Joshua 6
Common English Bible
Instructions about Jericho
6 Now Jericho was closed up tightly because of the Israelites. No one went out or came in. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, “Look. I have given Jericho and its king into your power, along with its mighty warriors. 3 Circle the city with all the soldiers, going around the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven trumpets made from rams’ horns in front of the chest. On the seventh day, circle the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5 “Have them blow a long blast on the ram’s horn. As soon as you hear that trumpet blast, have all the people shout out a loud war cry. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will rise up, attacking straight ahead.”
Israel destroys Jericho
6 So Joshua, Nun’s son, called the priests. He said to them, “Lift up the covenant chest. Let seven priests carry seven trumpets made from rams’ horns in front of the Lord’s chest.” 7 He said to the people, “Go forward. Circle the city. Let the armed soldiers go in front of the Lord’s chest.” 8 As soon as Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying seven ram’s horn trumpets moved forward in front of the Lord. They blew the trumpets. The Lord’s covenant chest followed. 9 The initial group of soldiers was going in front of the priests who were blowing the trumpets. The rear guard was coming behind the chest, with trumpets blowing continuously. 10 Joshua ordered the people, “Don’t shout. Don’t let your voice be heard. Don’t let a word come out of your mouth until the day I tell you, ‘Shout!’ Then shout!”
11 He made the Lord’s chest circle the city, going around one time. They went back to the camp and stayed there overnight. 12 Joshua got up early in the morning. The priests lifted up the Lord’s chest. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets made from rams’ horns were going in front of the Lord’s chest, blowing trumpets continuously. The armed soldiers were going in front of them. The rear guard was coming after the Lord’s chest, blowing trumpets continuously. 14 They circled the city one time on the second day. Then they went back to the camp. They did this for six days.
15 On the seventh day, they got up at dawn. They circled the city in this way seven times. It was only on that day that they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets. Then Joshua said to the people, “Shout, because the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and everything in it is to be utterly wiped out as something reserved for the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute is to stay alive, along with everyone with her in her house. This is because she hid the messengers we sent. 18 But you, keep away from the things set aside for God so that you don’t desire[a] and take some of the things reserved. That would turn the camp of Israel into a thing doomed to be utterly wiped out and bring calamity on it. 19 All silver and gold, along with bronze and iron equipment, are holy to the Lord. They must go into the Lord’s treasury.” 20 Then the people shouted. They blew the trumpets. As soon as the people heard the trumpet blast, they shouted a loud war cry. Then the wall collapsed. The people went up against the city, attacking straight ahead. They captured the city. 21 Without mercy, they wiped out everything in the city as something reserved for God—man and woman, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys.
Consequences
22 Joshua spoke to the two men who had scouted out the land. “Go to the prostitute’s house. Bring out the woman from there, along with everyone related to her, exactly as you pledged to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went and brought Rahab out, along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and everyone related to her. They brought her whole clan out and let them stay outside Israel’s camp. 24 They burned the city and everything in it. But they put the silver and gold, along with the bronze and iron equipment, into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 Joshua let Rahab the prostitute live, her family, and everyone related to her. So her family still lives among Israel today, because she hid the spies whom Joshua had sent to scout out Jericho.
26 At that time Joshua made this decree:
“Anyone who starts to rebuild this city of Jericho will be cursed before the Lord.
Laying its foundations will cost them their oldest child.
Setting up its gates will cost them their youngest child.”
27 The Lord was with Joshua. News about him spread throughout the land.
Footnotes
- Joshua 6:18 LXX; Heb wipe out as something reserved for God
Joshua 6
1599 Geneva Bible
6 2 The Lord instructeth Joshua what he should do as touching Jericho. 6 Joshua commandeth the Priests and warriors what to do. 20 The walls fall. 22 Rahab is saved. 24 All is burnt save gold and metal. 26 The curse of him that buildeth the city.
1 Now Jericho was [a]shut up, and [b]closed, [c]because of the children of Israel, none might go out nor enter in.
2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Behold, I have given into thine hand Jericho and the king thereof, and the strong men of war.
3 All ye therefore that be men of war, shall compass the city, in going round about the city [d]once: thus shall you do six days:
4 And seven Priests shall bear seven trumpets of [e]rams’ horns before the Ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the Priests shall blow with the trumpets,
5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout: then shall the wall of the city fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him.
6 ¶ Then Joshua the son of Nun called the Priests and said unto them, Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and let seven Priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Ark of the Lord.
7 But he said unto the people, [f]Go and compass the city: and let him that is armed go forth before the Ark of the Lord.
8 ¶ And when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bare the seven trumpets of rams’ horns, and went forth before the Ark of the Lord, and blew with the trumpets, and the ark of the Covenant of the Lord followed them.
9 ¶ And the men of arms went before the priests and blew the trumpets: then the [g]gathering host came after the Ark, and they went and blew the trumpets.
