Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:8

And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken to the people ,.... Both armed and unarmed; had finished the orders and directions he gave them before mentioned: that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord ; in his sight, and by his direction, and at his command given by Joshua, and before the ark, the symbol of his presence: and blew with the trumpets ; a short blast as they went along; this they did on each of the six days: and the ark... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:9

And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets ,.... Whom Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abarbinel, interpret of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; that is, as many of them as Joshua took with him over Jordan; though rather all the armed men in the camp are meant; at least along with those mentioned went the standards of Judah and Ephraim: and the rereward came after the ark ; because the tribe of Dan was the rereward in journeying, Numbers 2:31 ; hence the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:10

And Joshua had commanded the people ,.... When he gave them their orders to pass on, and compass the city, Joshua 6:7 , saying, ye shall not shout ; that is, on any of the six days as they went round the city, only on the seventh; for this being a sign of victory, it was not to be made until the day when it should be obtained; otherwise, had they shouted, and nothing followed on it, it would have exposed them to the contempt of the inhabitants of Jericho, and would have put them in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:11

So the ark of the Lord compassed the city ,.... Being bore by the priests, who carried it round the city; it may as well be rendered and interpreted as it is by Kimchi,"he, i.e. Joshua, caused the ark of the Lord to compass the city;' that is, he gave orders to the priests to take it up, and go round with it on the first day: going about it once ; on that day, and no more; keeping at such a distance, as to be out of the reach of stones or arrows cast from the walls of the city: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:9

The rereward came after the ark - The word מאסף measseph , from אסף asaph , to collect or gather up, may signify either the rereward, as our translation understands it, or the people who carried the baggage of the army; for on the seventh day this was necessary, as much fighting might be naturally expected in the assault, and they would need a supply of arms, darts, etc., as well as conveniences for those who might happen to be wounded: or the persons here intended might be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 6:1-21

We come now to the command that was laid on Joshua. And hero we may observe three points. I. SUCCESS WAS CERTAIN IF GOD 'S COMMANDS WERE OBEYED . God does not say, "I will give," but, "I have given" Jericho into thine hand. Not only has the fiat gone forth, but the work is done, when the soldier of the Lord has made up his mind to obey the Lord's commands. Thus, whatever be the work to which we set our hands, be it public or private, in the world or in our own hearts, so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 6:8

He that is armed, or rather disencumbered, i.e; prepared for battle (see Joshua 4:13 ). Similarly, in the next verse, "the armed men," i.e; the host in marching order, as we say. Kimchi and Jarchi refer this to the Reubenites and their brethren, but without sufficient authority. Keil thinks that it was impossible that the unarmed people would have gone with the procession as "the rereward" (see note on Joshua 5:13 ), because no command to that effect is given in Joshua 6:3 . But as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 6:8

Siege of Jericho. The Red Sea; a land where there was no water; want of food; terrors of the spies; the warlike people of Bashan; Jordan impossible; a Jericho impregnable. Such are the successive strains made on the faith and resolution of Israel. God's people go from strength to strength, but also from difficulty to difficulty. Never is it the case that the difficulties are entirely done and the prospects entirely bright. On their newest difficulty let us spend a little time; for all of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 6:10

Ye shall not shout. No sign of triumph was to be raised; but the Israelites, their priests, and the ark of their covenant were in solemn silence to encompass the city day by day, until they were commanded to raise the shout of victory. The people of Jericho knew only too well what this religious procession meant. As a military manoeuvre (so Calvin) it was worse than useless, it was ridiculous. It actually invited attack; nay, it afforded, if the interpretation in the note on Joshua 6:8 be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 6:7-10

Joshua 6:7-10. Let him that is armed pass on God would have them armed, both for the defence of themselves and the ark, in case the enemies should make a sally upon them, and for the execution of the Lord’s vengeance upon that city. The rereward Which, being opposed to the armed men, may seem to denote the unarmed people, who were desirous to be spectators of this wonderful work. Ye shall not shout Because shouting before the time appointed would be ineffectual, and so might give them... read more

Group of Brands