Joshua 6:15

15 On the seventh day they got up at dawn and marched around the city, just as they had on the days before. But on that day they marched around 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 priests carried the seven trumpets and marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their trumpets. Soldiers with weapons marched in front of them, and other soldiers walked behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time the priests were blowing their trumpets.

14 So on the second day they marched around the city one time and then went back to camp. They did this every day for six days.

15 On the seventh day they got up at dawn and marched around the city, just as they had on the days before. But on that day they marched around the city seven times.

16 The seventh time around the priests blew their trumpets. Then Joshua gave the command: "Now, shout! The Lord has given you this city!

17 The city and everything in it are to be destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone in her house should remain alive. They must not be killed, because Rahab hid the two spies we sent out.