18 And ye, in any wise H7535 keep H8104 yourselves from the accursed thing, H2764 lest ye make yourselves accursed, H2763 when ye take H3947 of the accursed thing, H2764 and make H7760 the camp H4264 of Israel H3478 a curse, H2764 and trouble H5916 it.
Israel H3478 hath sinned, H2398 and they have also transgressed H5674 my covenant H1285 which I commanded H6680 them: for they have even taken H3947 of the accursed thing, H2764 and have also stolen, H1589 and dissembled H3584 also, and they have put H7760 it even among their own stuff. H3627 Therefore the children H1121 of Israel H3478 could H3201 not stand H6965 before H6440 their enemies, H341 but turned H6437 their backs H6203 before H6440 their enemies, H341 because they were accursed: H2764 neither will I be with you any more, H3254 except H3808 ye destroy H8045 the accursed H2764 from among H7130 you.
And it came to pass, when Ahab H256 saw H7200 Elijah, H452 that Ahab H256 said H559 unto him, Art thou he that troubleth H5916 Israel? H3478 And he answered, H559 I have not troubled H5916 Israel; H3478 but thou, and thy father's H1 house, H1004 in that ye have forsaken H5800 the commandments H4687 of the LORD, H3068 and thou hast followed H3212 H310 Baalim. H1168
Then answered H6030 one H376 of the people, H5971 and said, H559 Thy father H1 straitly H7650 charged H7650 the people H5971 with an oath, H7650 saying, H559 Cursed H779 be the man H376 that eateth H398 any food H3899 this day. H3117 And the people H5971 were faint. H5774 Then said H559 Jonathan, H3129 My father H1 hath troubled H5916 the land: H776 see, H7200 I pray you, how mine eyes H5869 have been enlightened, H215 because I tasted H2938 a little H4592 of this honey. H1706 How much more, H637 if haply H3863 the people H5971 had eaten H398 freely H398 to day H3117 of the spoil H7998 of their enemies H341 which they found? H4672 for had there not been now a much greater H7235 slaughter H4347 among the Philistines? H6430 And they smote H5221 the Philistines H6430 that day H3117 from Michmash H4363 to Aijalon: H357 and the people H5971 were very H3966 faint. H5774 And the people H5971 flew H5860 H6213 upon the spoil, H7998 and took H3947 sheep, H6629 and oxen, H1241 and calves, H1121 and slew H7819 them on the ground: H776 and the people H5971 did eat H398 them with the blood. H1818 Then they told H5046 Saul, H7586 saying, H559 Behold, the people H5971 sin H2398 against the LORD, H3068 in that they eat H398 with the blood. H1818 And he said, H559 Ye have transgressed: H898 roll H1556 a great H1419 stone H68 unto me this day. H3117 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Disperse H6327 yourselves among the people, H5971 and say H559 unto them, Bring me hither H5066 every man H376 his ox, H7794 and every man H376 his sheep, H7716 and slay H7819 them here, and eat; H398 and sin H2398 not against the LORD H3068 in eating H398 with the blood. H1818 And all the people H5971 brought H5066 every man H376 his ox H7794 with him H3027 that night, H3915 and slew H7819 them there. And Saul H7586 built H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD: H3068 the same was the first H2490 altar H4196 that he built H1129 unto the LORD. H3068 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Let us go down H3381 after H310 the Philistines H6430 by night, H3915 and spoil H962 them until the morning H1242 light, H216 and let us not leave H7604 a man H376 of them. And they said, H559 Do H6213 whatsoever seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto thee. Then said H559 the priest, H3548 Let us draw near H7126 hither H1988 unto God. H430 And Saul H7586 asked H7592 counsel of God, H430 Shall I go down H3381 after H310 the Philistines? H6430 wilt thou deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Israel? H3478 But he answered H6030 him not that day. H3117 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Draw ye near H5066 hither, H1988 all the chief H6438 of the people: H5971 and know H3045 and see H7200 wherein H4100 this sin H2403 hath been this day. H3117 For, as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 which saveth H3467 Israel, H3478 though it be H3426 in Jonathan H3129 my son, H1121 he shall surely H4191 die. H4191 But there was not a man among all the people H5971 that answered H6030 him. Then said H559 he unto all Israel, H3478 Be ye on one H259 side, H5676 and I and Jonathan H3129 my son H1121 will be on the other H259 side. H5676 And the people H5971 said H559 unto Saul, H7586 Do H6213 what seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto thee. Therefore Saul H7586 said H559 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 Give H3051 a perfect H8549 lot. And Saul H7586 and Jonathan H3129 were taken: H3920 but the people H5971 escaped. H3318 And Saul H7586 said, H559 Cast H5307 lots between me and Jonathan H3129 my son. H1121 And Jonathan H3129 was taken. H3920
But that ye must turn away H7725 this day H3117 from following H310 the LORD? H3068 and it will be, seeing ye rebel H4775 to day H3117 against the LORD, H3068 that to morrow H4279 he will be wroth H7107 with the whole congregation H5712 of Israel. H3478 Notwithstanding, H389 if the land H776 of your possession H272 be unclean, H2931 then pass ye over H5674 unto the land H776 of the possession H272 of the LORD, H3068 wherein the LORD'S H3068 tabernacle H4908 dwelleth, H7931 and take possession H270 among H8432 us: but rebel H4775 not against the LORD, H3068 nor H408 rebel H4775 against us, in building H1129 you an altar H4196 beside H1107 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430 Did not Achan H5912 the son H1121 of Zerah H2226 commit H4603 a trespass H4604 in the accursed thing, H2764 and wrath H7110 fell H1961 on all the congregation H5712 of Israel? H3478 and that man H376 perished H1478 not alone H259 in his iniquity. H5771
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 6
Commentary on Joshua 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
Jos 6:1-7. Jericho Shut Up.
