Joshua 6:9

And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

The armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark. This disposition was conformed to the marching arrangement of the Egyptians, among whom, when a body of troops marched to the beat of drum, the drummer was often stationed in the center or the rear, and sometimes immediately behind the standard-bearers (Wilkinson's 'Ancient Egyptians,' 2:, p. 268). "The armed men" referred to in the text were the contingents furnished by the eastern tribes (cf. Joshua 4:13), while "the rereward" consisted of warriors from the other tribes. The procession was made in deed and solemn silence, conformably to the instructions given to the people by their leader at the outset, that they were to refrain from all acclamation and noise of any kind, until he should give them a signal. 'It must have been a strange sight; no mount was raised, no sword drawn, no engine planted, no pioneers undermining-here were armed men, but no stroke given; they must walk, and not fight. Doubtless the people of Jericho made themselves merry but no stroke given; they must walk, and not fight. Doubtless the people of Jericho made themselves merry with the spectacle' (Dr. Hall).