Joshua 5-6

CHAPTER 5:
           Verse 1: Because this is the season of harvest the river Jordan is overflowing its banks and, thus, the Canaanites believed that Israel would not be able to get to them anytime soon. However, once word reaches them of Israel’s miraculous crossing of the river, the heathen nations are now paralyzed with fear.
 
         Verses 2-8: But before Israel can officially begin its military campaign against her enemies, there are three things that must be addressed. The first is a critical issue regarding the disobedience of the first generation that died in the wilderness. In these verses we find out that those who came out of Egypt had been circumcised according to the Abrahamic covenant in obedience to God’s directive. (v.5) However, in the course of their travels to Mount Sinai, and then later in their journey to the border of the promised land, they had failed to circumcise their sons. (v.7) This is another indication of their lack of faith and rebellion against God, especially after the Lord had specifically commanded circumcision in the laws he gave to Moses at Mount Sinai. (v.6)
            This relates back to the need for sanctification before God as described in the previous chapter. There were many issues of obedience and holiness that remained unresolved from the first generation that needed to be corrected by their children before they could proceed with God’s plan of conquest and settling the promised land. Therefore, as the first order of business after crossing the Jordan, Joshua commands the people to set up camp at Gilgal (v.9-10), and then all the males are circumcised. (v.8)
 
            Verses 10-12: The next order of business is the annual observance of the Passover. (v.10) Additionally, there is a note here that God will no longer be providing the daily manna that had sustained the Israelites during their sojourn in the wilderness. (v.11-12) Now that they are in the promised land, there is no need of that particular provision. There is plenty “…of the fruit of the land of Canaan…” for the people to consume as they conquer and settle in their new home.
 
            Verses 13-15: And, finally, there is a meeting between Joshua and the captain of the Lord’s host. We can logically conclude from verses 14-15 that this is another preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. (Genesis 18:1-2, 32:24, 30, Exodus 23:23, Numbers 22:3, Judges 13:3) In all other places in scripture when a man or woman attempts to worship any supernatural being other than God or Christ, he/she is immediately corrected and ordered to stand. But not so here. In fact, the captain tells Joshua to take off his shoes because the ground on which he is lying prostrate is holy. (Exodus 3:5)
            The Lord’s appearance here is an indication of Joshua’s and the nation’s obedience to all that God has commanded of them. It’s also a sign for Joshua that God is with His people, and that He will give them the victory in their battle against Jericho.

CHAPTER 6:
            Verses 1-5: The city of Jericho is under lockdown. Whether it’s because of the orders of its king due to the imminent attack by Israel, or because Israel has waged a successful siege campaign against it is not clearly stated in the text. The former is probably the best explanation due to verse 1 of the previous chapter.
            God now gives His battle plan to Joshua. The nation is to march around the city, led by seven priests bearing the ark of the covenant, one time each day for six days. On the seventh day they are to march around it seven times, after which the priests will sound their trumpets and all the people will give a shout. (v.3-4) The walls of the city will then fall, providing a means for Israel’s army to invade and conquer. (v.5)
            The story of the conquest of Jericho contains some parallels to the seven years tribulation following the rapture of the New Testament church in the book of Revelation. Here it is seven days leading up to the final judgment, there it is seven years leading up to the battle of Armageddon. Just as Rahab and her household are spared from death here, there will be tribulation saints that are received into heaven during that future apocalypse. Just as it is God’s chosen people here that sound the battle cry as they wage a successful victory, so it will be with us who return to earth for that final battle, led by Christ himself, to conquer Satan and all his host.
            The rams’ horns that the priests blow are the same ones that are used every year on the day of atonement, which is celebrated in the seventh month. (Leviticus 25:9)
 
