John Gill Commentary Joshua 6

Now Jericho was straitly shut up, because of the children of
Israel
Or "it shut up", or "was shutting, and was shut up" ^F21 ; that is, the king and the inhabitants shut it up within; the Targum says with iron doors, and bars of brass, and it was blocked up without by the children of Israel.

none went out and none came in ;
none of their forces went out to make a sally on the Israelites, or to seek to make peace with them; nor any of their neighbours went in to them, to carry them any provision, or to assist them, or to be sheltered by them, not being able to do it because of the camp of Israel.

FOOTNOTES:

• F21: (trgomw trgo) "claudens et clausa", Montanus, Vatablus.

And the Lord said to Joshua
The same divine Person called in the preceding chapter the Captain of the Lord's host, (Joshua 5:14), now with him, and who gave him the following orders, instructions, and assurances:

see, I have given into your hand Jericho, and the king of it:
which might be concluded from the fear that was fallen upon the inhabitants of the city and their king, and from their shutting themselves up so closely, not daring to come out against Israel: and especially from this declaration and promise of the Lord; and which should be done in such a manner, as that it would clearly appear to be of the Lord, and not men:

[and] the mighty men of valour;
the military men, the soldiers, or army that were under the command of the king of Jericho; or, as Kimchi reads it, "though" mighty men, yet they should not be able to defend the city, or hinder its falling into their hands; for what were they to the mighty God of Israel?

And you shall compass the city, all [you] men of war
Joshua their chief commander under the Lord, and all that were able to make war, even all above twenty years of age; these were to compass the city, not in the form of a siege, but by a procession around it:

[and] go round about the city once ;
or one time, for the first once in a day, and no more:

thus shall you do six days ;
one after another; that is, go round it, once every day, for such a time. This order was given, according to the Jews ^F23 , the twenty second of Nisan, after the feast of unleavened bread was over.

FOOTNOTES:

• F23: Seder Olam Rabba, c. 11. p. 31.

And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of
rams' horns

The ark was to be taken up and carried by priests round the city. Ben Gersom observes, that this was to direct the Israelites to keep and do according to all that was written in it; that is, in the law, which was contained in it; but no doubt the design of it was to show, that the subduing of Jericho, and the miracle that would be wrought, were owing to the power and presence of God, of which the ark was a symbol.

And before it were to go seven other priests, with trumpets in their hands; which, according to our version, were made of rams horns: in the original it is "jobelim", or "jubilee" trumpets. Some think it means only such as they were to use in the year of jubilee; so Abarbinel and others, as Masius and Noldius ^F24; that they had their name from Jubal, the first inventor of musical instruments, (Genesis 4:21); for rams' horns are objected to because they are solid, and not hollow; as if they could not be bored and made hollow, and fit for such a purpose. The Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret the word by rams horns, as we do ^F25; and observe what R. Akiba said,

``when (says he) I went into Arabia, I heard them call; a ram "jobel"; and the trumpet itself is called "jobel", because made of a ram's horn ^F26:''

and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times;

in the same manner as on the other days:

and the priests shall blow with the trumpets;

which they were to do; and did every day.

FOOTNOTES:

• F24: P. 160. No. 1515.
• F25: So Joseph. Antiqu. l. 5. c. 6. sect. 5.
• F26: Kimchi, Sepher. Shorash. rad. (lby) R. Sol. Urbim. Ohel Moed, fol. 39. 2.

And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [blast]with the ram's hornContinue blowing, and protracting, and drawing out the sound a long time; which they did only on the seventh day; on the other days it was but a short blast they made at a time; so that this being different, it would be a good sign and token to the people to do what they are next directed to:

[and] when ye hear the sound of the trumpet;drawn out to a great length:

all the people shall shout with a great shout;at once, as when an onset is made in battle, or a victory is obtained:

and the wall of the city shall fall down flat;or "under itself" ^F1 ; which Jarchi interprets, in its place; that is, where it stood, and be swallowed up in it: so the Targum,``and it shall be swallowed up under it;'' yet so that somewhat of it should be seen, as an attestation and proof of the miracle, as Kimchi; who says, ``it means that it should be swallowed up in its place under the earth, and a little of it appear above ground for a memorial of the miracle:''

and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him;just as they were in the order of procession; for the wall being fallen everywhere, they would have no occasion to make up to one certain place, as when a breach is only made in one place, and the besiegers are obliged to go so many a breast to enter at it; but in this case they might go straight up from whence they were, and enter the city without any obstruction and difficulty.

FOOTNOTES:

• F1: (hytxt) "sub se", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; "subtus se", Tigurine version; "sabter se", Masius.