Joshua 6:7-17

7 They said to the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.

8 It was so, that when Yehoshua had spoken to the people, the seven Kohanim bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD passed on, and blew the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

9 The armed men went before the Kohanim who blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, [the Kohanim] blowing the trumpets as they went.

10 Yehoshua commanded the people, saying, You shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall you shout.

11 So he caused the ark of the LORD to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

12 Yehoshua rose early in the morning, and the Kohanim took up the ark of the LORD.

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.

Joshua 6:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 6

In this chapter Joshua is assured, though Jericho was closely shut up, it should be delivered into his hands, Jos 6:1,2; and he is directed, with the army, to go round the city six days together, seven priests bearing the ark of the Lord, with seven trumpets sounding; and on the seventh day to go round it seven times in like manner, when its wall should fall, Jos 6:3-5; which order Joshua communicated to the priests, and to the people, and which was put into execution by them, with some other instructions he gave them, Jos 6:6-16; particularly that the city, and all in it, should be devoted to the Lord, and none spared, but Rahab and her family, Jos 6:17-19; the success was according to the assurance given by the Lord, Jos 6:20; when all in the city were destroyed, and that was burnt with fire, and the gold, silver, brass, and iron, brought into the house of the Lord, and Rahab and her father's household were saved alive, Jos 6:21-25; and the chapter is closed with an adjuration of Joshua, cursing the man that should rebuild the city; and with this observation, that the fame of Joshua upon this was spread abroad throughout the country, Jos 6:26,27.