CHAPTER VI _The inhabitants of Jericho close their gates_, 1. _Continuation of the discourse between the captain of the Lord's_ _host and Joshua. He commands the people to march round the city_ _six days, the seven priests blowing with their trumpets; and to_ _give a general shout, while marchi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:2. _AND THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA_] This is the same person who in the preceding chapter is called the _captain_ or _prince of_ _the Lord's host_, the discourse being here continued that was begun at the conclusion of the preceding chapter, from which the first verses of this are unna... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:3. _YE SHALL COMPASS THE CITY_] In what order the people marched round the city does not exactly appear from the text. Some think they observed the same order as in their ordinary marches in the desert; (Numbers 10:14, and see the _plans_, Numbers 2:2); others think that the soldiers... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:4. _SEVEN TRUMPETS OF RAMS' HORNS_] The Hebrew word יובלים _yobelim_ does not signify _rams' horns_; (Leviticus 25:11); nor do any of the ancient versions, the Chaldee excepted, give it this meaning. The instruments used on this occasion were evidently of the same kind with those used... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:5. _THE WALL OF THE CITY SHALL FALL DOWN FLAT_] Several commentators, both Jews and Christians, have supposed that the ground under the foundation of the walls opened, and the wall sunk into the chasm, so that there remained nothing but plain ground for the Israelites to walk over. Of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:9. _THE REREWARD CAME AFTER THE ARK_] The word מאסף _measseph_, from אסף _asaph_, to _collect_ or _gather up_, may signify either the _rereward_, as our translation understands it, or the people who carried the baggage of the army; for on the seventh day this was necessary, as much fi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:14. _SO THEY DID SIX DAYS._] It is not likely that the whole Israelitish host went each day round the city. This would have been utterly impossible: the fighting men alone amounted to nearly 600,000, independently of the people, who must have amounted at least to two or three millions... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:15. _THE SEVENTH DAY - THEY ROSE EARLY_] Because on this day they had to encompass the city seven times; a proof that the city could not have been very _extensive_, else this going round it seven times, and having time sufficient left to sack and destroy it, would have been impossible... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:17. _THE CITY SHALL BE ACCURSED_] That is, it shall be devoted to destruction; ye shall take no spoils, and put _all that_ _resist_ to the sword. Though this may be the meaning of the word חרם _cherem_ in some places, Leviticus 27:29, yet here it seems to imply the _total_ destruction... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:19. _BUT ALL THE SILVER, AND GOLD - SHALL COME INTO THE_ _TREASURY_] The Brahmins will receive from any _caste_, however degraded, gold, silver, c.: but to receive from _Shoodras_ food, garments, c., would be considered a great degradation.-_Ward_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:20. _THE PEOPLE SHOUTED WITH A GREAT SHOUT, THAT THE WALL_ _FELL DOWN_] There has been much learned labour spent to prove that the shouting of the people might be the natural cause that the wall fell down! To wait here, either to detail or refute any such arguments, would be lost time... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:21. _THEY UTTERLY DESTROYED - BOTH MAN, AND WOMAN, C._] As this act was ordered by God himself, who is the Maker and Judge of all men, it must be _right_: for the Judge of all the earth cannot do _wrong_. Nothing that breathed was permitted to live hence the oxen, sheep, and asses, we... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:23. _BROUGHT OUT RAHAB, AND HER FATHER, C._] Rahab having been faithful to her vow of secrecy, the Israelites were bound by the oath of the spies, who acted as their representatives in this business, to preserve her and her family alive. _AND LEFT THEM WITHOUT THE CAMP_] They were co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:24. _ONLY THE SILVER, AND THE GOLD - THEY PUT INTO THE_ _TREASURY, C._] The people were to have no share of the spoils, because they had no hand in the conquest. God alone overthrew the city and into his treasury only the spoils were brought. This is one proof that the agitation of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:25. _AND SHE DWELLETH IN ISRAEL_ EVEN _UNTO THIS DAY_] This is one proof that the book was written _in the time_ to which it is commonly referred; and certainly might have been done by the hand of Joshua himself, though doubtless many marginal notes may have since crept into the text,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:26. _AND JOSHUA ADJURED_ THEM _AT THAT TIME_] It appears that he had received intimations from God that this idolatrous city should continue a monument of the Divine displeasure: and having convened the princes and elders of the people, he bound them by an oath that they should never... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 6:27. _SO THE LORD WAS WITH JOSHUA_] Giving him miraculous assistance in all his enterprises; and this was what he was naturally led to expect from the communication made to him by the captain of the Lord's host, Joshua 5:14, c. 1. MANY attempts have been made either to deny the _mira... [ Continue Reading ]