Joshua 6:1-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 6:1-5

We have here a contest between God and the men of Jericho, and their different resolutions, upon which it is easy to say whose word shall prevail. I. Jericho resolves Israel shall not be its master, Josh. 6:1. It was straitly shut up, because of the children of Israel. It did shut up, and it was shut up (so it is in the margin); it did shut up itself, being strongly fortified both by art and nature, and it was shut up by the obstinacy and resolution of the inhabitants, who agreed never to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:1

Now Jericho was straitly shut up, because of the children of Israel ,.... Or "it shut up", or "was shutting, and was shut up" F21 סגרת ומסגרת "claudens et clausa", Montanus, Vatablus. ; that is, the king and the inhabitants shut it up within; the Targum says with iron doors, and bars of brass, and it was blocked up without by the children of Israel: none went out and none came in ; none of their forces went out to make a sally on the Israelites, or to seek to make peace with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:2

And the Lord said unto Joshua ,.... The same divine Person called in the preceding chapter the Captain of the Lord's host, Joshua 5:14 , now with him, and who gave him the following orders, instructions, and assurances: see, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof : which might be concluded from the fear that was fallen upon the inhabitants of the city and their king, and from their shutting themselves up so closely, not daring to come out against Israel: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:3

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war ,.... Joshua their chief commander under the Lord, and all that were able to make war, even all above twenty years of age; these were to compass the city, not in the form of a siege, but by a procession around it: and go round about the city once ; or one time, for the first once in a day, and no more: thus shall thou do six days ; one after another; that is, go round it, once every day, for such a time. This order was given,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:4

And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns ,.... The ark was to be taken up and carried by priests round the city. Ben Gersom observes, that this was to direct the Israelites to keep and do according to all that was written in it; that is, in the law, which was contained in it; but no doubt the design of it was to show, that the subduing of Jericho, and the miracle that would be wrought, were owing to the power and presence of God, of which the ark was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:5

And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn ,.... Continue blowing, and protracting, and drawing out the sound a long time; which they did only on the seventh day; on the other days it was but a short blast they made at a time; so that this being different, it would be a good sign and token to the people to do what they are next directed to: and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet ; drawn out to a great length: all the people shall shout with... read more

John Gill

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

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests ,.... Not the Levites and Kohathites, whose business it was in common to bear the ark, but upon this occasion the priests; not all of them, but as many as were sufficient for the purpose: and said unto them, take up the ark of the covenant ; by putting the staves into the rings of it, and so carry it, Exodus 25:14 ; see Numbers 7:9 , and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord : See Gill on ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:7

And he said unto the people, pass on, and compass the city ,.... The women and children, the young men under twenty years of age, the unarmed part of the camp, as distinguished from the armed men: and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord ; to guard the ark, protect the priests, and defend the people, should any sally be made by the enemy upon them. These seem to design all the males that were above twenty years of age able to bear arms, and fit for war; though some... read more

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

Group of Brands