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JOSHUA

CHAPTER 6

1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

The city of Jericho was a great fortress. In his book "The Story of Jericho," John Garstang (archaeologist) described the Jericho of Joshua's day (1400-1388BC) as being a 4 to 5 acre city surrounded by 2 walls.
The Bible says the city was "straitly shut up.." (verse 1). The gates were closed, guards were placed and no one came in or went out. The reason for this is cited "..because of the children of Israel.."
The people were AFRAID! The miracles God had worked in defeating the two kings (Sihon & OG) and giving passage across the Jordan river on dry ground had caused tremendous FEAR.
Notice that God promises (verse 2) taht HE has given the land to the Israelites. And they will conquer IN SPITE of the "..mighty men of valour."

3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 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. 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.

Here God outlines a MIRACULOUS plan for defeating a city. No weapons are needed! The plan is to:
1) March around the city 1 time each day for 6 days.
2) On the seventh day, march around the city seven times.
3) On the seventh time around, trumpets make a long BLAST.
4) When the trumpets sound, everyone SHOUTS!
RESULT: Walls will fall down FLAT!

6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD. 7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. 8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

More details about the marching are given here. The armed warriors lead the procession. The ark of the covenant follows them, and the remainder of the people follow the ark.
The priests are blosing the trumpets, probably with short blasts. The sounding of these seven trumpets encouraged the Israelites, and placed fear and wonder in the heart of those in Jericho.
The sounding of the GOSPEL of JESUS today encourages the Christians who are in daily battle, and puts fear in the hearts of non-believers.
These were not the silver trumpets which the priests used to call the people to the tabernacle. These were "rams' horns," or just plain trumpets.
The preaching of the GOSPEL is just common stuff, but it is "...the power of God unto salvation.."!! (Romans 1:16)
Now, on the seventh day, they circled the city seven times in the same manner as before. But on the seventh time around, the priests blew the horns with a LONG BLAST. Then the people gave that full unified SHOUT!
And the walls FELL FLAT!!! Just like God had said!!
What an incongrous plan! Never engaging the enemy until his defense is RIPPED AWAY! Never trying to tear down his defense; just simply trusting GOD to do that - just follow God's PLAN!
2Corinthians 10:4 says, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.)"
The power of the gospel of Jesus spoke is enough to tear down ANYONE'S defenses. THEN we have an opportunity to lead them to Jesus.

17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Joshua gives commandment from God that all the "bounty" of the war with Jericho is consecrated to God, and will go into the treasury of the tabernacle. NO ONE is to take ANYTHING of value. It is important now that we see this command was given, because it will certainly come up again.
When we are following God's plan, our real value is in trusting Him to provide our needs.

21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. 22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. 27 So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

Rahab was saved, and her family, just like the men had promised. God is true to His promises. When Christians tell people that God WILL SAVE them according to the gospel of Jesus, God WILL SAVE THEM!!
Joshua makes a promise in verse 26. I don't believe Joshua is pronouncing a curse. He is simply proclaiming a truth. The person who tries to rebuild Jericho will pay a heavy price: the cost of two sons, the firstborn and the youngest.
In 1Kings 16:34, we find the fulfillment of Joshua's prophecy.
This prophetic statement (not curse) gives a special elevation to Joshua. Not only is he a military leader, a civil leader, a spiritual leader; but now a PROPHET!

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