Commentari biblici

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

Now Jericho was strictly shut up. — Claudens, et clausa erat: but there is no power or policy against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30 The "Captain of God’s hosts" was before the city, and therefore ευαλωτος η πολις , - as he told Phocas, - the town was soon taken.

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And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, [and] the mighty men of valour.

And the Lord said. — The man Christ Jesus, Joshua 5:13 that man of war. Exodus 15:3 "Jehovah is his name": "Jehovah, mighty in battle," Psalms 24:8 whose "weakness is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:25

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And ye shall compass the city, all [ye] men of war, [and] go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

And ye shall compass the city. — At a just distance, no doubt, that ye may be extra iactum. See 2 Samuel 11:20-21 .

Thus shalt thou do six days. — All which time God held them in request: and exercised their faith and patience.

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And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Seven trumpets of rams’ horns. — God usually goeth a way by himself, and worketh his will by such means as the world judgeth absurd and ridiculous.

And the seventh day. — Which, probably, was the Sabbath day, wherein, "by the foolishness of preaching," God still overturneth the strongholds of Satan, 2 Corinthians 10:4 by the priests blowing with their trumpets.

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And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [blast] with the ram’s horn, [and] when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

When they make a long blast. — Importing the triumph of their trust, the victory of faith: for it was by faith that these walls fell. Hebrews 11:30

And the wall of the city shall fall down flat. — Corruet subtus se, that is, absorbebitur a terra, saith Vatablus, it shall be swallowed up of the earth.

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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.

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests. — He yielded prompt and present obedience, ready and speedy, without shucking or hucking, without delays and consults; leaving us herein an excellent precedent.

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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.

And let him that is armed. — Those two tribes and a half especially. Joshua 1:14 ; Joshua 4:12-13

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And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

And the ark of the covenant. — Called also the ark of the testimony. Joshua 4:16 Exodus 25:16

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