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Joshua Chapter
Six
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 6
In
this chapter Joshua is assured
though Jericho was closely shut up
it should
be delivered into his hands
Joshua 6:1; 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
Joshua 6:3; 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
Joshua 6:6;
particularly that the city
and all in it
should be devoted to the Lord
and
none spared
but Rahab and her family
Joshua 6:17; the
success was according to the assurance given by the Lord
Joshua 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
Joshua 6:21; 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
Joshua 6:26.
Joshua 6:1 Now
Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out
and none came in.
YLT
1(And Jericho shutteth
itself up
and is shut up
because of the presence of the sons of Israel --
none going out
and none coming in;)
Now Jericho was straitly shut up
because of the children of
Israel
.... Or "it shut up"
or "was shutting
and was
shut up"F21סגרת ומסגרת
"claudens et clausa"
Montanus
Vatablus. ; that is
the king and the
inhabitants shut it up within; the Targum says with iron doors
and bars of
brass
and it was blocked up without by the children of Israel:
none went out and none came in; none of their forces
went out to make a sally on the Israelites
or to seek to make peace with them;
nor any of their neighbours went in to them
to carry them any provision
or to
assist them
or to be sheltered by them
not being able to do it because of the
camp of Israel.
Joshua 6:2 2 And the Lord said to
Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand
its king
and the
mighty men of valor.
YLT
2And Jehovah saith unto
Joshua
`See
I have given into thy hand Jericho and its king -- mighty ones of
valour
And the Lord said unto Joshua
.... The same divine
Person called in the preceding chapter the Captain of the Lord's host
Joshua 5:14
now
with him
and who gave him the following orders
instructions
and assurances:
see
I have given into thy hand Jericho
and the king thereof: which might
be concluded from the fear that was fallen upon the inhabitants of the city and
their king
and from their shutting themselves up so closely
not daring to
come out against Israel: and especially from this declaration and promise of
the Lord; and which should be done in such a manner
as that it would clearly
appear to be of the Lord
and not men:
and the mighty men of valour; the military
men
the soldiers
or army that were under the command of the king of Jericho;
or
as Kimchi reads it
"though" mighty men
yet they should not be
able to defend the city
or hinder its falling into their hands; for what were
they to the mighty God of Israel?
Joshua 6:3 3 You shall march around the
city
all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This
you shall do six days.
YLT
3and ye have compassed the
city -- all the men of battle -- going round the city once; thus thou dost six
days;
And ye shall compass the city
all ye men of war
.... Joshua
their chief commander under the Lord
and all that were able to make war
even
all above twenty years of age; these were to compass the city
not in the form
of a siege
but by a procession around it:
and go round about the city
once; or one time
for the first once in a day
and no more:
thus shall thou do six days; one after another; that
is
go round it
once every day
for such a time. This order was given
according
to the JewsF23Seder Olam Rabba
c. 11. p. 31.
the twenty second of
Nisan
after the feast of unleavened bread was over.
Joshua 6:4 4 And seven priests shall
bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you
shall march around the city seven times
and the priests shall blow the
trumpets.
YLT
4and seven priests do bear
seven trumpets of the jubilee before the ark
and on the seventh day ye compass
the city seven times
and the priests blow with the trumpets
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of
rams' horns
.... The ark was to be taken up and carried by priests round the
city. Ben Gersom observes
that this was to direct the Israelites to keep and
do according to all that was written in it; that is
in the law
which was
contained in it; but no doubt the design of it was to show
that the subduing
of Jericho
and the miracle that would be wrought
were owing to the power and
presence of God
of which the ark was a symbol: and before it were to go seven
other priests
with trumpets in their hands; which
according to our version
were made of rams horns: in the original it is "jobelim"
or
"jubilee" trumpets. Some think it means only such as they were to use
in the year of jubilee; so Abarbinel and others
as Masius and NoldiusF24P.
