Joshua 6:1-21

The Fall of Jericho

1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.

2 And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, ¹I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.

3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.

4 Seven priests shall bear seven ²trumpets of ³rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and ⁴the priests shall blow the trumpets.

5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,^[a] and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."

6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD."

7 And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let ⁵the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD."

8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them.

9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the ⁶rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.

10 But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."

11 So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.

12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and ⁷the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually.

14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.

16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.

17 And the city and all that is within it shall be ⁸devoted to the LORD for destruction.^[b] Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she ⁹hid the messengers whom we sent.

18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel ¹⁰a thing for destruction and ¹¹bring trouble upon it.

19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD."

20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and ¹²the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

21 Then they ¹³devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

Joshua 6:1-21 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.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 2:9, 24; Deuteronomy 7:24; Nehemiah 9:24; [Joshua 8:1]
• 2. Judges 7:16, 22
• 3. ver. 5, 6, 8, 13
• 4. Numbers 10:8
• 5. Joshua 4:12, 13
• 6. ver. 13; Numbers 10:25; Isaiah 52:12; Isaiah 58:8
• 7. See Joshua 3:6
• 8. Leviticus 27:28; Deuteronomy 20:17
• 9. Joshua 2:4
• 10. [Joshua 7:12]
• 11. Joshua 7:25; 1 Chronicles 2:7
• 12. ver. 5; Hebrews 11:30
• 13. [Deuteronomy 7:2]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew under itself; also verse 20
• [b]. That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 18, 21