Joshua 6:15

15 On the seventh day, they got up early, at sunrise, and went around the city in the same way seven times. That was the only day they encircled 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Joshua 6:15 In-Context

13 The seven cohanim carrying the seven shofars ahead of the ark of ADONAI went on, continually blowing on their shofars, with the fighting men marching ahead of them and the rearguard following after the ark of ADONAI; all the while the blowing on the shofars was incessant.

14 The second day, they went around the city once and returned to camp. They did the same for six days.

15 On the seventh day, they got up early, at sunrise, and went around the city in the same way seven times. That was the only day they encircled the city seven times.

16 The seventh time, when the cohanim blew on their shofars, Y'hoshua said to the people, "Shout! because ADONAI has given you the city!

17 But the city and everything in it is to be set aside for ADONAI and therefore to be destroyed completely; only Rachav the prostitute is to be spared, she and everyone with her in her house, because she hid the messengers we sent.