Bible Commentaries

children = sons.

a trespass = a treachery, unfaithfulness. Hebrew ma"al. App-43. Compare Leviticus 6:2. Deuteronomy 32:51. 1 Chronicles 5:25, breach of faith or trust.

accursed = devoted. Compare Joshua 6:17, &c.

Achan Troubler; called Achar, 1 Chronicles 2:7.

took. Septuagint has enosphisanto = took for themselves, i.e. sacrilege. Same word as in Acts 5:1, Acts 5:2 of Ananias and Sapphire.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

men. Hebrew, plural of ish or "enosh. App-14.

Ai. Near Beth-el. Compare Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3.

Beth-aven = House of vanity.

Beth-el = House of God. Compare Genesis 28:19.

go up = go toilingly thither.

men = Hebrew. ish. App-14.

melted = became as water. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6.

Alas. Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6

Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah. See App-4.

wherefore. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

would to God. Hebrew "would that". No "to God "in Hebrew text.

O LORD *, Hebrew O Adonai; but this is one of the 134 places altered from Jehovah to Adonai by the Sopherim

turneth = hath [once] turned.

what. ? Figure of speech, Erotesis. App-6.

said. See note on Joshua 3:7.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6.

for = and. All these "ands" might be well rendered "moreover".

(10-13) There is a minute correspondence between Joshua 7:10-13, an Extended alternation of five members each, for which we have no space; also between Joshua 7:14 and Joshua 7:16-18.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

taketh = taketh [by lot], i.e. by the Urim and Thummim. Sec note on Exodus 28:30 and Numbers 26:55. The Urim stone bringing to "light" the guilty, and the Thummim declaring the "perfection" or innocence.

man = geber. App-14.

burnt = burnt up, but not necessarily alive, Hebrew. saraph. See App-43.

family Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read plural "families".

man by man. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "by their households".

give . . . glory to the LORD. All the Vulgate versions corrupt this passage by omitting "to Him". The Portuguese version of Figuoredo changes "Him" to "me".

a = one.

Babylonish. Hebrew = "of Shinar", i.e. of Babylonia.

shekels. See App-51.

Wedge = bar. Hebrew tongue: put by Figure of speech, Metonymy (of Adjunct) for a coin of this shape (App-6).

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6).

it. Feminine. Probably referring to the garment.

the midst. Figure of speech Pleonasm (App-6).

son of Zerah. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species) for great-grandson. App-6.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysendeton (App-6), emphasising each particular.

Why. . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6).

troubled . . . trouble. Hebrew. Achored . . . Acker.

stoned them: i.e. the people, not the property.

the fierceness.Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6).