Joshua 6:4

_AND SEVEN PRIESTS SHALL BEAR BEFORE THE ARK SEVEN TRUMPETS OF RAMS' HORNS: AND THE SEVENTH DAY YE SHALL COMPASS THE CITY SEVEN TIMES, AND THE PRIESTS SHALL BLOW WITH THE TRUMPETS._ Trumpets of rams' horns, х_ SHOWPªROWT_ (H7782) _ HAYOWBªLIYM_ (H3104)] - trumpets of alarms (see also Joshua 6:6) [synonymous with _ QEREN_ (H7161) _ HAYOWBEEL_ (H3104)] (Joshua 6:5: cf. Exodus 19:13 with Joshua 6:16)....

1-5 Jericho resolves Israel shall not be its master. It shut itself up, being strongly fortified both by art and nature. Thus were they foolish, and their hearts hardened to their destruction; the miserable case of all that strengthen themselves against the Almighty. God resolves Israel shall be its master, and that quickly. No warlike preparations were to be made. By the uncommon method of besieging the city, the Lord honoured the ark, as the symbol of his presence, and showed that all the victories were from him. The faith and patience of the people were proved and increased....

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 on the jubilee, and were probably made of horn or of silver; and the text in this place may be translated, _And seven priests shall bear_ _before the ark the seven jubilee trumpets_, for they appear to have been the same kind as those used on the jubilee. _SEVEN TIMES_] The time was thus lengthened out that the besiegers and the besieged might be the more deeply impressed with that supernatural power by which _alone_ the walls fell....

The command of the Lord as to the mode in which the fall of Jericho should be brought about is given in these verses in a condensed form. Further details (see Joshua 6:8, Joshua 6:16, etc.), were, no doubt, among the commands given to Joshua by the Angel. Joshua 6:4 TRUMPETS OF RAM’S HORNS - Render rather here and in Joshua 6:5, Joshua 6:8, etc., “trumpets of jubilee” (compareLeviticus 25:10

EXPOSITION THE VICTORY.— JOSHUA 6:1 This verse (see above) is parenthetical. It explains why the captain of the Lord's host appeared unto Joshua. The inhabitants of Jericho, though in a state of the utmost alarm, were nevertheless fully on their guard against the children of Israel. The commencement of hostilities imposed a great responsibility on Joshua. Success at the outset was, humanly speaking, indispensable. We may see what defeat involved for him by his distress in consequence of the check at Ai. The alternative was victory or annihilation, for the Israelites had no homes or fortresses to which they could retire. Joshua was therefore encouraged by a visible proof that he was under the protection of the Most High, to be yet farther assured by the marvels that were to follow. The use of the Pual participle with its

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 Noldius x; that they had their name from Jubal, the first inventor of musical instruments, Genesis 4...

6. THE FALL OF JERICHO CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The divine instruction (Joshua 6:1)_ 2. The instructions followed (Joshua 6:6) 3. The fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:20) 4. Rahab remembered (Joshua 6:22) 5. The curse upon Jericho (Joshua 6:26) We do not enlarge upon the history of the chapter, which needs no comment. The fall of Jericho by the power of God, as described in this chapter, has also been ridiculed by infidels. Others have tried to explain the occurrence in a natural way. It has been said that the marching Israelites, b

JOSHUA 5:13 TO JOSHUA 6:27. THE CAPTURE OF JERICHO. The narrative begins at Joshua 5:13; Joshua 6:1 is an insertion (observe that RV places it in brackets), so that Joshua 6:2 should immediately follow Joshua 5:15. The captain of Yahweh's host is therefore Yahweh Himself. In the rest of the chapter we have a composite narrative, so skilfully compiled that at first sight there is not much fault to find. Closer inspection, however, shows that there are two signals for the fall of the walls (_a)_

RAMS' HORNS. trumpets of Jubilee, of long sound. Exodus 19:13. THE SEVENTH DAY. on the seventh day....

_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 (Leviticus 25:9). This instrument was curved, and would be more accurately rendered " CORNET, " as in 1 Chronicles 15:28; 2 Chronicles 15:14; Psalms 98:6;...