What did Joshua think the noise from the camp was?
Joshua thought the noise from the camp was the sound of war. He told Moses, 'There is noise of war in the camp,' believing the people were being attacked, screaming and yelling as they ran for their lives. Moses corrected him, saying it was not cries of being overcome but the noise of singing.
Les explains that Joshua heard the loud noise of the people as they shouted and concluded, 'There's noise of war in the camp.' Since millions were celebrating in worship of the golden calf, he thought the people were being attacked and were probably screaming and yelling, running for their lives. Moses told him to wait and listen: it was not the sound of those overcome in battle, but the noise of those who sing. When Moses came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. His anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables—the Ten Commandments—out of his hands and broke them beneath the mount.
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
More Questions
What did Moses say the noise in the camp actually was?
Moses corrected Joshua, explaining that the noise was not the sound or voice of people crying out for being overcome, but the noise of people singing.