Joshua 6

The Capture of Jericho

1Now the gates of Jericho were bolted and barred because of the Israelites; no one could get in or out.

2Yahweh commanded Joshua, # 6:2 If we see v. 1 as parenthetical, then Joshua was still in the presence of the Commander of Yahweh’s armies, identified here as Yahweh. “See, I have given Jericho, its king and mighty warriors into your hands. # 6:2 Faith will see “what is still unseen” (Heb. 11:1). God gave Joshua a promise upon which to rest his faith. 3March around the city with all your men of war once a day for six days. 4Have seven priests carry shofars in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the shofars. 5When you hear the blare of the shofars, have all the people shout with a mighty shout of joy! # 6:5 The Hebrew word for “shout” is teruw‘ah and can be either a war cry or a shout of joy. Then the walls # 6:5 The walled city of Jericho could represent the stronghold of the natural mind and every high thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of the true God (see 2 Cor. 10:3–5). Walls represent our inner “walls” and arguments we erect against learning something new. The mind of man is opposed to the ways of God (see Isa. 55:8; Rom. 8:7). The door to truth is not the intellect but rather the spirit yielded to God. Daniel saw the writing on the wall, and knew the walls of Babylon would fall (see Dan. 5:4–9, 25–31). Ezekiel dug through the “wall” to uncover the abominations that were hidden (Ezek. 8:7–18). The prophet Joel saw an army that would run upon and climb up the “walls” (Joel 2:1–9). David was a champion who leapt over the “wall” (2 Sam. 22:30; see Ps. 18:29). And similarly, Joshua was a prophetic leader who shouted so that the “walls” could topple (Josh. 6:1–20). of the city will collapse before your eyes, and your whole army must charge straight in!” # 6:5 The perimeter of Jericho was about four miles. God designed this unorthodox military strategy to demonstrate his power (see Ps. 80:1–2), to discourage all forms of self-reliance, and to bring all the glory to himself (see Ps. 115:1). The thick, impenetrable walls (see Num. 13:28; Deut. 1:28–30) were nothing against the power of God!

6So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them: “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven shofars in front of the ark of Yahweh.”

7And to the people he said, “Forward! March around the city and set an advance guard of armed men to march ahead of the ark of Yahweh.”

8At Joshua’s order, the seven priests carrying seven shofars advanced before Yahweh. The ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed them as they made long blasts on their shofars. 9The advance guard marched in front of the priests who were blowing the shofars, the rear guard marched behind the ark, and the shofars blared the whole time! 10Now Joshua had commanded the rest of the people, “Do not shout! Remain silent! Don’t make a sound until the moment I command you to shout. Then lift up a shout with all your might!” 11So the ark of Yahweh circled the city once, then they all came back to the camp in Gilgal and spent the night.

12Joshua rose bright and early the next morning, and the priests took up the ark of Yahweh. 13The armed men and the seven priests carrying the seven shofars marched in front of the ark of Yahweh blowing their shofars continually, and the rear guard followed the ark of Yahweh, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14On the second day, they circled the city once and again returned to the camp. They repeated this pattern for six days.

15On the seventh day, everyone rose at daybreak, and they marched around the city in the same manner seven times. 16After their seventh time around, when the priests were about to blow the shofars, Joshua commanded the people: “Shout a shout of joy! Yahweh has given you the city! 17Jericho and everything in it are to be a devoted offering to Yahweh. # 6:17 The Hebrew term for “devoted offering” is cherem and implies things or persons who were entirely and irrevocably consecrated to God, often by total destruction. See Lev. 27:28–29. But spare Rahab the prostitute and everyone in her house because she hid our spies. 18You must not take for yourselves # 6:18 Or “keep away from.” anything that is dedicated to Yahweh or you will bring trouble and destruction to the entire Israelite camp! # 6:18 See Deut. 7:25–26. 19Everything made of silver, gold, bronze, and iron is sacred and devoted to Yahweh; place all of it in Yahweh’s treasury!”

20The people were ready to shout with a great shout when they heard the shofars. As soon as they heard the blast of the shofars, they raised a massive shout of jubilee like a thunderclap, and all at once the thick walls of Jericho collapsed! Everyone rushed straight ahead # 6:20 Or “everyone ascended.” By comparing v. 20 with 1 Thess. 4:16–17, we see that both events have the Lord himself (see Josh. 6:8), a shout, a trumpet blast, and the people ascending. There are a number of “sevens” in this chapter: seven priests, seven shofars, seven days circling the city, seven times the city was to be encompassed on the seventh day. Seven represents completion, fullness, and perfection. and captured the city. 21They utterly destroyed all that was in Jericho, men and women, young and old, livestock and donkeys—everything was destroyed with the sword. # 6:21 Or “by the mouth of the sword.” See Heb. 4:12.

Rahab and Her Family Are Spared

22Joshua told the two spies who had entered Jericho, “Go to the prostitute’s house and rescue her and everyone in her house, just as you promised her.” 23So the two spies brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers and sisters, and all who belonged to her, and gave them refuge outside the camp of Israel.

24Then they burned Jericho to the ground and all that was within it. Only the silver and gold, brass, and iron were placed into the treasury of Yahweh’s house. 25Yet Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family, and all that belonged to her. She lives among the Israelites to this day # 6:25 This shows that the book of Joshua was written not long after the events of the book. because she hid the two men Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

26Afterward, Joshua pronounced this solemn oath:

“May Yahweh curse anyone

who attempts to rebuild this city, Jericho!

He will pay for laying its foundation

with the life of his oldest son,

and for setting up its gates with his youngest son!” # 6:26 This curse was fulfilled 550 years later in the time of Ahab by Hiel the Bethelite (see 1 Kings 16:34). In contrast, our heavenly Father laid the foundation of the church (see 1 Cor. 3:10–11) with the death of his Firstborn (see Rom. 8:29). The younger son is the overcomer, the many sons brought to glory, we who will also lay down our lives to rebuild the gates of Zion.

27Yahweh’s presence was with Joshua, and he became famous throughout the land.

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Joshua 6: TPT

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Joshua 6

The Fall of Jericho

1Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. 2But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 4Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”

6So Joshua called together the priests and said, “Take up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram’s horn.” 7Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the Lord.”

8After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant followed behind them. 9Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. 10“Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11So the Ark of the Lord was carried around the town once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.

12Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the Lord. 13The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time the priests were blowing their horns. 14On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.

15On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. 16The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town! 17Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed#6:17 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in 6:18, 21. as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.

18“Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. 19Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.”

20When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. 21They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys.

22Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, “Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute’s house and bring her out, along with all her family.”

23The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.

24Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day.

26At that time Joshua invoked this curse:

“May the curse of the Lord fall on anyone

who tries to rebuild the town of Jericho.

At the cost of his firstborn son,

he will lay its foundation.

At the cost of his youngest son,

he will set up its gates.”

27So the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land.

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