Paragraph 7:10–12

Yahweh explained to Joshua why the Israelites were defeated by the people of Ai.

7:10a

But the LORD said to Joshua: The name LORD is Yahweh, the personal name of God.

7:10b

Stand up: Stand up is a command from Yahweh to Joshua and means that Joshua must arise to a standing position.

Why have you fallen on your face?: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a rebuke. Yahweh rebuked Joshua for lying on the ground.

Here are two ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why are you lying on your face like this? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement or a command. For example:

Stop lying there on the ground! (Contemporary English Version)

Express this rebuke in a natural way in your language.

In Hebrew this clause has a word that means “like this,” or “in this way.” Include this phrase if it would be natural in your language.

fallen on your face: The word fallen refers to Joshua’s action in 7:6b. He lay on the ground with his face down as a gesture of sorrow and humility. You should translate this in the same way as you did in 7:6b.

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