            Verses 6-14: Joshua assembles the priests and gives the instructions to the people. Verses 9 and 13 refer to the soldiers that march in front of the ark of the covenant and behind it, but this is not because God needs help guarding His ark. This is to protect the ark from any accidental defilement from the Israelites. Joshua also makes a specific point that the people are not to shout – nor even speak or make any sound at all with their voice – until the seventh day when he will give them the signal to do so. (v.10)
            Joshua and the people rise early each day, forming up ranks and marching around the city once before returning to camp. (v.12, 14) From the Moody Bible commentary: “This sounds like a staggering amount of ground to cover for the Israelite soldiers, but Jericho was only about 350 yards long north to south, and about 180 yards wide east to west.” Notice that verse 11 highlights the fact that “…the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once…”. From start to finish, this whole operation is of God and for His glory alone. The children of Israel are merely messengers and servants carrying out God’s divine plan.
            For the people of Jericho this sight must have been strange and perhaps even foolish. They must have wondered why their enemy was not attacking directly. Some probably waited with fear and anxiety, knowing what this foreign God had done for His people in Egypt. But, like so many today, they dismissed their fear, trusting instead in their fortified walls and their own strength. They knew judgment was coming, yet they scoffed and refused to believe, even when it was too late to change their fate.
           
          Verses 15-16, 20-25: On the morning of the seventh and final day, the Israelites rise at dawn and march around the city seven times. On the seventh lap, after the priests blow the trumpets, Joshua commands the people, “Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.” (v.16) One of the reasons that Jericho was such a mighty and fortified city was because it had been built upon a hill. When all of Israel shouted with triumph the wall of Jericho collapsed outward and down the slope of the hill. This fact has long been vindicated by numerous archeological digs many centuries later in this area. This is yet another indication of the supernatural power of God at work here. It was not necessarily the force of sound that collapsed the wall as much as God bringing it down by His own hand.
        This is even more remarkable considering that Rahab’s house was directly on the outer wall of the city. (Joshua 2:15) By the laws of physics her home should have been destroyed with the rest of the houses that were built on the wall. But, again, by God’s hand her house was the only portion of the wall left standing. (v.22-23) She, her parents, and the few family members that had believed her report of the coming judgment are safely transported out of Jericho before the army of Israel utterly destroys it and all its people. (v.24-25) The only objects that are spared are certain vessels of brass and iron that are consecrated to the priests for use in the house of God, as well as all the gold and silver. (v.19, 24)
 
             Verses 17-19: These are the instructions Joshua had given to the people prior to their seven day march around Jericho. He begins by stating that God has cursed Jericho and all who live there except for Rahab and anyone within her house at the time of the final attack. (v.17) Joshua then warns the people not to touch any of the accursed things of Jericho during the battle. To do so will bring the anger and punishment of God upon the whole camp of Israel. (v.18) (This is, sadly, exactly what happens with Achan whose story is told in the next chapter.) Only the silver, gold, and the vessels of brass and iron are to be taken for the house of the Lord. (v.19)
         “And ye, in any wise, keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed…” (v.18) That which God has cursed should not be touched by we who are His children, called by His name unto salvation and good works. (Ephesians 2:10) That is what it means to be separated, to no longer walk in the ways of the flesh. For God has cursed the things of this world and the sin of our flesh that manifests itself in the many vices which stem from pride and the love of self. Those things are contrary to the commandments of God. Just as Israel was delivered out of bondage and set apart as God’s chosen people, so are we today called to walk in the way of the Spirit and to not have anything to do with “…the accursed thing…” of the flesh.
 
         Verses 26-27: When the battle is over and all of God’s judgment has been successfully carried out against the city and all its people, Joshua makes a proclamation for all to hear. Because God has forever cursed and condemned Jericho, there is also a curse upon anyone who attempts to rebuild it. (v.27) The firstborn and the youngest of whomever defies this divine decree will be taken by God as punishment. This prophecy was fulfilled several generations later during the reign of King Ahab. (1 Kings 16:34)
           This episode concludes with the statement that the fame of Joshua is spread throughout all of Canaan, which answers Joshua’s question to the captain of the Lord’s host in the previous chapter. (Joshua 5:13) God is clearly on the side of Joshua and all of Israel, and though the text doesn’t say so specifically, it can be logically presumed that Israel’s victory at Jericho causes even more fear in the hearts of her enemies.