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The Fall of Jericho

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, (A)I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven (B)trumpets of (C)rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and (D)the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,[a] and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.” And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let (E)the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the (F)rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.

12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and (G)the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be (H)devoted to the Lord for destruction.[b] Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she (I)hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel (J)a thing for destruction and (K)bring trouble upon it. 19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.” 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and (L)the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. 21 Then they (M)devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, (N)as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and (O)her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. (P)Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And (Q)she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, (R)“Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho.

“At the cost of his firstborn
    shall he lay its foundation,
and at the cost of his youngest son
    shall he set up its gates.”

27 (S)So the Lord was with Joshua, and (T)his fame was in all the land.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 6:5 Hebrew under itself; also verse 20
  2. Joshua 6:17 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 18, 21

The Conquest of Jericho

Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have handed Jericho over to you, with (A)its king and the valiant warriors. And you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. Also seven priests shall carry seven (B)trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down [a]flat, and the people shall go up, everyone [b]straight ahead.”

So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the Lord.” Then [c]he said to the people, “Go forward and march around the city, and the armed men shall go on ahead of the ark of the Lord.” And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. And the armed men went ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and (C)the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard, nor let a word proceed from your mouth, until the day I tell you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout!” 11 So he had the ark of the Lord [d]taken around the city, circling it once; then they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.

12 Now Joshua got up early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 Then (D)the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went ahead of them, and (E)the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while they continued to blow the trumpets. 14 So the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp; they did the same for six days.

15 Then on the seventh day they got up early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same way seven times; only on that day did they march around the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “(F)Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. 17 But the city shall be (G)designated for [e]destruction, it and everything that is in it belongs to the Lord; only Rahab the prostitute [f]and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things designated for destruction, so that you do not covet them and (H)take some of the designated things, and turn the camp of Israel into something designated for destruction and bring disaster on it. 19 (I)But all the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.” 20 So the people shouted, and [g]the priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout, and the (J)wall fell down [h]flat, so that the people went up into the city, everyone straight [i]ahead, and they took the city. 21 (K)They [j]utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

22 And Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “(L)Go into the prostitute’s house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, just as you have sworn to her.” 23 So the young men who were spies went in and (M)brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all she had; they also brought out all her relatives, and placed them outside the camp of Israel. 24 Then (N)they burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the [k]house of the Lord. 25 However, (O)Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua [l]spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, because (P)she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

26 Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time, saying, “(Q)Cursed before the Lord is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he will set up its gates.” 27 So (R)the Lord was with Joshua, and his (S)fame was in all the land.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 6:5 Lit in its place
  2. Joshua 6:5 Lit before himself
  3. Joshua 6:7 Another reading is they
  4. Joshua 6:11 Lit to go around
  5. Joshua 6:17 I.e., as an offering to God
  6. Joshua 6:17 Lit she and all
  7. Joshua 6:20 Lit they
  8. Joshua 6:20 Lit in its place
  9. Joshua 6:20 Lit before himself
  10. Joshua 6:21 Or put under the ban
  11. Joshua 6:24 I.e., tabernacle
  12. Joshua 6:25 Lit let live

Now Yericho was closely shut up because of the Bnei Yisroel; none went out, and none came in.

And Hashem said unto Yehoshua, See, I have given into thine yad Yericho, and the melech thereof, and the gibborei hechayil.

And ye shall march around the Ir, all ye anshei hamilchamah, and go around the Ir once. Thus shalt thou do sheshet yamim.

And shivah Kohanim shall bear before the Aron shivah shoferot hayovelim; and the Yom HaShevi’i ye shall march around the Ir sheva times, and the Kohanim shall sound the shoferot.

And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the keren hayovel, when ye hear the sound of the shofar, Kol HaAm shall shout with a teruah gedolah; and the Chomat HaIr shall fall down, and HaAm shall go up every ish charging straight in.

And Yehoshua ben Nun called the Kohanim, and said unto them, Take up the Aron HaBrit, and let shivah Kohanim bear shivah shoferot yovelim (seven ram-shofars) before the Aron Hashem.

And he ordered HaAm, Pass on, and march on the Ir, and let him that is armed pass on ahead of the Aron Hashem.

And it came to pass, when Yehoshua had spoken unto HaAm, that the shivah Kohanim bearing the shivah shoferot hayovelim passed on before Hashem, and sounded the shoferot; and the Aron Brit Hashem followed after them.

And the armed men marched ahead of the Kohanim that blew with the shoferot, and the rear guard came after the Aron, with the shoferot of the Kohanim going on sounding.

10 Yehoshua had commanded HaAm, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any davar proceed out of your mouth, until the Yom I tell you to shout; then shall ye shout.

