So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
The verse records the first of the daily single circuits around Jericho during the first six days, after which Israel returned to camp to lodge for the night, with seven circuits on the seventh day when the city fell. The march was made by direct instruction from Christ Himself as Captain of the host, who met Joshua as an armed warrior with drawn sword, commanded him to loose his shoe on holy ground, received his worship, and assured him Jericho was already given into his hand. Under that divine plan the order was armed men first, then seven priests blowing rams' horns, then priests bearing the ark surrounded by divine glory with a rear guard behind, all moving in silence except the tread of the host and the peal of the trumpets until commanded to shout. The conquest was accomplished by God and not by Israel's military strength, for Christ and the angels brought down the walls, with the battle planned in such simplicity that no person could claim credit but glory would go to God alone. The ark compassing the city was only a symbol of the divine presence vouchsafed to an obedient and believing people and not the source of blessing, in wide contrast to later carrying it into battle while disobeying divine counsel when it could bring only defeat.
The Circuit Around Jericho
The verse records the first of the daily one-time circuits around Jericho during the first six days, after which Israel returned to camp and lodged there for the night, with seven circuits on the seventh day before the city fell. The ark of the Lord went around the city once on that day as the commanded procession led by the ark, accompanied by armed men, priests blowing trumpets, and the rear guard, while the people remained silent. The daily circuit was carried out in solemn silence except for the sound of the trumpets and the footsteps of the host, and the watchmen of Jericho who saw it were alarmed though they did not understand its purpose.
The compassing was done by direct instruction from Christ Himself as Captain of the host of the Lord. Joshua had withdrawn from the encampment apart to meditate and pray that the God of Israel would go before His people, and Christ stood before him as an armed warrior of lofty stature with drawn sword. His true character as the Exalted One was revealed by the command to loose his shoe because the ground was holy, Joshua worshiped Him on his face, and He assured Joshua that Jericho with its king and mighty men of valor was already given into his hand.
Under that divine plan and under the heavenly General, human and heavenly agencies each carried out their part with no human hand bringing down the walls so that no person could claim credit. The order was a chosen body of armed men going first not to use skill in warfare but to believe and obey, then seven priests blowing trumpets of rams' horns, then priests in sacred dress denoting their sacred office bearing the ark of the covenant surrounded by a halo of divine glory, with a rear guard behind and the vast army of Israel and the tribes marching behind under their standards in perfect order. The ark was the symbol of God's presence among His people. The procession moved in silence with no sound but the tread of the host and the solemn peal of the trumpets echoing through the city and among the hills and streets, the people not shouting until commanded to shout.
After circling the city once with the ark, the army returned silently to camp and lodged there for the night, and the ark was restored to its place in the tabernacle. The camp was at Gilgal, Israel's first encampment in the promised land on the plain where Samuel and Saul later stood, from which they marched out to overthrow Jericho. The pomp and majesty of the march with the sacred ark struck wonder, alarm and terror into the watchmen, priests and people of Jericho behind closed and guarded gates. They trusted in their strong walls yet did not understand its purpose or what further wonders God would work, though many ridiculed it, and when the walls suddenly collapsed they were terrified and unable to resist.
The march took place nearly forty years after Israel's rebellion at the report of the spies, when God directed Israel to go up and take Jericho and promised to go with them. His presence was carried before their armies in the ark containing His law, and their movements were directed by His appointed leaders under divine supervision so that with such guidance no harm could come to them. This stands opposite the earlier attack made contrary to God's command without the ark and without Moses, which could not prosper. The same ark that circled Jericho had led the way for the hosts of Israel when they crossed the Jordan and entered the promised land.
God Alone Gives Victory
The circuit with the ark shows that the conquest of Jericho was accomplished by God and not by Israel's military strength, for no human hand touched the city or brought down its walls. Christ and the angels threw down the walls and made an entrance for Israel, and the simple act of marching around the city and blowing trumpets was made effective by God's power alone. The battle was planned by God as the great I AM in such simplicity and in His own way that no person could claim credit or take glory for the victory, lest man take the glory to himself. He is the Instructor of His servants and works through whom He will, and the victory was ordered so as to give glory to God alone and magnify the Lord, without exalting people or making human beings the object of attraction or praise.
