And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.

JOSHUA 24:7KJV
Know the Bible

Joshua 24:7 (KJV)

What does Joshua 24:7 mean?

Joshua 24:7 recalls how, when the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help, God created a barrier of darkness between them and the Egyptians, then brought the sea over the Egyptians, destroying them. The verse reminds the people that they personally witnessed these acts in Egypt and then lived in the wilderness for a long time.

In this verse, Joshua is speaking to the gathered Israelites, reminding them of their history as they renew their covenant with God. He points back to the dramatic rescue at the Red Sea, emphasizing that the people themselves saw these miracles. The mention of dwelling in the wilderness "a long season" highlights the lengthy journey and God's ongoing care after their escape from Egypt.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 24:7

  • "cried" (צָעַק, tsa'aq) means to call out or cry for help, showing the desperation and dependence of the Israelites when they were trapped by the Egyptians.
  • "darkness" (מַאֲפֵלָה, ma'afelah) refers to a deep darkness or gloom, not just the absence of light but a thick, almost tangible barrier that separated the Egyptians from the Israelites, making pursuit impossible.
  • "covered" (כָּסָה, kasah) means to cover or overwhelm, describing how the sea completely engulfed the Egyptians, not just stopping them but utterly removing the threat.
  • "eyes" (עַיִן, ayin) and "seen" (רָאָה, ra'ah) stress that the people were eyewitnesses to these events, underlining the personal experience and responsibility of the generation Joshua addresses.

Why Joshua 24:7 matters

  • Joshua 24:7 clears up any idea that the Exodus was just a story passed down; it insists the audience saw these events themselves, grounding their faith in personal experience.
  • The verse emphasizes God's direct intervention and protection, not just in freeing the Israelites but in actively shielding them and defeating their enemies.
  • By recalling the long time in the wilderness, Joshua connects the miraculous rescue to the ongoing journey, reminding the people that God's care did not end at the Red Sea but continued throughout their history.

Where else these words appear

“Egyptians” Hebrew H4713 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 12:12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
  • Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
  • Deuteronomy 23:7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.

“cried” Hebrew H6817 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
  • Deuteronomy 26:7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
  • 2 Kings 8:5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

“covered” Hebrew H3680 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
  • 1 Samuel 19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
  • Proverbs 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.