11 So the Aron Hashem circled the Ir, going about it once; and they returned to the machaneh, and spent the night in the machaneh.

12 And Yehoshua rose early in the boker, and the Kohanim took up the Aron Hashem.

13 And shivah kohanim bearing shivah shoferot hayovelim before the Aron Hashem went on continually, and sounded the shoferot; and the armed men went before them; with the rearguard after the Aron Hashem, the Kohanim going on, and sounding the shoferot.

14 And the Yom HaSheni they circled the Ir once, and returned to the machaneh; so they did sheshet yamim.

15 And it came to pass on the Yom HaShevi’i, that they got up early about shachar, circled the Ir after the same manner sheva times; only on that Yom they marched around the Ir sheva p’amim.

16 And it came to pass on the Shevi’it, when the Kohanim sounded the shoferot, Yehoshua said unto HaAm, Shout; for Hashem hath given you the Ir.

17 And the Ir shall be cherem, even it, and all that are therein, to Hashem; only Rachav the zonah shall live, she and all that are with her in the bais, because she hid the malachim that we sent.

18 And ye, be shomer to keep yourselves from the cherem, lest ye make yourselves cherem, when ye take of the cherem, and make the Machaneh Yisroel cherem, and trouble it.

19 But all the kesef, zahav, and vessels of nechoshet and barzel, are kodesh unto Hashem; they shall come into the Otzar Hashem.

20 So HaAm shouted when the Kohanim sounded the shoferot; and it came to pass, when HaAm heard the kol (sound) of the shofar, and HaAm shouted with a teruah gedolah, that the chomah fell down, so that HaAm went up into the Ir, every ish straight before him, and they took the Ir.

21 And they utterly destroyed [devoted as cherem] all that was in the Ir, both ish and isha, na’ar and zaken, and shor, and seh, and chamor, with the edge of the cherev.

22 But Yehoshua had said unto the two anashim that had spied out HaAretz, Go into the bais haisha hazonah, and bring out from there the isha, and all that she hath, just as ye swore unto her.

23 And hane’arim (the young men) that were spies went in, and brought out Rachav, and her av, and her em, and her achim, and all that she had; and they brought out all her mishpechot, and put them outside the Machaneh Yisroel.

24 And they burned the Ir with eish, and all that was therein; only the kesef, and the zahav, and the vessels of nechoshet and of barzel (iron), they put into the Otzar Bais Hashem.

25 And Yehoshua saved Rachav the zonah alive, and her Bais Avi, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Yisroel even unto this day; because she hid the malachim, which Yehoshua sent to spy out Yericho.

26 And Yehoshua made them take this shevu’ah, saying, Arur (cursed) be the ish before Hashem, that riseth up and rebuildeth this Ir Yericho; he shall lay the foundation thereof with his bechor, and with his tza’ir (youngest son) shall he set up the delatot (gates) thereof [See fulfillment 1Kgs 16:34].

27 So Hashem was with Yehoshua; and his fame was noised throughout kol HaAretz.

Now the gates of Jericho(A) were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered(B) Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns(C) in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.(D) When you hear them sound a long blast(E) on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout;(F) then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”(G) And he ordered the army, “Advance(H)! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark(I) of the Lord.”

When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard(J) followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!(K) 11 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.

12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.(L) 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!(M) 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a](N) to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute(O) and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid(P) the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things,(Q) so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction(R) and bring trouble(S) on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron(T) are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

20 When the trumpets sounded,(U) the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout,(V) the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.(W) 21 They devoted(X) the city to the Lord and destroyed(Y) with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

22 Joshua said to the two men(Z) who had spied out(AA) the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.(AB) 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her.(AC) They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.

24 Then they burned the whole city(AD) and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron(AE) into the treasury of the Lord’s house.(AF) 25 But Joshua spared(AG) Rahab the prostitute,(AH) with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho(AI)—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

26 At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath:(AJ) “Cursed(AK) before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:

“At the cost of his firstborn son
    he will lay its foundations;
at the cost of his youngest
    he will set up its gates.”(AL)

27 So the Lord was with Joshua,(AM) and his fame spread(AN) throughout the land.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 6:17 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 18 and 21.