160. No. 1515. ; that they had their name from Jubal
the first inventor of
musical instruments
Genesis 4:21; for
rams' horns are objected to because they are solid
and not hollow; as if they
could not be bored and made hollow
and fit for such a purpose. The Targum
Jarchi
and Kimchi
interpret the word by rams horns
as we doF25So
Joseph. Antiqu. l. 5. c. 6. sect. 5. ; and observe what R. Akiba
said
"when (says he) I went into Arabia
I heard them call; a ram
"jobel"; and the trumpet itself is called "jobel"
because
made of a ram's hornF26Kimchi
Sepher. Shorash. rad. יבל R. Sol. Urbim. Ohel Moed
fol. 39. 2. :"
and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times; in the same
manner as on the other days:
and the priests shall blow with the trumpets; which they
were to do; and did every day.
Joshua 6:5 5 It shall come to pass
when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn
and when you
hear the sound of the trumpet
that all the people shall shout with a great
shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go
up every man straight before him.”
YLT
5and it hath been
in the
prolongation of the horn of the jubilee
in your hearing the voice of the
trumpet
all the people shout -- a great shout
and the wall of the city hath
fallen under it
and the people have gone up
each over-against him.'
And it shall come to pass
that when they make a long blast
with the ram's horn
.... Continue blowing
and protracting
and drawing out the sound
a long time; which they did only on the seventh day; on the other days it was
but a short blast they made at a time; so that this being different
it would
be a good sign and token to the people to do what they are next directed to:
and when ye hear the sound of
the trumpet; drawn out to a great length:
all the people shall shout with a great shout; at once
as
when an onset is made in battle
or a victory is obtained:
and the wall of the city shall fall down flat; or
"under itself"F1תחתיה "sub
se"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus; "subtus se"
Tigurine
version; "sabter se"
Masius. ; which Jarchi interprets
in its
place; that is
where it stood
and be swallowed up in it: so the
Targum
"and it shall be swallowed up under it;'yet so that somewhat of it
should be seen
as an attestation and proof of the miracle
as Kimchi; who
says
"it means that it should be swallowed up in its place under the
earth
and a little of it appear above ground for a memorial of the
miracle:"
and the people shall ascend up
every man straight before him; just as they
were in the order of procession; for the wall being fallen everywhere
they
would have no occasion to make up to one certain place
as when a breach is
only made in one place
and the besiegers are obliged to go so many a breast to
enter at it; but in this case they might go straight up from whence they were
and enter the city without any obstruction and difficulty.
Joshua 6:6 6 Then 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.”
YLT
6And Joshua son of Nun
calleth unto the priests
and saith unto them
`Bear ye the ark of the
covenant
and seven priests do bear seven trumpets of the jubilee before the
ark of Jehovah;'
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests
.... Not the
Levites and Kohathites
whose business it was in common to bear the ark
but
upon this occasion the priests; not all of them
but as many as were sufficient
for the purpose:
and said unto them
take up the ark of the covenant; by putting
the staves into the rings of it
and so carry it
Exodus 25:14; see Numbers 7:9
and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before
the ark of the Lord: See Gill on Joshua 6:4.
Joshua 6:7 7 And he said to the people
“Proceed
and march around the city
and let him who is armed advance before
the ark of the Lord.”
YLT
7and He said unto the
people
`Pass over
and compass the city
and he who is armed doth pass over
before the ark of Jehovah.'
And he said unto the people
pass on
and compass the city
.... The women
and children
the young men under twenty years of age
the unarmed part of the
camp
as distinguished from the armed men:
and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord; to guard the
ark
protect the priests
and defend the people
should any sally be made by
the enemy upon them. These seem to design all the males that were above twenty
years of age able to bear arms
and fit for war; though some restrain it to the
forty thousand of the tribes of Reuben
Gad
and Manasseh
Joshua 1:14.
Joshua 6:8 8 So it was
when Joshua had
spoken to the people
that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of
rams’ horns before the Lord
advanced and blew the trumpets
and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.
YLT
8And it cometh to pass
when
Joshua speaketh unto the people
that the seven priests bearing seven trumpets
of the jubilee before Jehovah have passed over and blown with the trumpets
and
the ark of the covenant of Jehovah is going after them;
And it came to pass
when Joshua had spoken to the people
.... Both
armed and unarmed; had finished the orders and directions he gave them before
mentioned:
that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns
passed on before the Lord; in his sight
and by his direction
and at
his command given by Joshua
and before the ark
the symbol of his presence:
and blew with the trumpets; a short blast as they
went along; this they did on each of the six days:
and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them; being borne
by priests
Joshua 6:6.
