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.
Get up and make the people holy, and tell them, 'Make yourselves holy for tomorrow, because this is what the LORD God of Israel says: There is something cursed among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove this cursed thing from among you.'
God is telling Joshua that Israel has something forbidden among them that must be removed before they can have victory again.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Joshua, the Israelites had recently conquered Jericho under God's command but suffered a surprising defeat at Ai due to Achan's disobedience in taking items devoted to destruction. God instructed Joshua to sanctify the people, warning that hidden sin in the camp made them vulnerable to their enemies until it was removed. This event reflects the broader theme of covenant faithfulness in Israel's conquest of Canaan, where obedience was essential for God's blessings and protection.
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