We are studying through Joshua in our Sunday Bible Study.
Chapter 6 notes:
• In the last chapter we read about the Commander of the Lord's army: it should be considered the beginning of this lesson. Note where the Ark of the Lord is placed during their march around the city.
• The cities of Palestine in this period were not large. Jericho measured c. 225 by 80 meters and its circumference was 600 meters.
• It has already been mentioned a number of times in the book of Joshua that the people of Canaan were melting in fear of the Israelites. Imagine what the inhabitants of Jericho felt during the daily march at the trumpets sound and finally when people shouted and the walls fell down.
• Note the number of sevens in this story. Seven days of circling Jericho; Seven priests carrying seven shofars; going around Jericho Seven days and seven times on the seventh day. And the people are to keep silent. God is in the midst of them,
everything happening is God's work and the people only had a small bit to play.
• The trumpets are called
"shofars" in Hebrew. Shofars were also used in battle like bugles were used in the American military not a musical instrument but as a signaling device. They were usually made from a Ram's horn. Refer to 1 Thessalonians 4:16
• In verse 17 the people are told that everything in the city is to be set aside for the Lord. This is called the law of
herem, an extermination of entire enemy population. Generally warriors would take the vanquished people, their possessions and livestock as war booty. The law of
herem applied special rules. An important part of these special rules makes all war bootee the sole possession of the Lord; the booty become holy property. Holy property cannot be taken and used by Israel’s warriors. Note that the first portion goes to the Lord.
HOMEWORK – Watch YouTube Video –
Jericho Unearthed [LINK]
Rob
