Joshua 6:4-20
6:4 a Seven is a biblical number of perfection.• The seven priests were to precede the Ark, the emblem of God’s presence, at the head of Israel’s forces. This arrangement symbolized that God himself fought against the town. Israel had only to march and observe, then shout and observe, and finally mop up after God delivered the town into their hands.
• The ram’s horn (Hebrew shofar) could sound several pitches to signal either battle or worship. In battle, the shofar alerted troops or townsfolk to an enemy’s approach or sounded the call to advance or retreat.
Summary for Josh 6:6-9: 6:6-9 b The Ark, the priests blowing the horns, and the military honor guard all symbolized God’s presence and his leadership of the siege.
Summary for Josh 6:10-11: 6:10-11 c Warriors would often shout in battle to lift their morale and intimidate the enemy.
• until I tell you: After thirteen circuits of Jericho by Israel’s army with only the sound of trumpets, the psychological shock when Jericho’s defenders heard shouting would be devastating.
6:15 d Marching around Jericho seven times on the seventh day again symbolized that this was God’s battle.
6:16 e Joshua’s command, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town!” was not a device to cause Jericho’s walls to fall. Rather, Joshua exhorted the Israelites to celebrate God’s victory.
6:17 f completely destroyed: Joshua reminded his troops that the town and everything in it belonged to God as the firstfruits of their inheritance in the land of Canaan. See Lev 27:28-29 g; 1 Sam 15:3 h.
• Rahab: See Josh 2:12-21 i.
6:20 j Following Joshua’s last-minute commands, a final blast of the rams’ horns signaled the climax.
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