Joshua 6:9 9 The armed men went before
the priests who blew the trumpets
and the rear guard came after the ark
while
the priests continued blowing the trumpets.
YLT
9and he who is armed is
going before the priests blowing the trumpets
and he who is gathering up is
going after the ark
going on and blowing with the trumpets;
And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the
trumpets
.... Whom Jarchi
Kimchi
and Abarbinel
interpret of Reuben and
Gad
and the half tribe of Manasseh; that is
as many of them as Joshua took
with him over Jordan; though rather all the armed men in the camp are meant; at
least along with those mentioned went the standards of Judah and Ephraim:
and the rereward came after the ark; because the tribe of Dan
was the rereward in journeying
Numbers 2:31; hence
the Targum paraphrases the words
"and the tribe of the house of Dan went
after the ark;'and so both Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it: but rather the body
of the people unarmed are designed; at least these were brought up by the
standard of Dan; or otherwise no place in this procession is appointed for
them
whose business it was to make the great shout on the seventh day with the
rest:
the priests going on and
blowing with the trumpets; the word "priests" is not in the
text
but is rightly supplied; for
as Kimchi and Abarbinel observe
this is
not said of the rereward
but of the priests
for they only bore and blew the
trumpets; and so the Targum reads
"the priests going on
&c.'
Joshua 6:10 10 Now Joshua had commanded
the people
saying
“You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice
nor
shall a word proceed out of your mouth
until the day I say to you
‘Shout!’
Then you shall shout.”
YLT
10and the people hath Joshua
commanded
saying
`Ye do not shout
nor cause your voice to be heard
nor doth
there go out from your mouth a word
till the day of my saying unto you
Shout
ye -- then ye have shouted.'
And Joshua had commanded the people
.... When he gave them
their orders to pass on
and compass the city
Joshua 6:7
saying
ye shall not shout; that is
on any of the
six days as they went round the city
only on the seventh; for this being a
sign of victory
it was not to be made until the day when it should be obtained;
otherwise
had they shouted
and nothing followed on it
it would have exposed
them to the contempt of the inhabitants of Jericho
and would have put them in
spirit
and hardened them:
nor make any noise with your voice; as laughing
singing
&c. This profound silence was to be observed
to add to the gravity and
solemnity of the procession; and on account of the surprising miracle that was
to be wrought
and particularly because of the ark
the symbol of the divine
Presence
borne before them; and when God in his providence was about to speak
in so awful a manner
and to do such a surprising work
it was very fit and
decent that they should be silent before him; see Habakkuk 2:20
neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth; no
conversation or discourse were to be had with each other as they passed along;
for this is only to be restrained to the procession; when they returned
and in
their camp
they might talk and discourse as at other times:
until the day I bid you shout
then shall ye shout; for as yet it
seems Joshua had not told them how many days they should surround the city in
this manner
and on what day the shout should be made by them.
Joshua 6:11 11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the
city
going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in
the camp.
YLT
11And the ark of Jehovah doth
compass the city
going round once
and they come into the camp
and lodge in
the camp.
So the ark of the Lord compassed the city
.... Being
bore by the priests
who carried it round the city; it may as well be rendered
and interpreted as it is by Kimchi
"he
i.e. Joshua
caused the ark of the
Lord to compass the city;'
that
is
he gave orders to the priests to take it up
and go round with it on the
first day:
going about it once; on that day
and no
more; keeping at such a distance
as to be out of the reach of stones or arrows
cast from the walls of the city:
and they came into the camp
and lodged in the camp; the night
following; not only the priests that bare the ark
but those that blew with the
trumpets
and all the armed men
and the people.
Joshua 6:12 12 And Joshua rose early in
the morning
and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
YLT
12And Joshua riseth early in
the morning
and the priests bear the ark of Jehovah
And Joshua rose early in the morning
.... Of the
second day; to take care of
direct
and prepare everything for another
procession on that day; so active and diligent was he to do the will and work
of God
exactly and punctually:
and the priests took up the ark of the Lord; and carried
it about as they had done the day before.
