John Calvin Commentary Joshua 6:3

"And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days." — Joshua 6:3 (ASV)

And you shall compass the city, etc. The promise was, indeed, fitting and sufficient in itself to give hope of victory, but the method of action was so strange as to almost destroy its credibility. God orders them to make one circuit around the city daily until the seventh day, on which they are told to go around it seven times, sounding trumpets and shouting. The whole thing looked like nothing but child’s play, and yet was not an improper test for trying their faith, as it proved their acceptance of the divine message, even when they saw in the act itself nothing but mere disappointment. With the same intention, the Lord often, for a time, conceals His own might under weakness and seems to play with mere trifles, so that His weakness may in the end appear stronger than all might, and His folly superior to all wisdom.

While the Israelites thus abandoned their own reason and depended implicitly on His words, they gained much more by such trifling than they could have by making a forceful assault and shaking the walls with numerous powerful siege engines. It was simply necessary for them to play the fool for a short time and not display too much sharpness in making anxious and subtle inquiries about the event, for that would have, in a way, obstructed the course of divine omnipotence. Meanwhile, though the circular movement around the walls might have provoked derision, it was later known by its successful outcome that God commands nothing in vain.

There was another cause for anxiety and doubt which might have crept into their minds. If the inhabitants of the city suddenly sallied out, the army would, without difficulty, be routed while it was proceeding around the city in long, straggling lines, without any regular formation that might have enabled it to repel a hostile assault.

But here, also, whatever anxiety they might have felt, they needed to cast it upon God, for sacred is the security that rests on His providence. There was an additional trial of their faith in the repetition of the circuit of the city for seven days. For what could seem less fitting than to tire themselves with six useless circuits?

Then, what use was their silence, if not to betray their timidity and tempt the enemy to come out and attack besiegers who seemed not to have enough spirit to meet them? But just as worldly people often, by rash, meddling fervor, throw everything into confusion, the only part God here assigns to His people is to remain calm and silent, so that they might better accustom themselves simply to carry out His commands.

Here, too, it is worth noting that the instruments given to the priests to blow were not the silver trumpets kept in the sanctuary, but merely rams' horns. The sound of the sacred trumpets would certainly have inspired more confidence, but a better proof of obedience was given when they were content with the common symbol. Moreover, their movements were so arranged that the greater number (by which is meant the armed men) went before the ark, while those who usually accompanied the baggage followed. It was their role to ensure that the rear did not fall into confusion. As the term congregating applied to them was obscure, I have translated it with the corresponding term usually employed by the Latins. Some think that the tribe of Dan was employed in this way, but this is uncertain, as they were not then arranged in the manner usual on other expeditions.