Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

JOSHUA 7:13KJV
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Joshua 7:13 (KJV)

What does Joshua 7:13 mean?

Joshua 7:13 says that God tells Joshua to prepare the people of Israel for the next day. Something forbidden is hidden among them, and Israel cannot face its enemies successfully until that thing is removed.

The LORD speaks to Joshua after Israel’s defeat at Ai. Joshua must pass the message to the people: the problem is “in the midst” of Israel, and the whole community must get ready for what comes next.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 7:13

  • “sanctify” — קָדַשׁ (qadash): This word can mean to set apart or make ready for a sacred purpose. Here, Joshua is to prepare the people for an encounter with God on the following day.
  • “accursed thing” — חֵרֶם (ḥerem): This word refers to something placed under a ban or set apart for destruction or for the LORD. The phrase points back to the ban on taking things from Jericho for personal use (Joshua 6:17–19).
  • “stand” — קוּם (qum): This word can mean to rise or stand. Here, “stand before” enemies carries the sense of holding one’s ground against them.

Why Joshua 7:13 matters

  • The verse treats the hidden thing as a problem for Israel as a whole. God addresses “Israel” and says it cannot stand before its enemies, though the later account identifies Achan as the person who took the forbidden goods (Joshua 7:20–21).
  • The command to prepare points toward a public process rather than an immediate naming of the person responsible. In the following verses, the people are brought forward by tribe, family, household, and man (Joshua 7:14–18).

Where else these words appear

“thing” Hebrew H2764 · used in 31 verses

  • Leviticus 27:21 But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's.
  • Joshua 7:12 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.
  • Ezekiel 26:14 And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

“morrow” Hebrew H4279 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 30:33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
  • Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
  • 1 Samuel 28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.