1. Now Jericho was straitly shut up—This verse is a parenthesis introduced to prepare the way for the directions given by the Captain of the Lord's host.
2. See, I have given into thine hand Jericho—The language intimates that a purpose already formed was about to be carried into immediate execution; and that, although the king and inhabitants of Jericho were fierce and experienced warriors, who would make a stout and determined resistance, the Lord promised a certain and easy victory over them.
3-5. ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war. … Thus shalt thou do six days, &c.—Directions are here given as to the mode of procedure. Hebrew, "horns of jubilee"; that is, the bent or crooked trumpets with which the jubilee was proclaimed. It is probable that the horns of this animal were used at first; and that afterwards, when metallic trumpets were introduced, the primitive name, as well as form of them, was traditionally continued. The design of this whole proceeding was obviously to impress the Canaanites with a sense of the divine omnipotence, to teach the Israelites a memorable lesson of faith and confidence in God's promises, and to inspire sentiments of respect and reverence for the ark as the symbol of His presence. The length of time during which those circuits were made tended the more intensely to arrest the attention, and to deepen the impressions, both of the Israelites and the enemy. The number seven was among the Israelites the symbolic seal of the covenant between God and their nation [Keil, Hengstenberg].
6, 7. Joshua … called the priests—The pious leader, whatever military preparations he had made, surrendered all his own views, at once and unreservedly, to the declared will of God.
Jos 6:8-19. The City Compassed Six Days.
8-11. the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets … passed on before the Lord—before the ark, called "the ark of the covenant," for it contained the tables on which the covenant was inscribed. The procession was made in deep and solemn silence, conforming 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 mound 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 with the spectacle [Bishop Hall].
12-14. Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord—The second day's procession seems to have taken place in the morning. In all other respects, down even to the smallest details, the arrangements of the first day continued to be the rule followed on the other six.
15. on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city … seven times—on account of the seven circuits they had to make that day. It is evident, however, that the militia only of the Israelites had been called to the march—for it is inconceivable that two millions of people could have gone so frequently round the city in a day.
16. it came to pass at the seventh time, … Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city—This delay brought out their faith and obedience in so remarkable a manner, that it is celebrated by the apostle (Heb 11:30).
17-19. And the city shall be accursed—(See on Le 27:28). The cherem, or "anathema," was a devotion to utter destruction (De 7:2; 20:17; 1Sa 15:3). When such a ban was pronounced against a hostile city, the men and animals were killed—no booty was allowed to be taken. The idols and all the precious ornaments on them were to be burned (De 7:25; compare 1Ch 14:12). Everything was either to be destroyed or consecrated to the sanctuary. Joshua pronounced this ban on Jericho, a great and wealthy city, evidently by divine direction. The severity of the doom, accordant with the requirements of a law which was holy, just, and good, was justified, not only by the fact of its inhabitants being part of a race who had filled up their iniquities, but by their resisting the light of the recent astonishing miracle at the Jordan. Besides, as Jericho seems to have been defended by reinforcements from all the country (Jos 24:11), its destruction would paralyze all the rest of the devoted people, and thus tend to facilitate the conquest of the land; showing, as so astounding a military miracle did, that it was done, not by man, but by the power and through the anger, of God.
18. and ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing—Generally they were at liberty to take the spoil of other cities that were captured (De 2:35; 3:7; Jos 8:27). But this, as the first fruits of Canaan, was made an exception; nothing was to be spared but Rahab and those in her house [Jos 6:17]. A violation of these stringent orders would not only render the guilty persons obnoxious to the curse, but entail distress and adversity upon all Israel, by provoking the divine displeasure. These were the instructions given, or repeated (De 13:17; 7:26), previous to the last act of the siege.
Jos 6:20, 21. The Walls Fall Down.
20, 21. So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets—Towards the close of the seventh circuit, the signal was given by Joshua, and on the Israelites' raising their loud war cry, the walls fell down, doubtless burying multitudes of the inhabitants in the ruins, while the besiegers, rushing in, consigned everything animate and inanimate to indiscriminate destruction (De 20:16, 17). Jewish writers mention it as an immemorial tradition that the city fell on the Sabbath. It should be remembered that the Canaanites were incorrigible idolaters, addicted to the most horrible vices, and that the righteous judgment of God might sweep them away by the sword, as well as by famine or pestilence. There was mercy mingled with judgment in employing the sword as the instrument of punishing the guilty Canaanites, for while it was directed against one place, time was afforded for others to repent.
Jos 6:22-25. Rahab Is Saved.
22, 23. Joshua had said … Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath—It is evident that the town walls were not demolished universally, at least all at once, for Rahab's house was allowed to stand until her relatives were rescued according to promise.
23. they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel—a temporary exclusion, in order that they might be cleansed from the defilement of their native idolatries and gradually trained for admission into the society of God's people.
24. burned the city … and all … therein—except the silver, gold, and other metals, which, as they would not burn, were added to the treasury of the sanctuary.
25. she—Rahab
dwelleth in Israel unto this day—a proof that this book was written not long after the events related.
Jos 6:26, 27. The Rebuilder of Jericho Cursed.
26. Joshua adjured them at that time—that is, imposed upon his countrymen a solemn oath, binding on themselves as well as their posterity, that they would never rebuild that city. Its destruction was designed by God to be a permanent memorial of His abhorrence of idolatry and its attendant vices.
Cursed be the man … that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho—that is, makes the daring attempt to build.
he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it—shall become childless—the first beginning being marked by the death of his oldest son, and his only surviving child dying at the time of its completion. This curse was accomplished five hundred fifty years after its denunciation (see on 1Ki 16:34).