Albert Barnes Commentary Joshua 7:9

"For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do for thy great name?" — Joshua 7:9 (ASV)

What wilt thou do unto thy great name? — i.e., "after the Canaanites have cut off our name, what will become of Your Name?" This bold expostulation, that of one wrestling in sore need with God in prayer, like the similar appeals of Moses in earlier emergencies (Compare the marginal references), is based upon God's past promises and mercies. What would be said of God by the pagan if He now permitted Israel to be destroyed?