So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
Parallel translations
- WEB So Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel near by their tribes. The tribe of Judah was selected.
- KJV So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
- ESV So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken.
- NKJV So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken.
- NASB So Joshua got up early in the morning and brought Israel forward by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
- NLT Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was singled out.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joshua brings Israel forward tribe by tribe in a divinely guided selection, and Judah is singled out as the tribe of the offender. It shows God exposing hidden sin with exact precision.
Overview
Following the defeat at Ai, God had told Joshua that the sin of one man brought the whole nation under judgment. Here the process of identifying the guilty party begins, likely by lot or some sacred means, narrowing from tribes downward. The deliberate, public nature of the search underscores that sin against God cannot stay hidden, and points ahead to the day when all hearts will be laid bare before the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Josh 3:1Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Gen 22:3So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.
- Ps 119:60I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 7:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.