(21) And ox, and sheep, and ass.—Even the animals must be destroyed, that Israel might not seem to be slaughtering the Canaanites for the sake of plunder. Everything was ordered in such a way as to mark the vengeance of God. read more
CHAPTER XII.THE FATE OF JERICHO.Joshua 6:8-27. THE instructions of Joshua to the priests and the people are promptly obeyed. In the bright rays of the morning sun, on the day when Jericho is to be surrounded, the plain between the Jordan and Jericho, a space of some five miles, may be seen dotted over with the tents of Israel, arranged in that orderly manner which had been prescribed by Moses in the wilderness. The whole encampment is astir in the prospect of great events. The erect carriage,... read more
6. The Fall of Jericho CHAPTER 6 1. The divine instruction (Joshua 6:1-5 ) 2. The instructions followed (Joshua 6:6-19 ) 3. The fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:20-21 ) 4. Rahab remembered (Joshua 6:22-25 ) 5. The curse upon Jericho (Joshua 6:26-27 ) We do not enlarge upon the history of the chapter, which needs no comment. The fall of Jericho by the power of God, as described in this chapter, has also been ridiculed by infidels. Others have tried to explain the occurrence in a natural... read more
JERICHO DESTROYED Joshua and Israel having been fully prepared by God, their conquest of Canaan begins. Jericho, with its thick walls, was securely shut up (v.1), prepared for a long siege; but certainly not prepared for what happened! Joshua did not depend on his military wisdom, but received orders from God, who tells him He has given Jericho and its king and mighty men into Joshua's hand (v.2). He is given what appears to be strange instructions, that Israel's army should march around... read more
JERICHO AND AI DIVINE ORDERS (Joshua 6:1-5 ) These verses should not be separated from the foregoing by a chapter division, since it is evident that the orders here received by Joshua were given by the Captain of the Lord’s host previously described. Observe another proof of His deity in the words, “I have given into thine hand Jericho.” The mode by which Joshua was to proceed (Joshua 6:3-5 ) calls for no explanation. What had been his own preparations for the attack on the city? Was he... read more
Discipline Joshua 6:0 WE have seen how, from a certain point of view, all the arrangements made for the capture of the walled city were obviously impracticable from a military point of view, simply absurd. We are now prepared to advance a step, and look at one or two of the almost hidden points of the narrative with a view to its illumination from incidental lights and references. Our object will be to find out how far these points are confirmed by our own experience and observation, how far... read more
Pause, Reader, and behold in this instance, the wonderful work of God! See how the Lord fights for his people! And when you have duly pondered the history, spiritualize it in the yet far sweeter subject of salvation by Jesus, our Almighty Joshua; and rest assured, that such, but only in an infinitely higher degree, will be the triumphs of thy God and Saviour, followed by his holy army, in the day when all the walls, which are fenced up to heaven, shall fall before him, and his redeemed return... read more
I have brought these verses together into one point of view, because they present to the Reader in one and the same moment what the apostle saith: Behold the goodness and severity of God. Romans 11:22 . What was there in the character and conduct of Rahab, which could have entitled her to favor above her countrymen? Is it not plain that grace made all the difference? Doth not this history proclaim what Jehovah himself had before proclaimed, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. Exodus... read more
17-27 Jericho was to be a solemn and awful sacrifice to the justice of God, upon those who had filled up the measure of their sins. So He appoints, from whom, as creatures, they received their lives, and to whom, as sinners, they had forfeited them. Rahab perished not with them that believed not, Hebrews 11:31. All her kindred were saved with her; thus faith in Christ brings salvation to the house, Acts 14:31. She, and they with her, were plucked as brands from the burning. With Rahab, or with... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:1-27
The Capture of JerichThis chapter describes the first and perhaps most decisive action in the war. The impression it produced (Joshua 6:27) no doubt did much to decide the fortunes of subsequent campaigns. The strange method adopted, by divine injunction, for the reduction of the city, with its jubilee trumpets and its elaborate symbolic use of the number seven, was clearly intended to leave no doubt that the enterprise from first to last was in higher hands than Joshua’s. Various attempts have... read more