La toma de Jericó

Ahora, Jericó estaba cerrada, bien cerrada, a causa de los hijos de Israel; nadie entraba ni salía. Mas Jehová dijo a Josué: Mira, yo he entregado en tu mano a Jericó y a su rey, con sus varones de guerra. Rodearéis, pues, la ciudad todos los hombres de guerra, yendo alrededor de la ciudad una vez; y esto haréis durante seis días. Y siete sacerdotes llevarán siete bocinas de cuernos de carnero delante del arca; y al séptimo día daréis siete vueltas a la ciudad, y los sacerdotes tocarán las bocinas. Y cuando toquen prolongadamente el cuerno de carnero, así que oigáis el sonido de la bocina, todo el pueblo gritará a gran voz, y el muro de la ciudad caerá; entonces subirá el pueblo, cada uno derecho hacia adelante. Llamando, pues, Josué hijo de Nun a los sacerdotes, les dijo: Llevad el arca del pacto, y siete sacerdotes lleven bocinas de cuerno de carnero delante del arca de Jehová. Y dijo al pueblo: Pasad, y rodead la ciudad; y los que están armados pasarán delante del arca de Jehová.

Y así que Josué hubo hablado al pueblo, los siete sacerdotes, llevando las siete bocinas de cuerno de carnero, pasaron delante del arca de Jehová, y tocaron las bocinas; y el arca del pacto de Jehová los seguía. Y los hombres armados iban delante de los sacerdotes que tocaban las bocinas, y la retaguardia iba tras el arca, mientras las bocinas sonaban continuamente. 10 Y Josué mandó al pueblo, diciendo: Vosotros no gritaréis, ni se oirá vuestra voz, ni saldrá palabra de vuestra boca, hasta el día que yo os diga: Gritad; entonces gritaréis. 11 Así que él hizo que el arca de Jehová diera una vuelta alrededor de la ciudad, y volvieron luego al campamento, y allí pasaron la noche.

12 Y Josué se levantó de mañana, y los sacerdotes tomaron el arca de Jehová. 13 Y los siete sacerdotes, llevando las siete bocinas de cuerno de carnero, fueron delante del arca de Jehová, andando siempre y tocando las bocinas; y los hombres armados iban delante de ellos, y la retaguardia iba tras el arca de Jehová, mientras las bocinas tocaban continuamente. 14 Así dieron otra vuelta a la ciudad el segundo día, y volvieron al campamento; y de esta manera hicieron durante seis días.

15 Al séptimo día se levantaron al despuntar el alba, y dieron vuelta a la ciudad de la misma manera siete veces; solamente este día dieron vuelta alrededor de ella siete veces. 16 Y cuando los sacerdotes tocaron las bocinas la séptima vez, Josué dijo al pueblo: Gritad, porque Jehová os ha entregado la ciudad. 17 Y será la ciudad anatema a Jehová, con todas las cosas que están en ella; solamente Rahab la ramera vivirá, con todos los que estén en casa con ella, por cuanto escondió a los mensajeros que enviamos. 18 Pero vosotros guardaos del anatema; ni toquéis, ni toméis alguna cosa del anatema, no sea que hagáis anatema el campamento de Israel, y lo turbéis. 19 Mas toda la plata y el oro, y los utensilios de bronce y de hierro, sean consagrados a Jehová, y entren en el tesoro de Jehová. 20 Entonces el pueblo gritó, y los sacerdotes tocaron las bocinas; y aconteció que cuando el pueblo hubo oído el sonido de la bocina, gritó con gran vocerío, y el muro se derrumbó.(A) El pueblo subió luego a la ciudad, cada uno derecho hacia adelante, y la tomaron. 21 Y destruyeron a filo de espada todo lo que en la ciudad había; hombres y mujeres, jóvenes y viejos, hasta los bueyes, las ovejas, y los asnos.

22 Mas Josué dijo a los dos hombres que habían reconocido la tierra: Entrad en casa de la mujer ramera, y haced salir de allí a la mujer y a todo lo que fuere suyo, como lo jurasteis. 23 Y los espías entraron y sacaron a Rahab, a su padre, a su madre, a sus hermanos y todo lo que era suyo; y también sacaron a toda su parentela, y los pusieron fuera del campamento de Israel. 24 Y consumieron con fuego la ciudad, y todo lo que en ella había; solamente pusieron en el tesoro de la casa de Jehová la plata y el oro, y los utensilios de bronce y de hierro. 25 Mas Josué salvó la vida a Rahab la ramera, y a la casa de su padre, y a todo lo que ella tenía; y habitó ella entre los israelitas hasta hoy, por cuanto escondió a los mensajeros que Josué había enviado a reconocer a Jericó.(B)

26 En aquel tiempo hizo Josué un juramento, diciendo: Maldito delante de Jehová el hombre que se levantare y reedificare esta ciudad de Jericó. Sobre su primogénito eche los cimientos de ella, y sobre su hijo menor asiente sus puertas.(C)

27 Estaba, pues, Jehová con Josué, y su nombre se divulgó por toda la tierra.