After 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. After Joshua had spoken to the peopleJoshua, as the leader of Israel, communicates God's instructions to the people. This highlights the importance of leadership and obedience in fulfilling God's plans. Joshua's role as a mediator between God and the Israelites is reminiscent of Moses, emphasizing continuity in leadership and divine guidance. seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns
The number seven is significant in biblical numerology, often symbolizing completeness or perfection. The use of seven priests and seven horns underscores the divine orchestration of events. Rams' horns, or shofars, were used in various religious and military contexts in ancient Israel, signifying both worship and warfare. This dual purpose reflects the spiritual and physical dimensions of the battle for Jericho. before the LORD
This phrase indicates that the actions of the priests and the people are conducted in the presence of God, emphasizing the sacred nature of the event. It underscores the belief that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people, guiding and empowering them. advanced and blew the horns
The blowing of the horns serves as a signal of both divine presence and impending action. In the context of Jericho, it marks the beginning of God's intervention in the battle. The sound of the shofar is also associated with the proclamation of God's sovereignty and the call to worship, linking the military action with spiritual significance. and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them
The Ark of the Covenant represents God's presence among His people. Its position following the priests signifies that God is leading the charge against Jericho. The Ark's presence assures the Israelites of divine support and protection. This mirrors the role of the Ark in other biblical narratives, where it symbolizes God's covenant and faithfulness to His promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the conquest of Canaan. 2. The Seven PriestsThese priests were chosen to carry the trumpets and play a crucial role in the battle of Jericho, symbolizing spiritual leadership and obedience to God's commands. 3. The TrumpetsSpecifically, ram's horns (shofar), used in religious ceremonies and battles, signifying God's presence and the call to action. 4. The Ark of the CovenantA sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. 5. JerichoA fortified city in Canaan, the first major conquest for the Israelites in the Promised Land, demonstrating God's power and faithfulness. Teaching Points Obedience to God's InstructionsThe Israelites' success at Jericho was contingent upon their obedience to God's specific instructions. This teaches us the importance of following God's guidance in our lives, even when it seems unconventional. The Role of Spiritual LeadershipThe priests leading with the trumpets highlight the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding God's people. We are reminded to respect and support those who lead us spiritually. The Presence of GodThe Ark of the Covenant symbolizes God's presence. As believers, we are called to carry God's presence with us, living in a way that reflects His holiness and love. Faith in ActionThe Israelites' march around Jericho was an act of faith. We are encouraged to put our faith into action, trusting God to bring down the "walls" in our lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the role of the priests in Joshua 6:8 inform our understanding of spiritual leadership today? 2. In what ways can we ensure that we are obedient to God's instructions in our daily lives, as the Israelites were at Jericho? 3. How does the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in this passage relate to the concept of God's presence in our lives today? 4. What are some "walls" in your life that require faith and obedience to God to overcome, similar to the walls of Jericho? 5. How can the account of Jericho inspire us to trust in God's power and timing, even when His plans seem unconventional or challenging? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 25:10-22Describes the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing its significance as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. 1 Samuel 4:3-11Illustrates the misuse of the Ark as a mere talisman, contrasting with its proper role in Joshua 6 as a symbol of God's guidance and power. Hebrews 11:30Reflects on the faith of the Israelites in the fall of Jericho, connecting their obedience to the broader theme of faith in action. People Israelites, Joshua, Nun, RahabPlaces JerichoTopics Advanced, Agreement, Ark, Bearing, Blast-trumpets, Blew, Blowing, Blown, Carrying, Commanded, Covenant, Followed, Forward, Horns, Joshua, Jubilee, Lord's, Pass, Passed, Priests, Rams, Seven, Speaketh, Spoken, TrumpetsDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 6:8 5595 trumpet
8421 equipping, physical Joshua 6:1-21 8131 guidance, results Joshua 6:2-20 5595 trumpet Joshua 6:3-14 1653 numbers, 6-10 Joshua 6:4-16 7306 ark of the covenant Library Rahab
'And Joanna paved Rahab the harlot alive... and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day.'--JOSHUA vi. 25. This story comes in like an oasis in these terrible narratives of Canaanite extermination. There is much about it that is beautiful and striking, but the main thing is that it teaches the universality of God's mercy, and the great truth that trust in Him unites to Him and brings deliverance, how black soever may have been the previous life. I need not tell over again the story, told with such …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Siege of Jericho
'And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, ... until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11. So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.'-- JOSHUA vi.10, 11. The cheerful uniform obedience of Israel to Joshua stands in very remarkable contrast with their perpetual murmurings and rebellions under Moses. Many reasons probably concurred in bringing about this …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Shout of Faith
"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 ascend up, every man straight before him." The shout of a steadfast faith is an experience that is in direct contrast to the moans of a wavering faith, and to the wails of discouraged hearts, both of which we have been considering in our last two chapters. In the history of the children of Israel there were many occasions when they indulged …
Hannah Whitall Smith—The God of All Comfort Jericho Itself.
We read, that this city was not only wasted by Joshua with fire and sword, but cursed also. "Cursed be he before the Lord, who shall rise up and build that city Jericho," Joshua 6:26. "Nor was another city to be built (says the Talmudists), which was to be called by the name of Jericho: nor was Jericho itself to be built, although to be called by another name." And yet I know not by what chance this city crept out of dust and rubbish, lived again, and flourished, and became the second city to Jerusalem. …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Whether it is Lawful for Clerics and Bishops to Fight?
Objection 1: It would seem lawful for clerics and bishops to fight. For, as stated above [2661](A[1]), wars are lawful and just in so far as they protect the poor and the entire common weal from suffering at the hands of the foe. Now this seems to be above all the duty of prelates, for Gregory says (Hom. in Ev. xiv): "The wolf comes upon the sheep, when any unjust and rapacious man oppresses those who are faithful and humble. But he who was thought to be the shepherd, and was not, leaveth the sheep, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Five Kings in a Cave
TEXT: "And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight."--Joshua 10:24-25. The history of the …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
Assur-nazir-pal (885-860) and Shalmaneser III. (860-825)--The kingdom of Urartu and its conquering princes: Menuas and Argistis. Assyria was the first to reappear on the scene of action. Less hampered by an ancient past than Egypt and Chaldaea, she was the sooner able to recover her strength after any disastrous crisis, and to assume again the offensive along the whole of her frontier line. Image Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief at Koyunjik of the time of Sennacherib. The initial cut, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 Memoir of John Bunyan
THE FIRST PERIOD. THIS GREAT MAN DESCENDED FROM IGNOBLE PARENTS--BORN IN POVERTY--HIS EDUCATION AND EVIL HABITS--FOLLOWS HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS AS A BRAZIER--ENLISTS FOR A SOLDIER--RETURNS FROM THE WARS AND OBTAINS AN AMIABLE, RELIGIOUS WIFE--HER DOWER. 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.'--2 Cor 4:7 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.'--Isaiah 55:8. 'Though ye have lien among the …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Joshua 6:8 NIVJoshua 6:8 NLTJoshua 6:8 ESVJoshua 6:8 NASBJoshua 6:8 KJV
Joshua 6:8 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
