Joshua 7:12

This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joshua delivers God’s declaration to the Israelite camp following their rout at Ai, explaining that their defeat stems from a violated covenant.

The words — לֹא (Lo') translates as "not," and עֹרֶף ('Oref) literally means "neck" or "back."

The thread — The pattern of divine withdrawal due to hidden sin appears in Psalms 5:4 and Isaiah 59:2, while covenant breach leading to military rout is recorded in Numbers 14:45.

Why it lands — The text demands immediate removal of devoted things before claiming divine presence or facing opposition.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Cross-references

Psalms 5:4 For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.
Joshua 6:18 But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.
Judges 2:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
Deuteronomy 7:26 And you must not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. You are to utterly detest and abhor it, because it is set apart for destruction.
Haggai 2:13 So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.
Joshua 22:18 And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
Judges 2:4 When the angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept.
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.