Joshua 6:13-23

13 and seven of the priests took seven clarions, which were used in the jubilee, and the priests went before the ark of the Lord, and trumped; and the people went armed before them. And the tother common people followed the ark, and sounded with trumps. (and seven of the priests took up seven trumpets, which were used on the Jubilee, and they went before the Ark of the Lord, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went before them. And the other common people followed the Ark, the trumpets sounding as they went.)
14 And they compassed the city in the second day once, and turned again into the tents; so they did six days. (And they went around the city once on the second day, and then they returned to their tents; and so they did for six days.)
15 And in the seventh day they rose early, and compassed the city, as it was ordained, seven times. (And on the seventh day they all rose up early, and went around the city, as it was ordained, seven times.)
16 And when in the seventh compass, the priests sounded with clarions, Joshua said to all Israel, Cry ye, for the Lord hath betaken the city to us; (And on the seventh time around, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to all Israel, Shout ye, for the Lord hath delivered the city to us;)
17 and this city be cursed, either destroyed, and all things that be therein be hallowed to the Lord. (Let) Rahab the whore alone live, with all the men that be with her in the house; for she hid the messengers which we sent (for she hid the spies that we sent).
18 And be ye ware, lest ye touch anything of these [things] that be forbidden to you, and ye be guilty of trespassing; and all the tents of Israel be under sin, and be troubled (for then all the tents of Israel would be under sin, and we would be in great trouble).
19 For whatever thing is of gold, and of silver, and of brazen vessels, and of iron (vessels), be it hallowed to the Lord, and be it kept in his treasuries.
20 Then while all the people cried, and the trumps sounded, after that the sound sounded in the ears of the multitude, the walls felled down anon; and each man went up by the place that was against him. And they took the city, (Then while the trumpets sounded, and were heard in the ears of the multitude, all the people shouted, and the walls fell down at once; and each man advanced straight ahead. And they took the city,)
21 and they killed all things that were therein, from man unto woman, (and) from a young child unto an eld man; also they killed by sharpness of sword, oxen, sheep, and asses (and they killed by the sharpness of their swords, all the oxen, and the sheep, and the donkeys).
22 Forsooth Joshua said to [the] two men, that were sent (as) spyers, Enter ye into the house of the woman whore, and bring ye forth her, and all things that be hers, as ye made steadfast to her by an oath. (And Joshua said to the two men, who were sent as spies, Go ye into the house of the whore-woman, and bring ye her forth, and all the things that be hers, as ye made steadfast to her, that is, as ye promised her, by your oath.)
23 And the young men entered in, and they led out Rahab, and her father, and mother, and all her brethren, and all the purtenance of her, and kindred; and they made them to dwell without the tents of Israel. (And the young men went in, and they led out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and all her brothers, and sisters, yea, all her family, and all who belonged to her; and they let them live outside Israel's camp.)

Joshua 6:13-23 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.