Joshua 6:13 13 Then seven priests bearing
seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on
continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But
the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord
while the priests
continued blowing the trumpets.
YLT
13and seven priests bearing
seven trumpets of the jubilee before the ark of Jehovah are walking
going on
and they have blown with the trumpets -- and he who is armed is going before
them
and he who is gathering up is going behind the ark of Jehovah -- going on
and blowing with the trumpets.
And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the
ark of the Lord
.... See Gill on Joshua 6:4
went on continually; or
"going they
went"F2הלכים הלוך
"euntes eundo"
Montanus. : kept on going
making no stop at all
until they had compassed the city:
and blew with the trumpets; as they went along:
and the armed men went before them
but the rereward came after
the ark of the Lord; which the Targum paraphrases as on Joshua 6:9
the priests going on
and
blowing with the trumpets; See Gill on Joshua 6:9.
Joshua 6:14 14 And the second day they
marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.
YLT
14And they compass the city
on the second day once
and turn back to the camp; thus they have done six
days.
And the second day they compassed the city once
.... Went
round it one time only; as on the first:
and returned into the camp: which was at Gilgal
Joshua 5:10
so they did six days: four more after these
two successively
and proceeded in the same order and manner as on those two
days.
Joshua 6:15 15 But it came to pass on the
seventh day that they rose early
about the dawning of the day
and marched
around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched
around the city seven times.
YLT
15And it cometh to pass
on
the seventh day
that they rise early
at the ascending of the dawn
and
compass the city
according to this manner
seven times; (only
on that day
they have compassed the city seven times);
And it came to pass on the seventh day
.... Which
Jarchi says was the Sabbath day
and which is a common notion of the JewsF3Seder
Olam Rabba
c. 11. p. 31. Bemidbar Rabba
sect. 14. fol. 312. 2. ; 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
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.
Joshua 6:16 16 And the seventh time it happened
when the priests blew the trumpets
that Joshua said to the people: “Shout
for
the Lord
has given you the city!
YLT
16and it cometh to pass
at
the seventh time
the priests have blown with the trumpets
and Joshua saith
unto the people
`Shout ye
for Jehovah hath given to you the city;
And it came to pass at the seventh time
.... Of their
going round the city on the seventh day: and at the seventh time:
when the priests blew with the trumpets; as they did
every time they compassed the city:
Joshua said unto the people
shout; both those that were
armed
and those that were not; they were to make one grand and general shout
at once
as when victory is obtained
or is sure
and so it follows:
for the Lord hath given you the city; intimating that
it would be presently delivered into their hands
and in such manner
that it
would plainly show it was of the Lord
and no other.
Joshua 6:17 17 Now the city shall be
doomed by the Lord
to destruction
it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall
live
she and all who are with her in the house
because she hid the
messengers that we sent.
YLT
17and the city hath been
devoted
it and all that [is] in it
to Jehovah; only Rahab the harlot doth
live
she and all who [are] with her in the house
for she hid the messengers
whom we sent;
And the city shall be accursed
.... Or
be a
"cherem"
devoted to the Lord
as it follows:
even it and all
that are therein
to the Lord; the city and the
inhabitants of it should be devoted to destruction
and the riches and spoil of
it dedicated to sacred uses
and not become the property of the Israelites; for
as this was the first city in the had of Canaan that was conquered
it was fit
the firstfruits of the conquest should be the Lord's
as an acknowledgment of
his gift of the land unto them
and that the conquest of it was owing to him;
though it might be some mortification to the Israelites
and a trial of their
faith and obedience
that the first and so fine a city should not become their
habitation
but be utterly destroyed
and not to be built more; and all the
riches of it either consumed
or converted to other uses
and not their own.