The ark compassing the city was only a symbol of the divine presence vouchsafed to an obedient and believing people, not the source of blessing, which God alone could bestow. It was borne by holy men in accordance with His express command, with the Captain going before the repository of His law, and His own arm brought the deliverance. Israel's strength depended on obedience to the law kept in the ark, which represents God Himself. This stands in wide contrast to misunderstanding the ark as a guarantee of victory apart from obedience, as when Israel later thought that merely bringing the ark would bring triumph over the Philistines. It stands likewise in contrast to carrying it into battle while following human plans in opposition to divine counsel and authority, borne by sons of Belial doomed to destruction, when the law under the mercy seat condemned Israel to defeat, disaster and death and God could not be induced to fight for them.
The victory was unlike any in the history of nations, won by simple means against all the power and skill of a bold, warlike race through a way of warfare different from that of heathen generals. It was to glorify God's name, strengthen Israel's faith, and bring shame and confusion upon enemies. It teaches that human plans cannot succeed apart from God's power and wisdom, and that the only sure ground of success is the help of God working with human effort rather than human wisdom and skill. God can accomplish great things through weak means when His appointed methods are carried out with humility and faith, through humble trust and implicit faithful obedience irrespective of the opinion of the world.
The same lesson belongs to Christian spiritual warfare and to God's workers today, who are to trust and obey His direction rather than rely on military strength. They are to depend on Him while faithfully carrying out their appointed part, and to give Him a chance to work in His own way instead of marking out the course for others and centering everything under human control. They are not to desire too much power and control, feel qualified for the highest place, or manage work that should be left in His hands, but the Lord alone is to be magnified for the work accomplished. The capture of Jericho is to be remembered and taught to children as an exhibition of God's power, in fulfillment of His promise to give Israel the land.
The verse records the first of the daily single circuits around Jericho during the first six days, after which Israel returned to camp to lodge for the night, with seven circuits on the seventh day when the city fell. The march was made by direct instruction from Christ Himself as Captain of the host, who met Joshua as an armed warrior with drawn sword, commanded him to loose his shoe on holy ground, received his worship, and assured him Jericho was already given into his hand. Under that divine plan the order was armed men first, then seven priests blowing rams' horns, then priests bearing the ark surrounded by divine glory with a rear guard behind, all moving in silence except the tread of the host and the peal of the trumpets until commanded to shout. The conquest was accomplished by God and not by Israel's military strength, for Christ and the angels brought down the walls, with the battle planned in such simplicity that no person could claim credit but glory would go to God alone. The ark compassing the city was only a symbol of the divine presence vouchsafed to an obedient and believing people and not the source of blessing, in wide contrast to later carrying it into battle while disobeying divine counsel when it could bring only defeat.
The Circuit Around Jericho
The verse records the first of the daily one-time circuits around Jericho during the first six days, after which Israel returned to camp and lodged there for the night, with seven circuits on the seventh day before the city fell. The ark of the Lord went around the city once on that day as the commanded procession led by the ark, accompanied by armed men, priests blowing trumpets, and the rear guard, while the people remained silent. The daily circuit was carried out in solemn silence except for the sound of the trumpets and the footsteps of the host, and the watchmen of Jericho who saw it were alarmed though they did not understand its purpose.
The compassing was done by direct instruction from Christ Himself as Captain of the host of the Lord. Joshua had withdrawn from the encampment apart to meditate and pray that the God of Israel would go before His people, and Christ stood before him as an armed warrior of lofty stature with drawn sword. His true character as the Exalted One was revealed by the command to loose his shoe because the ground was holy, Joshua worshiped Him on his face, and He assured Joshua that Jericho with its king and mighty men of valor was already given into his hand.
