Joshua 5:13--6:5
looked <05375> [he lifted.]
man <0376> [a man.]
sword <02719> [his sword.]
enemies <06862> [Art thou for us.]
commander <08269> [but as captain. or, Prince.]
bowed ..... face <05307 06440> [fell on his.]
say <01696> [What saith.]
<0113> [my lord.]
<05394> [Loose.]
Joshua ................ Joshua <03091> [And Joshua.]
Many persons have been puzzled to know what was intended by this extraordinary appearance of the angel to Joshua, because they supposed that the whole business ends with the chapter; whereas it is continued in the succeeding one, the first verse of which is a mere parenthesis, simply relating to the state of Jericho at the time when Joshua was favoured with this encouraging vision; by which he was shewn that their help came from God alone, and that it was not by human might or power, but by the Lord of hosts they were to obtain the victory.
shut tightly <05462> [was straitly. Heb. did shut up, and was shut up.]
because <06440> [because.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
See <07200 05414> [See, I have.]
king <04428> [the king.]
around <05437> [ye shall.]
horns ...................... horns <07782> [trumpets of rams'.]
The words {shopheroth hyyovelim,} should rather be rendered jubilee, trumpets, i.e., such as were used on the jubilee, which were probably made of horn or silver: for the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan was indeed a jubilee to them (See Note on Le 25:11): instead of the dreadful trumpet of war, they were ordered to sound the trumpet of joy, as already conquerors.
seven .... seven ................. seven times <07651 06471> [seven times.]
<04900> [make a long.]
army ............... warriors <05971> [the people.]
wall <02346> [and the wall.]
The words {wenaphelah chomath hair tachteyha,} are literally, "and the wall of the city shall fall down under itself;" which appears simply to mean, that the wall shall fall down from its very foundation; which was probably the case in every part, though large breaches in different places might have been amply sufficient first to admit the armed men, after whom the host might enter to destroy the city. There is no ground for the supposition that the walls sunk into the earth.
<08478> [flat. Heb. under it.]
