Joshua 6 6

Joshua 6:6 kjv

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 the LORD.

Joshua 6:6 nkjv

Then 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."

Joshua 6:6 niv

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."

Joshua 6:6 esv

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."

Joshua 6:6 nlt

So Joshua called together the priests and said, "Take up the Ark of the LORD's Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram's horn."

Joshua 6 verses

Joshua 6 6 Meaning

Joshua 6:6 describes Joshua's directive to the priests as they prepared for the unconventional assault on Jericho. It initiates the specific actions commanded by God: the Ark of the Covenant, representing the divine presence and covenant promise, was to be carried by the priests, preceded by a specialized group of seven priests sounding trumpets made of rams' horns. This command underscored the spiritual nature of the coming victory, emphasizing obedience, faith, and the unique involvement of God in overcoming formidable obstacles. The instructions highlight that the battle was not to be won by human might or military strategy but by divine intervention orchestrated through an act of ritual obedience.

Joshua 6 6 Context

Joshua 6:6 is part of the narrative detailing the fall of Jericho, the first major city encountered by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River and entering Canaan. The immediate context of chapter 6 begins with the Lord giving Joshua precise, unconventional instructions for the city's conquest. God emphasizes that He has "delivered Jericho into your hands," signaling that the victory is divinely ordained, not achieved through human military might. Verse 6 directly implements these divine commands, with Joshua relaying the specific tasks to the priests concerning the Ark of the Covenant and the rams' horn trumpets. Historically, Jericho was a heavily fortified city, posing a formidable challenge. The unique battle plan circumvented traditional siege warfare, instead demonstrating God's supernatural power and requiring absolute faith and obedience from His people. This event served as a foundational lesson for Israel on the nature of their conquest—that God Himself fought their battles and brought victory when they acted in complete alignment with His will. The broader context in the book of Joshua establishes Joshua's leadership after Moses, the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to give Israel the land, and the demonstration of God's faithfulness and Israel's required obedience in possessing the land.

Joshua 6 6 Word analysis

• Then Joshua son of Nun (וַיִּקְרָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן, wayyiqra’ Yehoshua‘ bin-Nun):

  • Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua’): Means "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." Moses' successor, known for his faith and leadership in leading Israel into the Promised Land. His name connects directly to the nature of this battle—salvation comes from God.
  • Nun (נוּן, Nun): Joshua's father, serving as identification and legitimacy.

• called the priests (אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים, ’el-hakkohenim):

  • Called (וַיִּקְרָא, wayyiqra’): Indicating a formal summons or authoritative instruction, showing Joshua's role as God's mediator to the people.
  • Priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים, hakkohenim): The hereditary line of Aaron, chosen by God to minister in sacred things. Their role in this battle highlights its spiritual and holy nature, differentiating it from typical warfare. They were to be the carriers of the most sacred items.

• and said to them (וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם, wayyo’mer ’alehem): Joshua communicating God's direct instructions from verses 2-5.

• Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord (שְׂאוּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית יְהוָה, s'u ’et-’aron habb'rit Yehovah):

  • Take up (שְׂאוּ, s'u): Imperative command to lift and carry, indicating a specific action required for their ritual procession.
  • Ark of the covenant (אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית, ’aron habb'rit): The most sacred object to Israel, representing God's throne and His direct presence among His people. It contained the Ten Commandments, symbolizing the terms of God's covenant with Israel. Its central role emphasizes that God Himself was leading the charge, not Israel's army. This positioning defied military logic, signifying divine power.
  • of the Lord (יְהוָה, Yehovah): The divine, personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His power being at work.

• and let seven priests carry (וְשִׁבְעָה כֹּהֲנִים יִשְׂאוּ, w'shiv'ah kohenim yis’u):

  • Seven (שִׁבְעָה, shiv'ah): A number repeatedly significant in the Bible, representing completeness, perfection, divine action, or covenant fulfillment (e.g., seven days of creation, seven-day march, seven trumpets, seven priests). It underscores the divinely orchestrated, perfect plan.
  • Priests (כֹּהֲנִים, kohenim): Again highlighting their specific, sacred role, indicating a religious and spiritual event more than a military one.

• trumpets of rams' horns (שֹׁפְרוֹת הַיּוֹבְלִים, shof'rot hayyovlim):

  • Trumpets (שֹׁפְרוֹת, shof'rot): Refers to shofars, ceremonial instruments made from animal horns. They were used for various sacred purposes: signaling alarms (Jer 4:5), gathering assemblies (Num 10:2), celebrating feasts (Lev 23:24), proclaiming freedom in the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:9), and announcing divine judgment or presence (Exod 19:16). Their use here connects the battle to a sacred, God-ordained event, not just military signaling.
  • Rams' horns (הַיּוֹבְלִים, hayyovlim): Specifically made from rams' horns. The Hebrew root yoval is associated with "Jubilee," a year of release and liberty proclaimed by the shofar's sound. This adds a layer of symbolism: liberation and a new beginning in the Promised Land were being announced, not just military advance.

• before the ark of the Lord (לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן יְהוָה, lifnei ’aron Yehovah):

  • Before (לִפְנֵי, lifnei): Indicates their position leading the Ark, a place of honor and direct procession, showing their integral role in proclaiming the advance of God's presence.

Joshua 6 6 Bonus section

The instructions given in Joshua 6:6 were entirely unorthodox from a military standpoint, purposefully designed to show that the victory belonged to the Lord. Jericho's massive walls, often thought to be impenetrable (archaeological evidence supports a significant fortification system), demanded an unusual divine solution. The constant silent marching for six days followed by the ritual sounds on the seventh day would have been psychologically disarming and bewildering for the Jerichoites. The sound of the shofar (ram's horn) was a distinct, primal blast, very different from the battle trumpets (chatzozerot) typically used by the Israelite army for military signals (e.g., Num 10:9). Its use here signals a spiritual conflict and a divine proclamation, rather than a tactical military maneuver. This emphasis on religious symbols (Ark) and spiritual instruments (shofars) performing the "assault" highlights that God, not Israel, was doing the fighting, demonstrating that human strength and strategy are insufficient without divine blessing and power. It also serves as a strong polemic against the idol-worshipping peoples of Canaan who relied on their own gods and defenses.

Joshua 6 6 Commentary

Joshua 6:6 initiates the fulfillment of God's unique plan for Jericho's fall, stressing profound theological truths rather than conventional warfare. Joshua's immediate and precise execution of divine instruction (communicating to the priests their specific duties with the Ark and shofars) showcases faithful leadership. The Ark of the Covenant, central to the procession, powerfully symbolized God's presence, covenant faithfulness, and the active role He took in the battle. The fact that priests, not soldiers, carried the Ark and sounded the shofars underscored the sacred nature of the conquest; this was a holy war led by divine power. The selection of seven priests and seven rams' horn trumpets carried significant symbolic weight, representing divine completeness and perfection at play in the dismantling of human fortifications. Unlike silver trumpets used for general signaling or battle cries, the rams' horns (shofars) carried strong religious connotations of announcing divine decrees, a call to repentance, or the inauguration of a new era. This unusual marching order meant the victory was secured by God's command and Israel's faithful, obedient action, not their military might. The true "weapon" against Jericho's walls was the invisible presence of the Almighty, made visible through the Ark and audible through the priests' sacred trumpets, all operating in perfect obedience to God's precise and counter-intuitive command.