This Joshua thought fit to declare to the Israelites
before the taking of the
city
that they might know what they had to do. The Jewish doctors generally
suppose that Joshua ordered this of himself
of his own accord and will; but
Kimchi is of opinion that the Lord gave him this order
which is most probable
yea
certain from Joshua 7:11
only Rahab the harlot shall live
she and all that are with
her in the house; she and her father's family
as she requested
and the spies
promised; here the Targum calls her
as elsewhere
Rahab the innkeeper or
victualler; and so in Joshua 6:22
because she hid the messengers that we sent; and so
preserved them from being taken by the messengers of the king of Jericho
who
were sent in pursuit of them. These though sent only by Joshua
without the
knowledge of the people
yet it being on their account
and their good
and by
him as their head and governor
is ascribed to them also. This fact of Rahab's
is observed by him as a reason for sparing her
and those that were with her
when all the rest would be put to the sword; and is mentioned as an instance of
her faith
and of the evidence of it
Hebrews 11:31.
Joshua 6:18 18 And you
by all means
abstain from the accursed things
lest you become accursed when you take of the
accursed things
and make the camp of Israel a curse
and trouble it.
YLT
18and surely ye have kept
from the devoted thing
lest ye devote [yourselves]
and have taken from the
devoted thing
and have made the camp of Israel become a devoted thing
and
have troubled it;
And you in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing
.... From
laying hold on
secreting
and enjoying as their own
what was devoted to
another use:
lest ye make yourselves accursed; or a
"cherem"
also devoted to destruction:
when ye take of the accursed thing; any part of it
be it
what it will
gold or any other metal
or raiment
and the like:
and make the camp of Israel a curse
and trouble it; for being
done secretly
and not known who did it
the whole body of the people would be
chargeable with it
and suffer on account of it
unless discovered and punished
and as more fully appears by an after instance.
Joshua 6:19 19 But all the silver and
gold
and vessels of bronze and iron
are consecrated to the Lord; they shall
come into the treasury of the Lord.”
YLT
19and all the silver and
gold
and vessels of brass and iron
holy they [are] to Jehovah; into the
treasury of Jehovah they come.'
But all the silver and gold
and vessels of brass and iron
are consecrated to the Lord
.... Or
rather
"for all the silver"
&c. as the particle here used sometimes
signifies
and is so renderedF4וכל
"nam totum"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. : each of these
metals
and whatsoever were made of them
were set apart for the Lord
and
dedicated to sacred uses
and might not be converted to any other
unless what
were upon their idols
which were to be burnt with fire
Deuteronomy 7:25
they shall come into the treasury of the Lord; be brought
into the tabernacle
as Kimchi and Abarbinel interpret it
into some apartment
there destined for such service
and which is clear from Joshua 6:24; the
same where the offering of the officers was brought after the battle with
Midian
Numbers 31:54.
Joshua 6:20 20 So the people shouted when
the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the
sound of the trumpet
and the people shouted with a great shout
that the wall
fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city
every man straight
before him
and they took the city.
YLT
20And the people shout
and
blow with the trumpets
and it cometh to pass when the people hear the voice of
the trumpet
that the people shout -- a great shout
and the wall falleth under
it
and the people goeth up into the city
each over-against him
and they
capture the city;
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the
trumpets
.... As Joshua had charged them
Joshua 6:16
and it came to pass
when the people heard the sound of the trumpet
and the people shouted with a great shout; that is
gave
a loud shout
on hearing the long blast of the trumpets blown by the priests
the seventh time
as they were no doubt directed by Joshua
agreeably to the
order given to him; see Joshua 6:5
that the wall fell down flat; the wall of the city of
Jericho
as the Lord said it should; see Gill on Joshua 6:5
so that the people went up into the city
every man straight
before him
and they took the city; they went up to it from
the plain
where they were
and entered it without any difficulty
the wall
being fallen
and that everywhere: so that they went directly from the place
where they were
and went in right over against them
into every quarter and
part of the city
and seized on it
and possessed it at once. Various things
may be observed concerning this surprising event; as that it was supernatural
and cannot be ascribed to second causes
there being nothing in the procession
round the city
the blowing of the trumpets
or shout of the people
that could
occasion the wall to fall; and that no defences or fortifications are anything
against God
when it is his will a city should be taken
with whom nothing is
impossible; and that sometimes unlikely means are appointed and used by him for
doing great things
that the power may appear to be his by which they are done;
and that faith stops at nothing
when it has the word and promise of God to
encourage and support it; and that God does everything in his own time and way.
