Joshua 6:1. _Now Jericho_ This verse is strictly parenthetical, and states the Historical circumstance which gave occasion for this Divine intervention. _was straitly shut up_ Vulg. "clausa erat atque munita." "Was closid and waardid," Wyclif Straitly = STRICTLY, CLOSELY. Comp. Genesis 43:7, "The m... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord said_ The interview between the Hebrew leader and "the Prince of Jehovah's host" is here resumed. _See, I have given_ Compare for a similar expression Joshua 11:6. As Israel had stood on the shores of the Red Sea and seen "the salvation of God," so now they were themselves to adopt no... [ Continue Reading ]
_ye shall compass the city_ The scene to be witnessed from the walls of Jericho, was calculated in the most striking manner to appeal to the consciences of all who should see it: (_a_) First in solemn procession were to advance armed men: (_b_) Then would follow seven priests blowing continually,... [ Continue Reading ]
_trumpets of rams" horns_ Rather, TRUMPETS OF SOUNDINGS, or, of JUBILEE; "seuen trompes, vhose use is in the jubile." Not the long straight trumpets generally used, but the same kind that were to be employed on the first day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:24), and to announce the year of Jubilee... [ Continue Reading ]
_every man straight before him_ Over the prostrate walls the Israelites were to advance into Jericho, and "each one straight forward," so that, as far as possible, their order should be preserved. Compare the march of the locusts as described by Joel 2:7, "like men of war they climb a wall, and ever... [ Continue Reading ]
Capture and Destruction of Jericho 6. _And Joshua_ In obedience to the commands thus received Joshua implicitly carries out the instructions given him and issues the needful orders to the host.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the rereward_ The remaining warriors were to act as a rearguard. During the march through the wilderness this duty devolved on the tribe of Dan (see Numbers 10:25). "Rereward" means the "rearguard" of an army; _guard_and _ward_being related as _guise_and _wise_, Fr. _guerre_, and E. _war_. It is a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall not shout_ These instructions demanded the exercise of the utmost self-control, and the exercise also of signal trust in Him, Who had appointed such a mysterious method for the capture of the city.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and they came into the camp_ On the evening of the first day and the six succeeding days they returned to their encampment at Gilgal to spend the night.... [ Continue Reading ]
_about the dawning of the day_ On this day the circuit had to be made seven times, and therefore the march had to be commenced very early.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the city shall be accursed_ "be this cyte cursid" (Wyclif), or, as in margin, _devoted_. The verb from which the word comes denotes (i) _to cut off_, (ii) _to devote_, to withdraw from common use and consecrate to God = _sacrare_. (i) The word itself, used actively, means the devotement of anything... [ Continue Reading ]
_in any wise keep yourselves_ A warning, which Achan neglected to the destruction of himself and his family. See chap. 7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_are consecrated_ Or, as in the margin, ARE HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD: "to ye Lord be it halowid," Wyclif. _into the treasury of the Lord_ Comp. Numbers 31:22-23; Numbers 31:50-54. In the case of Jericho, the whole city, with all that it contained, was _cherem_or "devoted.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the wall fell down flat_ No hand of man interposed to bring about this catastrophe, no merely natural causes precipitated the fall; "_by faith_," as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews declares, "the walls of Jericho fell down" (Hebrews 11:30). "When we examine the operation of faith in this i... [ Continue Reading ]
_they utterly destroyed_ In the instance of the other cities of Canaan, as in those of Sihon and Og, the inhabitants were destroyed, but he cattle were preserved. Comp. (_a_) Joshua 8:26; Joshua 10:28; (_b_) Deuteronomy 2:34; Deuteronomy 3:6. In the case of Jericho not only the inhabitants, but the... [ Continue Reading ]
The Rescue of Rahab 22. _Go into the harlot's house_ We are told that Rahab's house was _upon the town wall_, and that she dwelt _upon the wall_. But though the walls of Jericho fell down flat, her house was preserved. They fell by _faith_, and she was saved by _faith_(Hebrews 11:30-31). _as ye sw... [ Continue Reading ]
_the young men_ Vulg. _juvenes_. Comp. Genesis 22:3, "And Abraham rose up early … and took _two_of _his young men_with him;" Judges 8:20, "And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But _the youth_drew not his sword." _all her kindred_ Heb. FAMILIES. _without the camp of Israel_ Com... [ Continue Reading ]
_she dwelleth in Israel_ These words do not _necessarily_imply that she was alive at the time the Book of Joshua was written, but that the family of strangers, of which she was reckoned the head, continued to dwell among the children of Israel. She married Salmon, of the tribe of Judah, and became t... [ Continue Reading ]
The Curse upon Jericho 26. _adjured them_ i.e. "put an oath upon them." _Cursed be the man_ A city, which was _cherem_or "devoted," could not be rebuilt, Deuteronomy 13:15-17. Joshua therefore pronounces an imprecation on the foundation of Jericho. The words "have a rhythmical and antistrophical f... [ Continue Reading ]
_So the Lord was with Joshua_ He and He alone had achieved the victory for His people, and they had "stood still" and "seen the salvation of Jehovah" (Exodus 14:13; 2 Chronicles 20:17): (_a_) The entrance into Canaan itself had been effected by the miraculous receding of the waters of the Jordan;... [ Continue Reading ]