Under that divine plan and under the heavenly General, human and heavenly agencies each carried out their part with no human hand bringing down the walls so that no person could claim credit. The order was a chosen body of armed men going first not to use skill in warfare but to believe and obey, then seven priests blowing trumpets of rams' horns, then priests in sacred dress denoting their sacred office bearing the ark of the covenant surrounded by a halo of divine glory, with a rear guard behind and the vast army of Israel and the tribes marching behind under their standards in perfect order. The ark was the symbol of God's presence among His people. The procession moved in silence with no sound but the tread of the host and the solemn peal of the trumpets echoing through the city and among the hills and streets, the people not shouting until commanded to shout.
After circling the city once with the ark, the army returned silently to camp and lodged there for the night, and the ark was restored to its place in the tabernacle. The camp was at Gilgal, Israel's first encampment in the promised land on the plain where Samuel and Saul later stood, from which they marched out to overthrow Jericho. The pomp and majesty of the march with the sacred ark struck wonder, alarm and terror into the watchmen, priests and people of Jericho behind closed and guarded gates. They trusted in their strong walls yet did not understand its purpose or what further wonders God would work, though many ridiculed it, and when the walls suddenly collapsed they were terrified and unable to resist.
The march took place nearly forty years after Israel's rebellion at the report of the spies, when God directed Israel to go up and take Jericho and promised to go with them. His presence was carried before their armies in the ark containing His law, and their movements were directed by His appointed leaders under divine supervision so that with such guidance no harm could come to them. This stands opposite the earlier attack made contrary to God's command without the ark and without Moses, which could not prosper. The same ark that circled Jericho had led the way for the hosts of Israel when they crossed the Jordan and entered the promised land.
God Alone Gives Victory
The circuit with the ark shows that the conquest of Jericho was accomplished by God and not by Israel's military strength, for no human hand touched the city or brought down its walls. Christ and the angels threw down the walls and made an entrance for Israel, and the simple act of marching around the city and blowing trumpets was made effective by God's power alone. The battle was planned by God as the great I AM in such simplicity and in His own way that no person could claim credit or take glory for the victory, lest man take the glory to himself. He is the Instructor of His servants and works through whom He will, and the victory was ordered so as to give glory to God alone and magnify the Lord, without exalting people or making human beings the object of attraction or praise.
The ark compassing the city was only a symbol of the divine presence vouchsafed to an obedient and believing people, not the source of blessing, which God alone could bestow. It was borne by holy men in accordance with His express command, with the Captain going before the repository of His law, and His own arm brought the deliverance. Israel's strength depended on obedience to the law kept in the ark, which represents God Himself. This stands in wide contrast to misunderstanding the ark as a guarantee of victory apart from obedience, as when Israel later thought that merely bringing the ark would bring triumph over the Philistines. It stands likewise in contrast to carrying it into battle while following human plans in opposition to divine counsel and authority, borne by sons of Belial doomed to destruction, when the law under the mercy seat condemned Israel to defeat, disaster and death and God could not be induced to fight for them.
The victory was unlike any in the history of nations, won by simple means against all the power and skill of a bold, warlike race through a way of warfare different from that of heathen generals. It was to glorify God's name, strengthen Israel's faith, and bring shame and confusion upon enemies. It teaches that human plans cannot succeed apart from God's power and wisdom, and that the only sure ground of success is the help of God working with human effort rather than human wisdom and skill. God can accomplish great things through weak means when His appointed methods are carried out with humility and faith, through humble trust and implicit faithful obedience irrespective of the opinion of the world.
The same lesson belongs to Christian spiritual warfare and to God's workers today, who are to trust and obey His direction rather than rely on military strength. They are to depend on Him while faithfully carrying out their appointed part, and to give Him a chance to work in His own way instead of marking out the course for others and centering everything under human control. They are not to desire too much power and control, feel qualified for the highest place, or manage work that should be left in His hands, but the Lord alone is to be magnified for the work accomplished. The capture of Jericho is to be remembered and taught to children as an exhibition of God's power, in fulfillment of His promise to give Israel the land.