Joshua 6:17

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 6:17

Ver. 17. The city shall be accursed,—and all that are therein, to the Lord— That is, Jericho, and whatever it contains, shall be devoted to utter destruction, save what is expressly excepted in this and the 19th verse. Respecting the Cherem, we refer to the Reflections at the end of Deut. ch. 20: It is necessary, however, to add here, that if God used the utmost severity towards Jericho, even to the forbidding to spare the wives and children, or to keep any spoil, which he had allowed on other... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 6:17

17-19. And the city shall be accursed—(See on :-). The cherem, or "anathema," was a devotion to utter destruction (Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 20:17; 1 Samuel 15:3). When such a ban was pronounced against a hostile city, the men and animals were killed—no booty was allowed to be taken. The idols and all the precious ornaments on them were to be burned (Deuteronomy 7:25; 1 Chronicles 14:12). Everything was either to be destroyed or consecrated to the sanctuary. Joshua pronounced this ban on... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 6:13-27

1. The conquest of Jericho 5:13-6:27 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 6:15-21

The warriors and priests were to remain silent as they circled the city each time except the last. God evidently used this strategy to impress on the people of Jericho, as well as the Israelites, that the deliverance was not by human might or power. It was by the Spirit of the Lord (cf. Zechariah 4:6). He commanded the final shout on the seventh day to announce His destruction of the wall. It was a shout of victory and joy for the Israelites."To emphasize the divine intervention, no secondary... read more

John Dummelow

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Joshua 6:17

(17) The city shall be accursed.—Heb., shall be chêrem, “a devoted or accursed thing”; and so Joshua 6:18, “from the accursed thing.” (See Note on Deuteronomy 7:26.) The combination of the two ideas of devotion to God and utter destruction may be seen in the sin offering (Leviticus 6:25), which is called “holy of holies,” or most holy, and yet, when offered for the priest or congregation, must be utterly consumed. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:8-27

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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:17

CHAPTER XIII.RAHAB SAVED.Joshua 6:17; Joshua 6:22-25. It has not been the lot of Rahab to share the devout interest which has been lavished on Mary Magdalene. Our Correggios, Titians, and Carlo Dolcis have not attempted to represent the spirit of contrition and devotion transfiguring the face of the Canaanite girl. And this is not surprising. Rahab had never seen the human face of Jesus, nor heard the words that dropped like honey from His lips. She had never come under that inexpressible charm... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Joshua 6:1-27

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

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Joshua 6:17

6:17 And the city shall be {l} accursed, [even] it, and all that [are] therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that [are] with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.(l) That is appointed wholly to be destroyed. read more

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