Joshua 6:5

_AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHEN THEY MAKE A LONG BLAST WITH THE RAM'S HORN, AND WHEN YE HEAR THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET, ALL THE PEOPLE SHALL SHOUT WITH A GREAT SHOUT; AND THE WALL OF THE CITY SHALL FALL DOWN FLAT, AND THE PEOPLE SHALL ASCEND UP EVERY MAN STRAIGHT BEFORE HIM._ When they make a long blast with the ram's horn, х_ BIMSHOK_ (H4900) _ BªQEREN_ (H7161) _ HAYOWBEEL _ (H3104)] - when the signal trumpet is sounded. [`The Chaldee translator and the Rabbins, by an absurd conjecture, interpret _ YOWBEEL_ (H3104), a ram, and _ QEREN_ (H7161) _ YOWBEEL_ (H3104), ram's horn; nor are several modern conjectures much better' (Gesenius). _ SHOWPAAR_ ...

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 6:5. _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 this the text says nothing: - ונפלה חומת העיר תחתיה _venaphelah chomath hair tachteyha_, literally translated, is, _The wall of the city shall fall down_ _UNDER ITSELF_; which appears to mean no more than, _The wall shall_ _fall down FROM ITS VERY FOUNDATIONS_. And this probably was the case in every part, though large breaches in different places might be amply sufficient to admit the armed men first, after whom the whole host might enter, in order to destroy the city....

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 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" a; 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...

AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS The central truth here is that spiritual victories are won by means and upon principles utterly foolish and inadequate in the view of human wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:17); (2 Corinthians 10:3)....

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)_

FLAT. under it. Probably into the ground. Compare Joshua 11:13.Jeremiah 49:2. See note on Joshua 6:20. EVERY MAN. Hebrew. _ish_ App-14....