The falling of the walls of Jericho may be considered as an emblem of the fall
of Babylon; these two cities agree
as in their greatness
so in their
wickedness
Revelation 17:4;
and as Jericho stood in the way of Israel's inheriting the land
being a frontier
and barrier town; so mystical Babylon stands in the way of the kingdom of
Christ
and its spread in the world
and particularly of the conversion of the
Jews
Revelation 11:14.
The fall of Jericho was very sudden
and when not expected by the inhabitants
of it; and so will be the fall of Babylon
Revelation 18:7;
and as Jericho fell at the sound of rams horns
the destruction of antichrist
or mystical Babylon
will be through the preaching of the Gospel
Revelation 14:6;
and as the one was by the sounding of seven priests
at the seventh time of
sounding
on the seventh day; so the ruin of antichrist will be at the seventh
angel's sounding the seventh trumpet
and pouring out the seventh vial
Revelation 10:7;
and as at the destruction of the one
so of the other
but few saved from the
common calamity
Revelation 18:4;
and both never to be raised up and built again
Revelation 18:21;
And it may be considered also as an emblem of the subjection of the Gentile
world to Christ; which
like Jericho
or the moon
as some observe the name
signifies
is very changeable; and as that city
and the inhabitants of it
an
enemy to God
and his people
and yet made subject by the ministry of his word;
as particularly it will be when the kingdoms of this world shall become his: or
rather it may be an emblem of the subjection of particular souls to Christ
and
the means thereof; who are like the walled city of Jericho in their
unregenerate state
their hearts hard
stubborn
and inflexible
and enmity to
God; are self-confident
vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds
and shut up
in unbelief
and kept and guarded by Satan
the strong man armed; but all these
strong holds of sin and Satan are brought down and demolished in conversion;
and that by means of the sound of the Gospel
which is as despicable with men
as the sound of the rams' horns were to the inhabitants of Jericho; but is a
jubilee and joyful sound
a sound of love
grace
mercy
and salvation; and
being accompanied with the Spirit and grace of God
is the power of God unto
salvation; and mighty through him for the removing the hardness of men's
hearts
and bringing them into subjection and obedience to Christ.
Joshua 6:21 21 And they utterly destroyed
all that was in the city
both man and woman
young and old
ox and
sheep and donkey
with the edge of the sword.
YLT
21and they devote all that
[is] in the city
from man even unto woman
from young even unto aged
even
unto ox
and sheep
and ass
by the mouth of the sword.
And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city
.... All the
inhabitants of it
by the direction of Joshua
and according to the order of
the Lord
Deuteronomy 7:1;
being guilty of capital crimes
which deserved death
as idolatry
incest
&c.
both men and women
young and old; neither sex nor age were
spared:
and ox
and sheep
and ass
with the edge of the sword; in which
creatures chiefly lay the substance of the eastern people; see Job 1:3.
Joshua 6:22 22 But Joshua had said to the
two men who had spied out the country
“Go into the harlot’s house
and from
there bring out the woman and all that she has
as you swore to her.”
YLT
22And to the two men who are
spying the land Joshua said
`Go into the house of the woman
the harlot
and
bring out thence the woman
and all whom she hath
as ye have sworn to her.'
But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the
country
.... Whom he had sent on that errand
Joshua 2:1; and
what follows he had said unto them before the people entered into the city
and
perhaps before the walls of it fell; and indeed from Joshua 6:16
it
appears to have been said at the time he gave the people orders to shout:
go into the harlot's house: he does not mention her
name but they full well knew who he meant:
and bring out thence the woman
and all that she hath; not so much
her substance
as her father's household
she had got together there
that they
might be saved
as had been promised her:
as ye sware unto her; so that this order was
partly on account of her kindness to them
Joshua 6:17; and
partly on account of the oath which they had taken
and which Joshua would have
inviolably kept.
Joshua 6:23 23 And the young men who had
been spies went in and brought out Rahab
her father
her mother
her brothers
and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them
outside the camp of Israel.
