Joshua 6:7
And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The command to march around Jericho would have tested Israel's faith severely. To ancient military observers, the Israelites would have appeared vulnerable—exposing themselves to arrows from the walls while accomplishing nothing aggressive. Yet this very vulnerability demonstrated trust in God's protection. The strategy also served to intimidate Jericho's defenders psychologically. Day after day, the city's inhabitants watched this ominous, silent procession accompanied by trumpet blasts and the visible presence of Israel's God (the ark). The psychological warfare was profound—Rahab had testified that Jericho's hearts melted in fear (2:11). This liturgical siege demonstrated that the Lord fights for Israel, fulfilling His promise through Moses (Exodus 14:14).
Questions for Reflection
- When has God called you to obedience that seemed illogical by human standards?
- How does marching around obstacles in faith rather than attacking them speak to your current challenges?
- What is the relationship between human obedience (marching) and divine action (walls falling)?
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Analysis & Commentary
The command 'Pass on' (abar, עָבַר—to cross over) initiates the procession. The armed men going before the ark provides military escort, but their weapons are secondary to God's presence. This order—armed guard, seven priests with trumpets, ark, rear guard—places the ark at the strategic center. The procession's movement around the city rather than against it defies military logic but demonstrates faith. Each circuit declares Yahweh's sovereign claim over Jericho before conquest. The verb 'compass' (sabab, סָבַב) means to surround, encircle—a prophetic enactment of the city's doom. This is spiritual warfare made visible: the people don't storm gates; they walk in obedience and trust God to act. Hebrews 11:30 attributes Jericho's fall to faith, not force.