Joshua 6:18, commentary and pictures

Before Jericho fell Israel was charged in every way to keep away from what was devoted to destruction there, lest the one who took it make himself accursed and make the whole camp a curse and trouble it. The devoted thing was the wealth of that wealthy, idolatrous city, given as first-fruits to God with all it contained to be burned or destroyed, except silver and gold and vessels of brass and iron set apart as consecrated for the treasury and service of the tabernacle, and the site left never to be rebuilt. The prohibition carried such solemn weight because the victory was wholly the Lord's and not gained by Israel's power, to impress that they fought not for themselves or for riches and self-exaltation but only as instruments to execute His will for His glory, and to keep their hearts from being charmed by what their enemies had worshiped. Achan alone of millions heard the charge yet coveted and stole and concealed gold and silver reserved for God with a costly Shinar robe for himself, and his private theft brought guilt, curse, defeat, death and reproach upon the whole camp until he met its dire penalty. Israel's strength was therefore not in carrying the ark as a charm for victory but in obedience to the law it enshrined as the symbol of the divine presence, for the promises depended on fulfilling their conditions and the glory belonged to the Lord alone, with no place for self-exaltation or human planning to take His place.

The Command at Jericho

The verse is a warning to keep away in every way from what was devoted to destruction at Jericho, for to take any of it would make the taker himself accursed and would make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it. The forbidden treasures of Jericho had been placed by God under the curse, so that taking them would bring guilt and trouble on the whole camp.

The warning belonged to the instructions for taking Jericho given before the city was taken, spoken by Christ appearing as the armed Captain of the host of the Lord with sword drawn. Joshua had withdrawn from the camp to meditate and pray for assurance of divine guidance, because reducing Jericho was the first step in the conquest of Canaan, and Christ assured him that Jericho with its king and mighty men of valor was given into his hand and told him how to take the city. The command came after the miraculous passage of the Jordan, the circumcision of the people in recognition of God's covenant, the observance of the Passover, and the appearance of the Angel of the covenant, as Israel marched out from Gilgal to the overthrow of Jericho in a direct and solemn proclamation to all Israel.

The accursed thing was the wealth of Jericho, for the city with all it contained was devoted to God alone as the first-fruits sacrifice of Canaan. What could not be burned was to be destroyed, except that the silver and gold and vessels of brass and iron were to be set apart as consecrated to the Lord's treasury for the service of the tabernacle, while the city itself was to be burned and its very site left accursed never to be rebuilt as a stronghold. The distinction was between objects appointed for destruction and the silver, gold, and metal vessels consecrated to the Lord's treasury.

Jericho was very wealthy in gold and silver, devoted to extravagant idolatry, corrupt and blasphemous like the people before the flood. Its people credited their wealth to their gods and insulted and provoked God until His judgments awakened against it. God guarded His people from its attractive groves, shrines, temples and altars, and declared the whole stronghold accursed so that all should perish except Rahab and her household, who were saved because of the favor she showed the messengers of the Lord.

The prohibition carried solemn weight because the victory was wholly the Lord's and not gained by Israel's own power. It was to impress on Israel that in conquering Canaan they fought not for themselves but only as instruments to execute God's will, seeking not riches or self-exaltation but the glory of Jehovah their King. It also guarded the people from being drawn toward the objects their enemies had worshiped, lest their senses be perverted and their hearts charmed and diverted from God. To transgress in the face of such mighty manifestations of God's power was defiance.

Violation, Victory, and Lessons

Achan heard and knew the charge, yet he coveted and stole what was forbidden and set apart for God, including gold and silver reserved for the Lord's treasury and a costly robe of Shinar and a garment, taking what belonged to the Lord and keeping it for his own benefit and concealing it. In the solemn hour of triumph and judgment only one man of millions dared to transgress, and his concealed private sin was charged against Israel as a whole. His theft and concealment violated the command and brought guilt and curse upon the taker and defeat, deaths, weakness, distress and reproach upon the whole camp and upon those responsible for discipline. He met the dire penalty of his sin, illustrating that taking the devoted thing troubles Israel. The command guarded the people from being drawn toward the objects their enemies had worshiped, and breaking it made Israel weak before its enemies.

The taking of Jericho to which the warning belongs was accomplished without human warfare. Armed men went first, then seven priests with trumpets, then the ark borne by priests, then the army in perfect order by tribe and standard, compassing the city once daily for six days in silence except for marching feet and trumpets, then marching seven times on the seventh day and shouting at the trumpet blast. No human hand touched the massive stone walls and towers, but the Captain of the Lord's host from heaven with the armies of heaven shook the earth, tottered and heaved the walls from their foundations in ruin, paralyzed the inhabitants with terror, and Israel took possession of the devoted city without resistance. Christ and the angels brought down the walls and opened the way for the army.

The conquest shows the victory came from God and not Israel's strength, skill, wisdom, method, or worldly maxims and customs of warfare, so the glory belongs to the Lord alone. No human being is to take glory, exalt self, desire too much power and control, or feel qualified for the highest place, nor to mark out by finite planning in one center the course for others in far distant lands. The mighty General planned in simplicity lest man take the glory, and the same heavenly agencies will work now if men obey and give God a chance to work in His own way, leaving the work to the great I AM who instructs His servants and works through whom He will. The victory was to give glory to God, not exalt people, and was accomplished by Christ, not by Joshua.

Israel's strength at Jericho was not in carrying the ark as a token or charm for victory but in obedience to God's law represented by the ark. The ark was a symbol of the divine presence vouchsafed to an obedient and believing people and a representative of God Himself whose sacredness came from His law, borne by holy men in accordance with His express command while the Captain went before the repository of His law and His arm brought deliverance. Its presence brought prosperity only when Israel obeyed, the covenant's promises depended on fulfilling its conditions, and expecting blessing while disobeying was presumption. This obedient condition stands in wide contrast to later following their own plans in opposition to divine counsel and authority while looking to the ark for blessings only God could bestow.

The account is to be kept fresh and repeated to children with the deliverance from Egypt and bondage, water from the rock, bread from heaven, and the keeping of Sabbaths and commandments. It strengthens faith in God's power, rebukes unbelief, and brings shame and confusion on enemies. In spiritual warfare humble trust in God and faithful implicit obedience preserving simplicity of faith are as essential as at Jericho, and God's help working with human effort is the only sure ground of success, while those who trust their own wisdom and skill will be disappointed. God can accomplish great things through weak means such as trumpets when His people act with humility and faith, for success depended on God's power, not on the method itself.