Joshua 6:2-5

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 6:2

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:2

And the Lord said unto Joshua - This is the same person who in the preceding chapter is called the captain or prince of the Lord's host, the discourse being here continued that was begun at the conclusion of the preceding chapter, from which the first verses of this are unnaturally divided. I have given into thine hand Jericho , etc. - From Joshua 24:11 , it seems as if there had been persons of all the seven Canaanitish nations then in Jericho, who might have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:3

Ye shall compass the city - In what order the people marched round the city does not exactly appear from the text. Some think they observed the same order as in their ordinary marches in the desert; (see the note on Numbers 10:14 , and see the plans, Numbers 2:2 ; (note)); others think that the soldiers marched first, then the priests who blew the trumpets, then those who carried the ark, and lastly the people. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:4

Seven trumpets of rams ' horns - The Hebrew word יובלים yobelim does not signify rams' horns; (see the note on Leviticus 25:11 ;); nor do any of the ancient versions, the Chaldee excepted, give it this meaning. The instruments used on this occasion were evidently of the same kind with those used on the jubilee, and were probably made of horn or of silver; and the text in this place may be translated, And seven priests shall bear before the ark the seven jubilee trumpets, for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:5

The wall of the city shall fall down flat - Several commentators, both Jews and Christians, have supposed that the ground under the foundation of the walls opened, and the wall sunk into the chasm, so that there remained nothing but plain ground for the Israelites to walk over. Of this the text says nothing: - תחתיה העיר חומת ונפלה venaphelah chomath hair tachteyha , literally translated, is, The wall of the city shall fall down Under Itself; which appears to mean no more... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:3

Verse 3 3.And you shall compass the city, etc The promise was, indeed, fit and sufficient of itself to give hope of victory, but the method of acting was so strange, as almost to destroy its credibility. God orders them to make one circuit round the city daily until the seventh day, on which they are told to go round it seven times, sounding trumpets, and shouting. The whole looked like nothing else than child’s play, and yet was no improper test, for trying their faith, as it proved their... read more

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