12 “And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests 13 took up the ark of the Lord. And the seven priests bearing the 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; and the rearward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests blowing with the trumpets as they went. And the second day they compassed the city 15 once, and returned into the camp; so they did six days. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times; only on that day they compassed the 16 city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the 17 people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. And the city shall be devoted, even it and all that is 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 18 we sent. And ye, in anywise keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when ye have devoted it, ye take of the devoted thing; so should ye make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy unto the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. 20 So the people shouted, and the priests blew with the trumpets; and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”
Golden Text.—“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.” Heb. 11:30.
Special Helps.—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” Ch. 45, pp. 487-498.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What action of Joshua is first noted in this lesson? And what of the priests? Verse 12. Note 1. (2) What other priests are mentioned, and their part in the work? Who went before them? And who came after the ark? Verse 13. Note 2. (3) What was done on the second day? For how many days did they continue this ceremony? Verse 14. (4) What time did they rise on the seventh day? And how often did they compass the city? Verse 15. (5) On the seventh circuit what did Joshua say to the people? Verse 16. Note 3. (6) What was to be done with the city? What individuals were to be spared? Why? Verse 17. Note 4. (7) What warning was given to the people of Israel? Verse 18. (8) What articles were to be spared? And what was to be done with them? Verse 19. (9) When the people shouted, what took place? Then what did the people do? Verse 20. Note 5.
NOTES.
1. WHEN the Israelites crossed the Jordan they encamped first at Gilgal. About three miles to the northwest was the walled city of Jericho. Rahab had told the two spies whom Joshua had previously sent into the city that the people were all much afraid of the Israelites. See Ch. 2:9-11. And “Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.” Ch. 6:1. The Lord had given Joshua specific directions about taking the city. So Joshua rose early in the morning to begin the attack. It is worth while to note the custom of the ancient servants of God to rise early in the morning when engaged in His service. Abraham, Jacob, Gideon, Samuel, David, Mary, Jesus, and the apostles are notable examples.
2. The Order of March.—(1) The armed men of Israel. (2) A company of seven priests blowing trumpets of rams’ horns. (3) The ark of the covenant borne by priests. (4) The rest of the men of Israel. All marched in silence, excepting those who blew the trumpets. See verses 8-10. There was to be no sign of triumph until the seventh day; no words of rejoicing, nor any display of a consciousness of strength. They moved in solemn silence, indicative of perfect faith in God’s ability to win the victory for them in His own time and way.
3. “The Lord hath given.” The shout was not to be a means of victory, but a token of faith in the sure promise. God’s promise is equivalent to an accomplished fact wherever it is met by implicit faith.
4. “Devoted.” The city of Jericho and everything in it was to be devoted to God. The A. V. says “accursed.” The original word is cherem, devoted beyond redemption. Jericho was the “first fruits” of the campaign against the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, and for this reason it belonged to the Lord, to be disposed of as He should direct. Rahab and her family were to be spared, because she had shielded the spies (Ch. 2:12-14; Heb. 11:31); all the silver, gold, and vessels of brass and iron were to be placed in the treasury of the Lord; and everything else was to be destroyed.
5. “The wall fell flat.” The defense of Jericho, in which the people had depended, was utterly demolished, and that without a visible hand touching it. “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” Heb. 11:30. The procession evidently encompassed the city, and by simply facing inward the people could march straight into the city from all sides. The work of destruction was the beginning of the execution of God’s judgment upon the people of Canaan. See Deut. 7:1-10.