YLT
23And the young man
the
spies
go in and bring out Rahab
and her father
and her mother
and her
brethren
and all whom she hath; yea
all her families they have brought out
and place them at the outside of the camp of Israel.
And the young men that were spies went in
and brought out Rahab
.... Not only
went into the city
but into Rahab's house
which they knew again by the
scarlet thread hung out at the window of it. But here a difficulty occurs
how
they could be said to go into her house
when it was built on the town wall
Joshua 2:15; and that
was now fallen down flat. Abarbinel thinks that when the spies went round the
city
they saw the scarlet thread in the window of her house
and set their
eyes on the house
or wistly observed it; and marked it in such manner
that
after the fall of the wall they went to the place of her house
and brought her
out
though her house was broken down
and no wall standing: but then they
could not be said properly to go into her house
and bring her out. Kimchi is
of opinion that not all the wall of the city fell
but what was over against
the camp of Israel; and that the house of Rahab was on the wall on the other
side: but it seems by the account of it as if the whole wall fell; and the
apostle says
"the walls of Jericho fell down"
Hebrews 11:30; all
of them; and so the Septuagint version of Joshua 6:20."and
the whole wall
or all the wall fell round about:'and I see not why it may not
be thought that the whole wall fell
excepting that small part alone which
Rahab's house stood; and that standing alone would make the miracle the
greater
and show the divine approbation of saving Rahab and her family:
besides
if the wall sunk down in its place all around into the earth
as the
Jews understand the phrase; See Gill on Joshua 6:5; the
house might continue on it firm and unmoved
going down with it to the surface
of the earth
where it may be supposed the top of the wall was; and so they
might go in and take her out
and preserve her from being destroyed with the
rest of the inhabitants; and not only her:
but her father and her mother
and her brethren
and all that she
had; all other relations that were with her
particularly her
sisters
which are in her request
Joshua 2:13; with
all that appertained to her brethren and sisters
which is there expressed
also:
and they brought out all her kindred; before
mentioned
or if there were any other of her relations she had taken into her
house for safety; or "all her families"F5כל משפחותיה "omnes familias
ejus"
Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine version.
for her father's household
might be branched out into various families
and become numerous
and so be an
emblem of the number of Gentile sinners saved by Christ the antitype of Joshua:
and left them without the camp of Israel; until they
became proselytes
and embraced the religion of Israel
as Kimchi remarks.
However
being Gentiles
some external rites and ceremonies were to be
performed upon them
as well as a declaration at least of their renouncing
idolatry was required of them
before they could be admitted into the camp of
Israel; and which was required even of a proselyte of the gate
or of one that
was only a sojourner among them.
Joshua 6:24 24 But they burned the city
and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold
and the
vessels of bronze and iron
they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.
YLT
24And the city they have
burnt with fire
and all that [is] in it; only
the silver and the gold
and
the vessels of brass
and of iron
they have given [to] the treasury of the
house of Jehovah;
And they burnt the city with fire
and all that was therein
.... As
Babylon the great
of which this city was an emblem
as has been observed; see
Gill on Joshua 6:20; will
be burnt with fire also
Revelation 18:8
only the silver and the gold
and the vessels of brass and iron
they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord; See Gill on Joshua 6:19.
Joshua 6:25 25 And Joshua spared Rahab
the harlot
her father’s household
and all that she had. So she dwells in
Israel to this day
because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out
Jericho.
YLT
25and Rahab the harlot
and
the house of her father
and all whom she hath
hath Joshua kept alive; and she
dwelleth in the midst of Israel unto this day
for she hid the messengers whom
Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
And Joshua saved Rahab the
harlot alive
.... From perishing by the sword
as the rest of the inhabitants
did. Kimchi says
some interpret it of his giving her food
and an inheritance
by which she might live; and JosephusF6Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 7.
