
Text -- Joshua 6:5 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Jos 6:5 - -- Not all of it; which was unnecessary, and might have given the people better opportunity of escaping, but only a considerable part of it, where the Is...
Not all of it; which was unnecessary, and might have given the people better opportunity of escaping, but only a considerable part of it, where the Israelites might fitly enter: for Rahab's house was not overthrown, Jos 6:22.

Wesley: Jos 6:5 - -- Heb. under it, it was not battered down with engines which would have made part of it fall out of its place; but it fell of its own accord, and theref...
Heb. under it, it was not battered down with engines which would have made part of it fall out of its place; but it fell of its own accord, and therefore in the place it did formerly stand in. God chose this way, to try the faith and obedience of the people: whether they would observe a precept, which to human policy seemed foolish, and believe a promise, which seemed impossible to be performed: whether they could patiently bear the reproaches of their enemies, and patiently wait for the salvation of God. Thus by faith, not by force, the walls of Jericho fell down.
JFB -> Jos 6:3-5
JFB: Jos 6:3-5 - -- Directions are here given as to the mode of procedure. Hebrew, "horns of jubilee"; that is, the bent or crooked trumpets with which the jubilee was pr...
Directions are here given as to the mode of procedure. Hebrew, "horns of jubilee"; that is, the bent or crooked trumpets with which the jubilee was proclaimed. It is probable that the horns of this animal were used at first; and that afterwards, when metallic trumpets were introduced, the primitive name, as well as form of them, was traditionally continued. The design of this whole proceeding was obviously to impress the Canaanites with a sense of the divine omnipotence, to teach the Israelites a memorable lesson of faith and confidence in God's promises, and to inspire sentiments of respect and reverence for the ark as the symbol of His presence. The length of time during which those circuits were made tended the more intensely to arrest the attention, and to deepen the impressions, both of the Israelites and the enemy. The number seven was among the Israelites the symbolic seal of the covenant between God and their nation [KEIL, HENGSTENBERG].
Clarke -> Jos 6:5
Clarke: Jos 6:5 - -- The wall of the city shall fall down flat - Several commentators, both Jews and Christians, have supposed that the ground under the foundation of th...
The wall of the city shall fall down flat - Several commentators, both Jews and Christians, have supposed that the ground under the foundation of the walls opened, and the wall sunk into the chasm, so that there remained nothing but plain ground for the Israelites to walk over. Of this the text says nothing: -
TSK -> Jos 6:5
TSK: Jos 6:5 - -- make a long : Jos 6:16, Jos 6:20; Exo 19:19; 2Ch 20:21, 2Ch 20:22
the people : Jdg 7:20-22; 1Sa 4:5, 1Sa 17:20, 1Sa 17:52; 2Ch 13:14, 2Ch 13:15; Jer 5...
make a long : Jos 6:16, Jos 6:20; Exo 19:19; 2Ch 20:21, 2Ch 20:22
the people : Jdg 7:20-22; 1Sa 4:5, 1Sa 17:20, 1Sa 17:52; 2Ch 13:14, 2Ch 13:15; Jer 50:15
and the wall : The words
flat : Heb. under it

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Jos 6:3-6
Barnes: Jos 6:3-6 - -- The command of the Lord as to the mode in which the fall of Jericho should be brought about is given in these verses in a condensed form. Further de...
The command of the Lord as to the mode in which the fall of Jericho should be brought about is given in these verses in a condensed form. Further details (see Jos 6:8-10, Jos 6:16-17, etc.), were, no doubt, among the commands given to Joshua by the Angel.
Trumpets of ram’ s horns - Render rather here and in Jos 6:5-6, Jos 6:8, etc., "trumpets of jubilee"(compare Lev 25:10 note). The instrument is more correctly rendered "cornet"(see Lev 25:9, note). Various attempts have been made to explain the fall of Jericho by natural causes, as, e. g., by the undermining of the walls, or by an earthquake, or by a sudden assault. But the narrative of this chapter does not afford the slightest warrant for any such explanations; indeed it is totally inconsistent with them. It must be taken as it stands; and so taken it intends, beyond all doubt, to narrate a miracle, or rather a series of miracles.
