken in warJoel 3:3. (2) for detection of the guilty, as in the case if Achan, Jonathan1 Samuel 14:42, and JonahJonah 1:7.

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