Matthew Henry Commentary Joshua 6:1-5

"Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And Jehovah said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor. And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams` horns before the ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And it shall be, that, when they make a long blast with the ram`s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him." — Joshua 6:1-5 (ASV)

Jericho resolved that Israel would not be its master. It shut itself up, being strongly fortified by both human skill and natural defenses. Thus, they were foolish, and their hearts were hardened to their destruction—the miserable condition of all who strengthen themselves against the Almighty.

God resolved that Israel would be its master, and that quickly. No warlike preparations were to be made. By the uncommon method of besieging the city, the Lord honored the ark as the symbol of his presence and showed that all the victories were from him. The faith and patience of the people were tested and increased.