In the belief that a record is not necessarily unhistorical because it is miraculous, never perhaps was a miracle more needed than that which gave Jericho to Joshua. Its lofty walls and well-fenced gates made it simply impregnable to the Israelites - a nomad people, reared in the desert, destitute alike of the engines of war for assaulting a fortified town, and of skill and experience in the use of them if they had had them. Nothing line a direct interference of the Almighty could in a week’ s time give a city like Jericho, thoroughly on its guard and prepared (compare Jos 2:9 ff and Jos 6:1), to besiegers situated as were Joshua and the Israelites.
The fall of Jericho cogently taught the inhabitants of Canaan that the successes of Israel were not mere human triumphs of man against man, and that the God of Israel was not as "the gods of the countries."This lesson some of them at least learned to their salvation, e. g., Rahab and the Gibeonites. Further, ensuing close upon the miraculous passage of Jordan, it was impressed on the people, prone ever to be led by the senses, that the same God who had delivered their fathers out of Egypt and led them through the Red Sea, was with Joshua no less effectually than He had been with Moses.
And the details of the orders given by God to Joshua Jos 6:3-5 illustrate this last point further. The trumpets employed were not the silver trumpets used for signalling the marshalling of the host and for other warlike purposes (compare Num 10:2), but the curved horns employed for ushering in the Jubilee and the Sabbatical Year (Septuagint,
Poole -> Jos 6:5
Poole: Jos 6:5 - -- When they make a long blast as is usual in the close of musical sounds.
The wall of the city not all of it, which was not only unnecessary, but inc...
When they make a long blast as is usual in the close of musical sounds.
The wall of the city not all of it, which was not only unnecessary, but inconvenient, and might have given the people better opportunity of escaping; but only a considerable part of it, where the Israelites might fitly enter; for Rahab’ s house was not overthrown, Jos 6:22 .
Flat Heb. under it , i.e. below the place they stood in; or, in its place: it was not battered down with engines, which would have made part of it fall out of its place; but it fell out without any force, and of its own accord, and therefore in the place it did formerly stand in.
Haydock -> Jos 6:5
Haydock: Jos 6:5 - -- Tune, with certain modulations, continued for a long time, Numbers x. 5. (Haydock) ---
Ground. The Rabbins say they sink in, so that the ruins mi...
Tune, with certain modulations, continued for a long time, Numbers x. 5. (Haydock) ---
Ground. The Rabbins say they sink in, so that the ruins might not impede the march of the army. Some think only a large breach was made, opposite to the Israelites, as the house of Rahab upon the walls was preserved. (Calmet)
Gill -> Jos 6:5
Gill: Jos 6:5 - -- And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn,.... Continue blowing, and protracting, and drawing out the sound a l...
And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn,.... Continue 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" a; 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.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Jos 6:1-27
TSK Synopsis: Jos 6:1-27 - --1 Jericho is shut up.2 God instructs Joshua how to beseige it.12 The city is compassed.17 It must be accursed.20 The walls fall down.22 Rahab is saved...
MHCC -> Jos 6:1-5
MHCC: Jos 6:1-5 - --Jericho resolves Israel shall not be its master. It shut itself up, being strongly fortified both by art and nature. Thus were they foolish, and their...
Matthew Henry -> Jos 6:1-5
Matthew Henry: Jos 6:1-5 - -- We have here a contest between God and the men of Jericho, and their different resolutions, upon which it is easy to say whose word shall prevail. I...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Jos 6:1-5
Keil-Delitzsch: Jos 6:1-5 - --
When Joshua had taken off his shoes, the prince of the army of God made known to him the object of his coming (Jos 6:2-5). But before relating the m...
Constable -> Jos 5:13--13:1; Jos 5:13--7:1
Constable: Jos 5:13--13:1 - --C. Possession of the land 5:13-12:24
Before Israel entered the land of Canaan, God had been preparing fo...