10 (Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, neither make any noise with your voice, neither shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day that I say unto you, Shout, then shall ye shout.)
11 So the Ark of the Lord compassed the city, and went about it [h]once: then they returned into the host, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the Priests bare the Ark of the Lord:
13 Also seven Priests bare seven trumpets of rams’ horns, and went before the Ark of the Lord, and going blew with the trumpets: and the men of arms went before them, but the [i]gathering host came after the Ark of the Lord, as they went and blew the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the host: thus they did six days.
15 And when the seventh day came, they rose early, even with the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner [j]seven times: only that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And when the Priests had blown the trumpets the seventh time, Joshua said unto the people, Shout: for the Lord hath given you the city.
17 And the city shall be [k]an execrable thing, both it, and all that are therein, unto the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she, and all that are with her in the house: for (A)she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 Notwithstanding, be ye ware of the execrable thing, lest ye make yourselves execrable, and in taking of the execrable thing, make also the host of Israel (B)execrable, and trouble it.
19 But all silver, and gold, and vessels of brass, and iron shall be [l]consecrate unto the Lord, and shall come into the Lord’s treasury.
20 So the people shouted, when they had blown trumpets: for when the people had heard the sound of the trumpets, they shouted with a great shout: and the (C)wall fell down flat: so the people went up into the city, every man straight before him: and they took the city.
21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the cities both man and woman, young, and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass with the edge of the sword.
22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, (D)as ye swore to her.
23 So the young men that were spies, went in and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had: also they brought out all her family, and put them [m]without the host of Israel.
24 After, they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of brass and iron, they put unto the treasure of the [n]house of the Lord.
25 So Joshua saved Rahab the harlot, and her father’s household, and all that she had, and she [o]dwelt in Israel, even unto this day, because she had hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 ¶ And Joshua swore at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up, and buildeth the city Jericho: [p]he shall lay the foundation thereof in his eldest son, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and he was famous through all the world.
Footnotes
- Joshua 6:1 That none could go out.
- Joshua 6:1 That none could come in.
- Joshua 6:1 For fear of the Israelites.
- Joshua 6:3 Every day one.
- Joshua 6:4 That the conquest might not be assigned to man’s power, but to the mercy of God, which with most weak things can overcome that which seemeth most strong.
- Joshua 6:7 This is chiefly meant by the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.
- Joshua 6:9 Meaning, the rearward, wherein was the standard of the tribe of Dan, Num. 10:25.
- Joshua 6:11 For that day.
- Joshua 6:13 The tribe of Dan was so called, because it marched last and gathered up whatsoever was left of others.
- Joshua 6:15 Beside every day once for the space of six days.
- Joshua 6:17 That is appointed wholly to be destroyed.
- Joshua 6:19 And therefore cannot be put to any private use, but must be first molten, and then serve for the Tabernacle.
- Joshua 6:23 For it was not lawful for strangers to dwell among the Israelites, till they were purged.
- Joshua 6:24 Meaning, the Tabernacle.
- Joshua 6:25 For she was married to Salmon prince of the tribe of Judah, Matt. 1:5.
- Joshua 6:26 He shall build it to the destruction of all his stock, which thing was fulfilled in Hiel of Bethel, 1 Kings 16:34.
Joshua 6
American Standard Version
6 Now Jericho [a]was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 2 And Jehovah said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor. 3 And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven [b]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. 5 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 [c]flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of Jehovah. 7 And [d]they said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of Jehovah.
8 And it was so, that, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before Jehovah passed on, and blew the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah followed them. 9 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. 10 And Joshua commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11 So he caused the ark of Jehovah to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of Jehovah. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of Jehovah went on continually, and blew the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of Jehovah, the priests blowing the trumpets as they went. 14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for Jehovah hath given you the city. 17 And the city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Jehovah: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when ye have devoted it, ye take of the devoted thing; so would ye make the camp of Israel [e]accursed, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy unto Jehovah: they shall come into the treasury of Jehovah. 20 So the people shouted, and the priests blew the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down [f]flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they [g]utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
22 And Joshua said unto the two men that had spied out the land, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23 And the young men the spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; all her [h]kindred also they brought out; and they set them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein; only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of Jehovah. 25 But Rahab the harlot, and her father’s household, and all that she had, did Joshua save alive; and she dwelt in the midst of Israel unto this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 And Joshua charged them with an oath at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before Jehovah, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: with the loss of his first-born shall he lay the foundation thereof, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. 27 So Jehovah was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.
Footnotes
- Joshua 6:1 Hebrew shut the gates and was shut in.
- Joshua 6:4 Or, jubilee trumpets
- Joshua 6:5 Hebrew in its place.
- Joshua 6:7 Another reading is, he.
- Joshua 6:18 Hebrew devoted.
- Joshua 6:20 Hebrew in its place.
- Joshua 6:21 Hebrew devoted.
- Joshua 6:23 Hebrew families.
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