John Calvin 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)

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants, etc. He mentions another reason for fear: all the neighboring nations, who were previously quiet—either subdued by calamities or terrified by miracles—will now regain their confidence and launch a sudden attack on the people.

It was indeed probable that, since divine power had crushed their spirit and filled them with dismay, they would boldly advance to battle as soon as they learned that God had become hostile to the Israelites.

Therefore, he appeals to God concerning the future danger, imploring Him to make quick provision against it. Otherwise, the Canaanites, who until now were numbed with terror, would seize the opportunity, take the offensive, and easily succeed in destroying a panic-stricken people.

It is clear, however, from the last clause, that he is not merely thinking of the people's safety. Instead, his primary concern is for the honor of the divine name.

He desires that God's name remain inviolable and not be trampled underfoot by the insolence of the wicked, which would happen if the people were ejected from the inheritance so often promised. We know the language God Himself used, as recorded in the song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:26–27):

I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them cease among men; were it not that I feared the wrath (pride) of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord has not done all this.

Therefore, the very thing God declares He was, humanly speaking, afraid of, Joshua now wishes to be timelessly prevented. Otherwise, the enemy, elated by the people's defeat, will grow insolent and boast of triumphing over God Himself.