Joshua 6:10-18

Jos 6:10

And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

 

Then Joshua further instructed them that as they were marching around the city, they were to do it quietly and were not to shout until Joshua gave them the order to shout.  Israel compassing the city quietly would have been a type of psychological warfare which would have completely baffled the enemy.  The six days of quiet marching would have almost put the defenders to sleep thinking that the Israelites would not attack but would just be doing some type of ritual until they reached the seventh day.

 

Jos 6:11

So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

 

So they compassed the city one time on the first day and when they completed their course, they returned to camp without incident and to rest.  This would also relieve the defenders who would think an attack was imminent.

 

Jos 6:12

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

 

Then the second day Joshua rose up early in the morning and summoned the priests who took up the ark of the LORD.  They were to carry it in procession as they did the day before. 

 

Jos 6:13

And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

 

Then the armed men went in front of the Ark followed by the priests who were continually blowing the trumpets.  Then the rear guard made of the tribe of Dan had taken up their position to guard the rear of the procession if needed. 

 

Jos 6:14

And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

 

Then once they finished their course, they all retreated back to camp to rest which was at Gilgal and this was the divine procedure that they followed for the first six days.


Jos 6:15

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

 

Then came the seventh day that all the people had risen early because today was the day they were to compass the city seven times.  Seven in the Scriptures is the number of perfection.  They were to follow the same procedure they did for the previous six days.  It is believed by some that the this seventh day was a sabbath day but there is no biblical evidence to support that claim.

 

Jos 6:16

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

 

Then once they had completed the seventh pass around the city, then the priests blew the trumpets and Joshua gave the command to shout.  The LORD had delivered the city to them and everyone would see that it was the LORD who conquered Jericho.  Everyone was to shout including those who were not armed as well as those who were.  The entire nation was to shout.  The shout was so loud that it was literally defined as “ear splitting” because of the decibel level of the shout.

 

Jos 6:17

And the city shall be 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.

 

Then Joshua is told that the entire city of Jericho is accursed.  This means that the city is destined to be completely destroyed and all the inhabitants except Rahab and her family.  This also means that all of the materials including any gold and silver is also accursed if one tries to take any for their own.  Her righteous deed of hiding the spies are here remembered.   The word “accursed” carries with it the meaning of “total extermination, utterly destroyed.”  So nothing from Jericho was to remain.

 

Jos 6:18

And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

 

Here they are commanded to keep themselves from the accursed thing which means if they see anything of value such as gold, silver, or anything else they are to leave it alone and not bring it back.  If anyone takes anything which is under the ban, then they themselves become accursed along with whatever they take.  This also means that if anyone disobeys and attempts to bring any of the spoils back, then it means that the curse will come into the camp of Israel and will cause them trouble as a nation.  The word “trouble” carries with it the meaning of “roiling, disturbing, afflicting.”

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