They fled before the men of Ai. — A very natural reaction from overweening confidence to utter dismay is exhibited in this incident and its effect (Joshua 7:5), “the heart of the people melted and became as water.” The demoralisation of Israel was a suitable penalty for their assumption, quite apart from its supernatural cause. It was absolutely necessary that the character of the conquest of Canaan should be vindicated, at whatever cost.
Related Commentaries of Joshua 7:4
Joshua 7:4
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.