Joshua 6:15

15 It happened on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on the day they compassed the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 6:15

And it came to pass on the seventh day
Which Jarchi says was the Sabbath day, and which is a common notion of the Jews F3; but whether it was or not, it is certain that one of these seven days must be a sabbath, in which the several things ordered were done, and the procession made. Kimchi observes, that their Rabbins say this was the sabbath day; and he adds, what is pretty remarkable,

``though they slew and burnt on the sabbath day, he that commanded the sabbath commanded to profane the sabbath in the subduing of Jericho;''

with which compare what our Lord says, ( Matthew 12:3-8 ) ;

that they rose early, about the dawning of the day;
having seven times the work to do they did on the other six days:

and compassed the city after the same manner seven times;
after the same manner as they had done the six preceding days:

only on that day they compassed the city seven times;
whereas on the other days they only went round it once, which distinguished this day from the rest.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 11. p. 31. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 312. 2.

Joshua 6:15 In-Context

13 The seven Kohanim bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of the LORD, [the Kohanim] blowing the trumpets as they went.
14 The second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 It happened on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on the day they compassed the city seven times.
16 It happened at the seventh time, when the Kohanim blew the trumpets, Yehoshua said to the people, Shout; for the LORD has given you the city.
17 The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to the LORD: only Rachav the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.