---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Joshua 6"
description: "CHAPTER 6   :-. 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"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6"
---

CHAPTER 6

. 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.
. 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 ([Hebrews 11:30](../../../kjv/hebrews/11/30)).

**17-19. And the city shall be
accursed**—(See on ). The
*cherem,* or "anathema," was a devotion to utter
destruction ([Deuteronomy 7:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/7/2); [Deuteronomy 20:17](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/20/17);
[1 Samuel 15:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/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 ([Deuteronomy 7:25](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/7/25);
[1 Chronicles 14:12](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/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 ([1 Chronicles 14:12](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/14/12)), 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 ([Deuteronomy 2:35](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/2/35);
[Deuteronomy 3:7](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/3/7); [Joshua 8:27](../../../kjv/joshua/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 [[Joshua 8:27](../../../kjv/joshua/8/27)]. 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 ([Deuteronomy 13:17](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/13/17);
[Deuteronomy 7:26](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/7/26)), previous to the last
act of the siege.
[Joshua 6:20](../../../kjv/joshua/6/20);
[Joshua 6:21](../../../kjv/joshua/6/21). THE
WALLS FALL
DOWN.

**17-19. And the city shall be
accursed**—(See on ). The
*cherem,* or "anathema," was a devotion to utter
destruction ([Deuteronomy 7:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/7/2); [Deuteronomy 20:17](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/20/17);
[1 Samuel 15:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/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 ([Deuteronomy 7:25](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/7/25);
[1 Chronicles 14:12](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/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 ([1 Chronicles 14:12](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/14/12)), 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.

**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 ([Deuteronomy 20:16](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/20/16);
[Deuteronomy 20:17](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/20/17)). 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.
[Deuteronomy 20:17](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/20/17). 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.
[Joshua 6:26](../../../kjv/joshua/6/26);
[Joshua 6:27](../../../kjv/joshua/6/27). 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
).

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Joshua 6"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Joshua 6","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"CHAPTER 6   :-. JERICHO SHUT\nUP. 1. Now Jericho was straitly shut\nup—This verse is a parenthesis introduced to prepare the way\nfor the directions given by","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua","name":"Joshua"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joshua/6","name":"6"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```