SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:5
Y los de Hai hirieron de ellos como treinta y seis hombres, y los siguieron desde la puerta hasta Sebarim, y los mataron en una bajada; por lo que se disolvió el corazón del pueblo, y vino a ser como agua.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:5
Verse 5. They chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim] They seem to have presumed that the men of Ai would have immediately opened their gates to them, and therefore they marched up with confidence; but the enemy appearing, they were put to flight, their ranks utterly broken, and thirty-six of them killed. µyrbŤ Shebarim signifies breaches or broken places, and may here apply to the ranks of the Israelites, which were broken by the men of Ai; for the people were totally routed, though there were but few slain. They were panic-struck, and fled in the utmost confusion. The hearts of the people melted] They were utterly discouraged; and by this gave an ample proof that without the supernatural assistance of God they could never have conquered the land.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men , etc.] In the pursuit of them, which were but few, but a sufficient rebuke of Providence; their loss was but small, but their shame and disgrace great: for they chased them [from] before the gate ; the gate of the city of Ai: [even] unto Shebarim ; not that there was a place of this name before, but it was so called from hence, because there they were broken, as Kimchi observes; and the Targum and Jarchi render it, “until they were broken,” their lines broken, not being able to retreat in order, but were scattered, and fled to their camp as they could: Gussetius thinks it was the; name of a place, but not so called for the above reason, but because there lay broken pieces of the rock scattered about: and smote them in the going down ; the hill from Ai; “Morad”, rendered “going down”, may taken for the proper name of a place, and which, Kimchi says, was a place before Ai, in which there was a declivity and descent, and in that place they smote them when they fled: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water ; that is, the whole body of the people, when this little army returned defeated, their spirits failed them, their courage was lost, their nerves were loosed, and they became languid, faint, and feeble; not that their loss was so great, but that they perceived God had forsaken them, and what the issue of this would be they dreaded.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Achan took some of the spoil of Jericho. The love of the world is tha root of bitterness, which of all others is most hardly rooted up. We should take heed of sin ourselves, lest by it many be defiled of disquieted, Heb 12:15; and take heed of having fellowship with sinners lest we share their guilt. It concerns us to watch over one another to prevent sin, because others' sins may be to our damage. The eas conquest of Jericho excited contempt of the enemy, and a disposition to expect the Lord to do all for them without their using proper means Thus men abuse the doctrines of Divine grace, and the promises of God into excuses for their own sloth and self-indulgence. We are to wor out our own salvation, though it is God that works in us. It was a dea victory to the Canaanites, whereby Israel was awakened and reformed and reconciled to their God, and the people of Canaan hardened to their own ruin.
Original Hebrew
ויכו 5221 מהם 1992 אנשׁי 582 העי 5857 כשׁלשׁים 7970 ושׁשׁה 8337 אישׁ 376 וירדפום 7291 לפני 6440 השׁער 8179 עד 5704 השׁברים 7671 ויכום 5221 במורד 4174 וימס 4549 לבב 3824 העם 5971 ויהי 1961 למים׃ 4325
