Joshua 6: 8 Commentary

I do Alex. But often that faith comes after a long chain of disobedience and learning the consequences thereof. Samson for example is recorded as having faith, but we all remember his disobedience always seemed to outweigh any faith he had.

As for the priests blowing the trumpets. Scott may be on to something, perhaps with a deep spiritual significance. On the other hand, it may be nothing at all. Who hath known the mind of the Lord? But we have the mind of Christ.

By Jason (wrote 321 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/12/2009 01:58 am

Interesting discussion so for.
The comment on Joshua 6 by the writer of Hebrews is :”By faith the walls of Jericho fell down,after they were compassed about seven days.” Heb.11:30.
Dear Jason,do you accept that faith is connected with obedience?
“…and the priests shall blow the trumpets.”Joshua 6:4.I believe that instruction has been given to Joshua by the Lord that the priests must bear the trumpets & blow with them on all the 13 rounds about Jericho i.e on all the seven days.On the seventh round on the seventh day,the priests had to make a long blast over the ram’s horn.Joshua 6:5.I believe that Joshua & the people of Israel must have obeyed the Lord completely.The writer of Hebrews commended them for their faith.It speaks of their absolute obedience to the Word of God.

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/11/2009 15:08 pm

well, usually disobedience is followed by judgment which didn’t happen to israel this time. (at least I don’t remember God ever correcting them for it.) But good point about eve and the serpent, i’ve heard that too but it is just conjecture.

By Jason W. Elder (wrote 321 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/11/2009 06:03 am

I’ve considered the probability that the command was given (or implied) and just not recorded. But then it occurred to me that this encounter with the Angel of the Lord was an extremely important event in Israel’s history and it seems to me that the command would not have been recorded in a generalized fashion but more likely in specific detail.

When Joshua repeats the command to the priests themselves, he specifically says to bear the trumpets and omits the word “blow”. But NOT for the 7th day. The verse specifically says “blow”.

When Eve tells the serpent that she was commanded not to eat the fruit or even touch the tree, there’s no record indicating that God forbade her from touching the tree. Most commentators say she was putting words in God’s mouth. In other words: lying. Why don’t the commentators just say “God must’ve told her not to even touch the tree, but it just wasn’t recorded”?

What would the take-away be if the priests GOT IT WRONG by not realizing they were only supposed to CARRY the trumpets for the first six days? Would God or Joshua have rebuked the priests at sometime for not paying better attention? Or would the Walls not have fallen down?

IF the priests got it wrong even though Joshua gave the proper command, then we are missing something from this text and I’ve been wondering what it might be.

By Scott (wrote 581 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/11/2009 06:00 am

Blowing the trumpet seems to be a “given” when they went to war.
“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” (Numbers 10:9)

The trumpet was a means of controlling the camp’s movement:
“But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.” (Numbers 10:7)

It was also used to gather the people together:
“Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” (Numbers 10:2)

The Bible is a condensed book. It contains, not “exhaustive” History, but true History nonetheless. Even without the above verses and despite not being recorded, its quite possible that they were “told,” either by Joshua or the captain of the host of the LORD (5:14) to blow the trumpets.

An example of my point can be found in Jonah chapter 1. Jonah’s actual testimony of fleeing from the Lord is not recorded: But “…the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, BECAUSE HE HAD TOLD THEM.” (Jonah 1:10)

By Jason W. Elder (wrote 321 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/9/2009 19:48 pm

Does anyone have an idea why the priests blew the trumpets during the first six days when they were commanded by God and Joshua only to BEAR (carry) the trumpets? Yet, the command for the 7th day seems very specific to “blow the trumpets”.

What’s going on here? Is there a rational explanation?

By Scott (wrote 581 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/9/2009 19:05 pm