And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein ,.... As Babylon the great, of which this city was an emblem, as has been observed; see Gill on Joshua 6:20 ; will be burnt with fire also, Revelation 18:8 , only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of brass and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord ; See Gill on Joshua 6:19 . read more
Only the silver , and the gold - they put into the treasury , etc . - The people were to have no share of the spoils, because they had no hand in the conquest. God alone overthrew the city; and into his treasury only the spoils were brought. This is one proof that the agitation of the air, by the sound of the people's voice, was not the cause of the fall of the city walls. Vessels of brass and of iron - Instead of כלי keley , Vessels, the Septuagint, in the... read more
A city of destruction. If any city ever was such a "City of Destruction" as Bunyan fancied, it was Jericho. Itself and all within it were devoted to destruction, only Rahab, like another Noah, with her family escaping. It is an awful fact to contemplate the destruction of a whole city. No escape, and little warning! Old and young, one day in possession of wealth, ease, comfort, and the next day captured and destroyed. The judicial principles on which God acts and on which He here commands... read more
Salvation: its Cause and Effects 1. The first lesson we learn from this portion of the narrative is salvation by faith. Had Rahab not believed in God, she would not have saved the sides; and had she not saved the spies, she would not have been saved herself. We have St. James's authority ( Joshua 2:1-24 :25) for citing this passage as an illustration of the connection between faith and works. I. WORKS " DO SPRING NECESSARILY OUT OF A LIVELY FAITH ." Had Rahab not... read more
Joshua 6:22-25. The harlot’s house Which, together with the wall upon which it leaned, was left standing, by a special favour of God to her. Left them without the camp of Israel Till they were cleansed from the impurities of their Gentile state, and instructed in the Jewish religion, and solemnly admitted into that church, for which Rahab’s good counsel and example had doubtless prepared them. Joshua saved Rahab alive For that general command to root out the Canaanites seems to have had... read more
Click image for full-size version6:1-12:24 CONQUEST OF THE LANDDestruction of the CanaanitesThe following chapters show that the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan was well planned. First they won control of the central region (Chapters 6-9). This created a division between the northern and southern regions, and so prevented Canaanite tribes throughout the country from joining forces. Israel then had a much easier task in conquering the rest of Canaan, first the south (Chapter 10), then the north... read more
24. burned the city . . . and all . . . therein—except the silver, gold, and other metals, which, as they would not burn, were added to the treasury of the sanctuary. read more
1. The conquest of Jericho 5:13-6:27 read more
God commanded the Israelites to consecrate all the spoils of this battle to Him since He had given Jericho into their hands as the firstfruits of the land. Rahab and her possessions were exceptions because she had aided the spies. The Israelites were to burn cities under the "ban" (Heb. herem, Joshua 6:17; cf. Deuteronomy 20:16-18) and to kill their inhabitants, including the cattle (Leviticus 27:29). The only objects they were to spare were metal, gold, silver, and vessels of brass and iron.... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 6:17-27
The people had religiously observed the orders given them concerning the besieging of Jericho, and now at length Joshua had told them (Josh. 6:16), ?The Lord hath given you the city, enter and take possession.? Accordingly in these verses we have, I. The rules they were to observe in taking possession. God gives it to them, and therefore may direct it to what uses and intents, and clog it with what provisos and limitations he thinks fit. It is given to them to be devoted to God, as the first... read more