Joshua 6:4, commentary and pictures

On the seventh day seven priests were to carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark, circle the city seven times, and blow with the trumpets. This completed a plan to circle once each day for six days and seven times on the seventh day, moving in set order with armed men first, then the seven priests with trumpets, then the ark, then the rear guard, in solemn silence broken only by marching feet and trumpets. The instructions came directly from the Captain of the Lord's host himself, who assured Joshua the city was given into his hand and planned the battle as mighty General going with Israel. The victory came not by Israel's strength or skill in war but by God's power, with Christ and the angels throwing down the walls untouched by human hand through a deliberately simple and seemingly unscientific plan so that he alone would receive the glory. The marching and trumpet-blowing had no power in themselves, so success depended on faith and unqualified obedience that put self out of the question and relied wholly on God, the same principle by which his people still must do exactly as he tells them and leave the work in his hands.

The Command and Setting

On the seventh day seven priests were to carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark, compass the city seven times, and blow with the trumpets. This was the Lord's course given to Joshua for taking the city, an unusual and seemingly unscientific plan showing that God works in His own way so that no person can claim credit for His work. After six days of one circuit each day, Israel was to make the seven circuits at first light, moving solemnly and silently apart from the priests' trumpet blasts, with the signal and shout to come when God had given them the city. At the end of the seventh circuit the trumpet blast accompanied the collapse of Jericho's walls and Israel took the city, the victory coming from God and the Captain of the Lord's host and not from Israel's strength, for Christ with the angels brought down the walls and rebuked former unbelief.

The full plan was for the men of war to march around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. The march moved in set order by tribes under their standards, with chosen armed men first not to fight but to believe and obey, then the seven priests with trumpets, then the ark of God borne by priests, then the rear guard and the whole army of Israel following. They made the circuit in solemn silence broken only by the tread of marching feet and the peal of the trumpets, the people remaining completely silent until commanded to shout, beginning at dawn and afterward returning quietly to camp with the ark restored to its place in the tabernacle. The ark was carried by priests in sacred dress, surrounded by a halo of divine glory, and the grandeur of the procession displayed God's majesty to Israel while striking fear, terror, and awe into the watchers, people, and rulers of the city. At the mighty peal of the trumpets on the seventh day they shouted with a loud voice because God had given them the city, and the walls of solid stone tottered and fell flat so that Israel took possession without resistance.

The instructions were received directly from the Captain of the Lord's host, Christ Himself, who appeared to Joshua with drawn sword after Joshua withdrew to pray for divine guidance. As the exalted Commander and mighty General He made Himself known, assured Joshua that Jericho with its king and mighty men of valor was given into his hand, planned the battle, commanded the armies of heaven to throw down the walls and prepare an entrance, and promised to go with Israel. The land was not to be gained by warfare and human might but through submission and unqualified obedience to His commands, so that God alone received the glory and no person could boast. Israel carried out the march from Gilgal, the first encampment in the promised land, where Joshua set up the pillar of twelve stones to commemorate the passage of the Jordan, where the manna ceased, where circumcision was renewed, where the people kept the Passover after their wanderings, and where the Captain appeared.

The ark containing God's law was to go as the symbol of God Himself and of His presence, with Moses and Aaron as His appointed leaders to conduct the expedition under His watchful direction and care. With such supervision no harm could have come to them. The easy conquest at Jericho did not come from merely having the ark present but from obedience to the law contained in the ark, which represents God Himself. Israel later remembered that victory and wrongly concluded that only bringing the ark with them was necessary to triumph over enemies.

Victory Through Faithful Obedience

Jericho fell by divine power, not by Israel's strength or skill in war. Christ himself, the Captain of the Lord's host, with the angels of heaven threw down the walls and prepared the entrance for Israel. No human hand touched the walls, lest any person take the glory to himself.

The plan was laid in such simplicity by the mighty General of armies, the great I AM, that no human being or general could have devised it or claim credit for it. Against strong, high, solid walls it looked unusual and seemingly unscientific, for God works in His own way by simple means so that He alone is magnified and receives the glory. Heavenly and human agencies were united under His direction, with the people's part only to follow His instructions.

The marching, circling, and trumpet-blowing had no power in themselves and appeared meaningless and ridiculous against towering fortifications. The trumpets of rams' horns were a simple, unpromising human act, yet entered upon with humility and faith it was made effectual by God's power to overthrow His enemies. Success depended on faith and unqualified obedience to the divine Leader rather than human wisdom, might, or military skill, where duty is supreme and the merit is in obedience.

Continuing the ceremony through so long a time before the final overthrow gave opportunity for faith to grow. Israel learned to put self and confidence in themselves out of the question and to rely wholly on God for the conquest of Canaan. The miracle strengthened their faith in His power to subdue their enemies and rebuked their former unbelief.

The solemn grandeur of the procession displayed God's majesty to Israel and struck fear, awe, and terror into the watchers, people, and rulers of Jericho. Though alarmed by the march, they trusted in their strong walls until the walls suddenly tottered and fell flat with a crash like peals of loudest thunder, leaving them paralyzed and unable to resist. Israel then took possession without resistance in a glorious triumph wrought by God to be remembered, the taking of the key to the land promised after deliverance from Egypt and passage through the sea, to be kept fresh and retold to children.

The same principle remains for God's people to do exactly as He tells them and leave the work in His hands, trusting Him to fulfill His promise. They are to move in accordance with His will under Jesus their great Captain and heavenly General, for God works in His own way and will do many things for them when they obey. The most complete human system apart from God will fail, while the most unpromising appointed method succeeds through weak instrumentalities, not by might nor by power but by His Spirit. Trust in God and obedience to His will, essential to Joshua in battle, remain just as essential to the Christian in spiritual warfare against unseen foes more formidable than giants, who cannot be overcome with any weapon save the sword of the Spirit.