Joshua 6 14

Joshua 6:14 kjv

And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

Joshua 6:14 nkjv

And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.

Joshua 6:14 niv

So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

Joshua 6:14 esv

And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

Joshua 6:14 nlt

On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.

Joshua 6 verses

Joshua 6 14 Meaning

Joshua 6:14 describes the daily routine carried out by the Israelite army and priests during the initial six days of the siege of Jericho. Each day, they performed a single silent circuit around the city walls, followed by their return to the camp at Gilgal. This specific and repeated action was a direct command from God, designed to precede His miraculous intervention in the city's downfall, emphasizing obedience, patience, and faith over conventional military tactics.

Joshua 6 14 Context

Joshua 6:14 is situated within the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan, specifically detailing the meticulously prescribed divine strategy for taking Jericho. After forty years in the wilderness and a renewed covenant at Gilgal, the Israelites are poised to enter the Promised Land. Jericho, a heavily fortified city, serves as their first formidable obstacle. Verses 1-5 lay out God's unusual plan: a daily circuit by armed men and priests with the Ark, followed by a climactic seven circuits and shout on the seventh day. Verse 14 depicts the faithful execution of the first part of this command, showing Israel's commitment to following God's seemingly illogical but sovereign will. This contrasts sharply with typical ancient Near Eastern siege warfare, where human might and strategic genius were paramount. God's method here is a polemic against the notion that human strength or pagan gods deliver victory, demonstrating instead that it is by His power and through His people's obedience that walls fall and land is inherited.

Joshua 6 14 Word analysis

• And the second day: This precise temporal marker emphasizes the continuity and discipline of the repeated actions, immediately following the initial first day's circuit (Josh 6:11). It shows the adherence to God's set timeline.
• they compassed: From the Hebrew root סבב (savav), meaning "to go around, encircle, turn about." It denotes a deliberate, ordered movement, akin to a solemn procession or ritual circuit rather than a conventional military encirclement for immediate attack. This term underscores the ritualistic and obedient nature of their actions.
• the city: Referring to Jericho (יְרִיחוֹ, yeriykho), the fortified first city to be conquered in Canaan. Its mention reinforces the precise target of God's command.
• once: From the Hebrew פַּעַם אַחַת (pa'am achath), literally "one time" or "one turn." This detail is crucial; it specifies that the daily action was a single circuit, building anticipation for the dramatic final day when multiple circuits would occur. It speaks to precise obedience.
• and returned: From the Hebrew שוב (shuv), "to turn back, return." This highlights the structured routine and discipline. They did not linger or attempt to attack, but strictly adhered to the instruction of withdrawal, emphasizing a period of waiting.
• into the camp: Referring to the Israelite camp at Gilgal, which had recently been sanctified through circumcision and Passover. This returning symbolized their continued dependence on their divinely ordained place, their obedience to the command to reside there, and the clear separation between the holy camp and the doomed city.
• so they did: From the Hebrew כָּכָה עָשׂוּ (kachah asu), meaning "thus they did" or "in this manner they acted." This phrase affirms the complete and consistent execution of God's instructions. It points to faithful adherence without deviation.
• six days: This numerical specification confirms the exact duration of the preliminary phase of the divine plan, setting the stage for the climactic seventh day (Josh 6:15-16) and hinting at the symbolism of the number seven for completeness and divine perfection. It underscores patience and persistence required by God.

Joshua 6 14 Bonus section

The repeated action of encircling and returning, performed in silence (as instructed in Josh 6:10), cultivated a profound atmosphere of reverence and anticipation among the Israelites. This was not a quick assault but a ritualized procession designed to elevate God's presence and power as the sole force behind the impending victory. The "six days" can be seen as mirroring the six days of creation before the climactic seventh day of rest, or as a period of divine preparation leading to a complete, divinely orchestrated work on the seventh day. This also serves as a pedagogical lesson for future generations about how God's chosen people achieve success, not by conventional strength, but by trusting in His peculiar ways. It served as a powerful declaration to the Canaanites that Jericho faced not an ordinary army, but the active presence of a supernatural God who used non-conventional means for judgment.

Joshua 6 14 Commentary

Joshua 6:14 succinctly details the faithful adherence of Israel to God's seemingly nonsensical instructions for conquering Jericho. This daily, silent march was not a military strategy; it was a profound act of spiritual warfare, a testament to passive obedience, active faith, and divine patience. Each circuit around the walls, followed by a retreat to camp, cultivated reliance on God alone. It stripped away any illusion of human military prowess, reminding Israel that their strength came from the Commander of the Lord's army (Josh 5:14-15) and His unique methodology. This methodical repetition for six days built spiritual discipline, tested their endurance, and deepened their anticipation for God's promised victory on the climactic seventh day, ensuring that when the walls fell, all glory would belong to God, not human might. It models the patient, consistent pursuit of God's will, even when the immediate outcome is not apparent.