Joshua 7:5
“The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. The hearts of the people melted, and became like water.”
What does Joshua 7:5 mean?
A small Israelite force tried to conquer the town of Ai and was unexpectedly routed, losing 36 soldiers. The defeat was crushing not just militarily but emotionally, leaving the people devastated and afraid. When it says their hearts "became like water," it's describing how their courage and confidence completely dissolved, turning them from warriors into people trembling with fear and despair. This moment of terror sets up why Joshua needed to seek God's guidance, because something had gone deeply wrong in their camp that needed to be addressed.