intimates the same: he says
he gave her fields
and had her in great honour
and esteem; and it is the notion of some Jewish writers
that he took her to
wife
and that this is meant by saving her alive; which sense Kimchi
disapproves of
as being foreign; besides
it was not Joshua
but Salmon
a
prince in Israel
that married her
Matthew 1:5
and her father's household
and all she had; that is
he
saved alive all her relations
and it may be her cattle
if she had any; and
those of her kindred also
as their sheep
oxen
and asses
when those of
others were killed
Joshua 6:21. Some
also understand this of intermarriages of principal persons in Israel with some
of her father's fairly; but it only signifies that their lives were spared
when the whole city was destroyed with the edge of the sword:
and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; which may be
meant either personally of Rahab
who was living and dwelt in the land of
Canaan
when this history was written; and serves to strengthen the opinion
that Joshua was the writer of it
and to explain the meaning of the phrase
"unto this day"
elsewhere used in this book; and to remove any
objection from it against his being the author of it; or else of her dwelling
there in her posterity
and so she might dwell in it unto the times of the
Messiah
who sprang from her
Matthew 1:5
because she hid the messengers which Joshua
sent to spy out
Jericho; this was the reason of her and her father's family being saved
alive; See Gill on Joshua 6:17.
Joshua 6:26 26 Then Joshua charged them
at that time
saying
“Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up
and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn
and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.”
YLT
26And Joshua adjureth [them]
at that time
saying
`Cursed [is] the man before Jehovah who raiseth up and
hath built this city
[even] Jericho; in his first-born he doth lay its
foundation
and in his youngest he doth set up its doors;'
And Joshua adjured them
at that time
.... When the city was burnt and spoiled; not that he adjured the
people individually
or one by one
which was not very practicable
but in a
general way:
saying
cursed be the man before the Lord; let him be
cursed by him with the curses written in the book of the law; and let him be
driven from him
from his presence
as Cain was:
that riseth up
and buildeth this city Jericho; that rises up
in future time
and rebuilds it; for it cannot be thought that after such an
adjuration anyone would start up quickly
and rebuild it:
he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn
and in his
youngest son shall he set up the gates of it; that is
while he is laying
or as soon as he has laid the foundation of the city
his
eldest son should die; and as he went on with the building
other sons of his
if he had more than two
should be taken away by death likewise; and by the
time he has finished it
signified by setting up the gates of it
both for
ornament and security
his youngest and last son should die also; so that his
whole posterity should be taken alway
as a curse of God upon him for
rebuilding the city; which was fulfilled in Hiel the Bethelite
the rebuilder
of this city in the times of Ahab
five or six hundred years after this
adjuration was made
when either it was forgotten
or
however
little
regarded: Maimonides observesF7Maimon. Moreh Nevochim
par. 3. c.
50.
that this was made that the miracle might remain in perpetual memory
for
whoever should see the wall sunk in the earth
it would be plain and clear to
him that this was not the form of a building demolished
but that it fell by a
miracle; and yet this city became a very flourishing one in later times; we
soon hear of the school of the prophets in it
2 Kings 2:5; here
StraboF8Geograph. l. 16. p. 525. says
was a royal palace
where
as
JosephusF9Antiqu. l. 17. c. 8. sect. 1. 2. relates
Herod died
and
who speaks of an amphitheatre and hippodrome in it; in this city sometimes the
sanhedrim sat
and a great number of the stationary priests dwelt
even half a
station
twelve thousand of them
all which is observed by Dr. LightfootF11Chorograph.
Cent. c. 47. ; our Lord himself honoured it with his presence
Luke 19:1.
Joshua 6:27 27 So the Lord was with Joshua
and his fame spread throughout all the country.
YLT
27and Jehovah is with Joshua
and his fame is in all the land.
So the Lord was with
Joshua
.... Counselling and directing him what to do
prospering and
succeeding him in all that he engaged; the Targum is
"the Word of the Lord
was for the help of Joshua;'the essential Word
Christ the Son of God
called
the Captain of the Lord's host
Joshua 5:14; and
who
continued with him speaking to him and giving him orders
Joshua 6:2
and his fame was noised throughout all the country; for his
wisdom and courage
for the wonderful things done for him and by him
and the
great success that attended him
through the power and presence of God with
him; which struck terror into the inhabitants of the land
and made his
conquest of it the more easy.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》