Joshua 6:9
New International Version
The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding.

New Living Translation
Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns.

English Standard Version
The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.

Berean Standard Bible
While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark.

King James Bible
And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

New King James Version
The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets.

New American Standard Bible
And the armed men went ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets.

NASB 1995
The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets.

NASB 1977
And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets.

Amplified Bible
The armed men went in front of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued to blow the trumpets.

Christian Standard Bible
While the ram’s horns were blowing, the armed men went in front of the priests who blew the ram’s horns, and the rear guard went behind the ark.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
While the trumpets were blowing, the armed troops went in front of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard went behind the ark.

American Standard Version
And the armed men went before the priests that blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, the priests blowing the trumpets as they went.

English Revised Version
And the armed men went before the priests that blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, the priests blowing with the trumpets as they went.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The armed men went ahead of the priests, who blew their horns. The rear guard followed the ark while the priests continued to blow their horns.

International Standard Version
Armed men preceded the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and a rear guard followed the ark, while the trumpets continued to blow.

Majority Standard Bible
While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark.

NET Bible
Armed troops marched ahead of the priests blowing the horns, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark blowing rams' horns.

New Heart English Bible
The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the ark went after them. The trumpets sounded as they went.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rear-guard came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

World English Bible
The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the ark went after them. The trumpets sounded as they went.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he who is armed is going before the priests blowing the horns, and he who is gathering up is going after the Ark, going on and blowing with the horns;

Young's Literal Translation
and he who is armed is going before the priests blowing the trumpets, and he who is gathering up is going after the ark, going on and blowing with the trumpets;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he being armed, went before the priests that clanged with the trumpets, and the gathering went after the ark, going and clanging with the trumpets.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all the armed men went before, the rest of the common people followed the ark, and the sound of the trumpets was heard on all sides.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and all the armed soldiers went ahead, the remainder of the common people followed the ark, and the sound of the trumpets grew louder everywhere.

New American Bible
In front of the priests with the horns marched the picked troops; the rear guard followed the ark, and the blowing of horns was kept up continually as they marched.

New Revised Standard Version
And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets; the rear guard came after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the armed men went before the priests who blew on the trumpets, and the rest of the people who were gathered went after the ark, and they marched on blowing the trumpets.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And those who were armed were going before the Priests who were sounding with the trumpets, and those who were assembled were going after the ark and they were walking and sounding on the trumpets
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the armed men went before the priests that blew the horns, and the rearward went after the ark, [the priests] blowing with the horns continually.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And let the men of war proceed before, and the priests bringing up the rear behind the ark of the covenant of the Lord proceed sounding the trumpets.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Walls of Jericho
8After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9While the horns continued to sound, the armed troops marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns, and the rear guard followed the ark. 10But Joshua had commanded the people: “Do not give a battle cry or let your voice be heard; do not let one word come out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you are to shout!”…

Cross References
Hebrews 11:30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

1 Samuel 4:3-7
When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.” / So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. / When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook. ...

2 Chronicles 20:21-22
Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.” / The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.

Psalm 47:5
God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD with the sound of the horn.

Psalm 68:24-25
They have seen Your procession, O God—the march of my God and King into the sanctuary. / The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.

Isaiah 52:12
For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:8
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.

Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

Revelation 19:11-14
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ...

Numbers 10:33-36
So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them. / And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp. / Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

and the rereward [heb] gathering

Joshua 6:13
And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

Numbers 10:25
And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

Isaiah 52:11
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Ahead Ark Armed Blew Blow Blowing Continually Continued Horns Marched Marching Mass Priests Rear Rearguard Rear-Guard Rearward Sounded Time Trumpets
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Ahead Ark Armed Blew Blow Blowing Continually Continued Horns Marched Marching Mass Priests Rear Rearguard Rear-Guard Rearward Sounded Time Trumpets
Joshua 6
1. Jericho is shut up
2. God instructs Joshua how to beseige it
12. The city is composed
17. It is accursed
20. The walls fall down
22. Rahab is saved
26. The builder of Jericho is cursed














The armed troops
This phrase refers to the Israelite soldiers who were prepared for battle. The Hebrew word for "armed" is "ḥăluṣîm," which implies readiness and preparation. Historically, these troops were not just physically prepared but spiritually aligned with God's command. Their presence signifies the importance of being prepared both in faith and action when following God's directives.

marched ahead
The act of marching ahead indicates a strategic and obedient movement. The Hebrew root "ʿābar" means to pass over or go beyond, suggesting a forward motion in faith. This action symbolizes the Israelites' trust in God's plan, moving forward despite the formidable walls of Jericho.

of the priests
The priests held a significant role in Israelite society, serving as mediators between God and the people. In this context, their presence underscores the spiritual nature of the battle. The Hebrew word "kōhănîm" highlights their consecrated status, reminding us that spiritual leadership is crucial in executing God's plans.

who blew the trumpets
The trumpets, or "šōpār," were ram's horns used in religious ceremonies and as signals in battle. The blowing of the trumpets was a call to worship and a declaration of God's presence. This act was not merely a military signal but a proclamation of divine intervention and assurance of victory through faith.

and the rear guard
The rear guard, or "me'assep," served to protect and ensure the safety of the entire procession. This strategic placement highlights the importance of vigilance and protection in spiritual warfare. It reminds believers that God provides comprehensive security, both at the forefront and behind.

followed the ark
The Ark of the Covenant, or "ʾărôn habbərît," was the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people. Following the ark signifies obedience and reverence, as the Israelites were literally and figuratively following God. This act of following underscores the necessity of divine guidance in overcoming obstacles.

while the trumpets kept sounding
The continuous sounding of the trumpets, "tāqāʿ," represents persistent faith and unwavering proclamation of God's power. This relentless sound served as a reminder of God's promises and the certainty of His deliverance. It encourages believers to maintain their faith and declare God's truth consistently, even when victory seems distant.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
While the trumpets
הַשּֽׁוֹפָר֑וֹת (haš·šō·w·p̄ā·rō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn

continued to sound,
תֹּקְעֵ֖י (tō·qə·‘ê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8628: To clatter, slap, clang, to drive, to become bondsman

the armed troops
וְהֶחָל֣וּץ (wə·he·ḥā·lūṣ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 2502: To pull off, to strip, to depart, to deliver, equip, present, strengthen

marched
הֹלֵ֔ךְ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

ahead
לִפְנֵי֙ (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the priests
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

who blew
וְתָק֥וֹעַ (wə·ṯā·qō·w·a‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 8628: To clatter, slap, clang, to drive, to become bondsman

the trumpets,
בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃ (baš·šō·w·p̄ā·rō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn

and the rear guard
וְהַֽמְאַסֵּ֗ף (wə·ham·’as·sêp̄)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

followed
הֹלֵךְ֙ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

the ark.
הָאָר֔וֹן (hā·’ā·rō·wn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 727: A chest, ark


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OT History: Joshua 6:9 The armed men went before the priests (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 6:8
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