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Selected Verse: Joshua 6:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Jos 6:1	Strong Concordance	Now Jericho [03405] was straitly [05462] shut up [05462] because [06440] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: none went out [03318], and none came in [0935].
	King James	Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
JERICHO SHUT UP. (Jos 6:1-7) Now Jericho was straitly shut up--This verse is a parenthesis introduced to prepare the way for the directions given by the Captain of the Lord's host.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

JERICHO SHUT UP. (Jos 6:1-7)

Now Jericho was straitly shut up--This verse is a parenthesis introduced to prepare the way for the directions given by the Captain of the Lord's host.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
This verse is strictly parenthetical. It is inserted to explain the declaration commenced Jos 5:14, and interrupted by Joshua's question and obeisance Jos 5:14-15, but resumed in Jos 6:2. Straitly shut up - See the margin, i. e., not only shut, but barred and bolted.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
When Joshua had taken off his shoes, the prince of the army of God made known to him the object of his coming (Jos 6:2-5). But before relating the message, the historian first of all inserts a remark concerning the town of Jericho, in the form of an explanatory clause, for the purpose of showing the precise meaning of the declaration which follows. (Note: If there is any place in which the division of chapters is unsuitable, it is so here; for the appearance of the prince of the angels does not terminate with Jos 5:15, but what he had come to communicate follows in Jos 6:2-5, and Jos 6:1 merely contains an explanatory clause inserted before his message, which serves to throw light upon the situation (vid., Ewald, 341). If we regard the account of the appearance of the angel as terminating with Jos 5:15, as Knobel and other commentators have done, we must of necessity assume either that the account has come down to us in a mutilated form, or that the appearance ceased without any commission being given. The one is as incredible as the other. The latter especially is without analogy; for the appearance in Act 10:9., which O. v. Gerlach cites as similar, contains a very distinct explanation in Act 10:13-16.) This meaning is to be found not merely in the fact that the Lord was about to give Jericho into the hands of the Israelites, but chiefly in the fact that the town which He was about to give into their hands was so strongly fortified. Jos 6:1 "Jericho was shutting its gates (vid., Jdg 9:51), and closely shut." The participles express the permanence of the situation, and the combination of the active and passive in the emphatic form מסגּרת (lxx συγκεκλεισμένη καὶ ὠχυρωμένη; Vulg. clausa erat atque munita) serves to strengthen the idea, to which still further emphasis is given by the clause, "no one was going out and in," i.e., so firmly shut that no one could get out or in. Jos 6:2-5 "And the Lord said to Joshua:" this is the sequel to Jos 5:15, as Jos 6:1 is merely a parenthesis and Jehovah is the prince of the army of Jehovah (Jos 5:14), or the angel of Jehovah, who is frequently identified with Jehovah (see Pentateuch, pp. 106ff.). "See, I have given into thy hand Jericho and its king, and the mighty men of valour." ("Have given," referring to the purpose of God, which was already resolved upon, though the fulfilment was still in the future.) "The mighty men of valour" (brave warriors) is in apposition to Jericho, regarded as a community, and its king. In Jos 6:3-5 there follows an explanation of the way in which the Lord would give Jericho into the hand of Joshua. All the Israelitish men of war were to go round the town once a day for six days. אחת פּעם ... הקּיף, "going round about the city once," serves as a fuller explanation of סבּותם ("ye shall compass"). As they marched in this manner round the city, seven priests were to carry seven jubilee trumpets before the ark, which implies that the ark itself was to be carried round the city in solemn procession. But on the seventh day they were to march round the town seven times, and the priests to blow the trumpets; and when there was a blast with the jubilee horn, and the people on hearing the sound of the trumpet raised a great cry, the wall of the town should fall down "under itself." The "jubilee trumpets" (Eng. Ver. "trumpets of rams' horns") are the same as the "jubilee horn" (Eng. Ver. "rams' horn") in Jos 6:5, for which the abbreviated form shophar (trumpet, Jos 6:5; cf. Exo 19:16) or jobel (jubilee: Exo 19:13) is used. They were not the silver trumpets of the priests (Num 10:1.), but large horns, or instruments in the shape of a horn, which gave a loud far-sounding tone (see at Lev 23:24; Lev 25:11). For בש תּקע, blow the trumpet (lit. strike the trumpet), in Jos 6:4, בּקּרן משׁך, draw with the horn, i.e., blow the horn with long-drawn notes, is used in Jos 6:5 (see at Exo 19:13). The people were then to go up, i.e., press into the town over the fallen wall; "every one straight before him," i.e., every one was to go straight into the town without looking round at his neighbour either on the right hand or on the left (vid., Jos 6:20).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

When Joshua had taken off his shoes, the prince of the army of God made known to him the object of his coming (Jos 6:2-5). But before relating the message, the historian first of all inserts a remark concerning the town of Jericho, in the form of an explanatory clause, for the purpose of showing the precise meaning of the declaration which follows.

(Note: If there is any place in which the division of chapters is unsuitable, it is so here; for the appearance of the prince of the angels does not terminate with Jos 5:15, but what he had come to communicate follows in Jos 6:2-5, and Jos 6:1 merely contains an explanatory clause inserted before his message, which serves to throw light upon the situation (vid., Ewald, 341). If we regard the account of the appearance of the angel as terminating with Jos 5:15, as Knobel and other commentators have done, we must of necessity assume either that the account has come down to us in a mutilated form, or that the appearance ceased without any commission being given. The one is as incredible as the other. The latter especially is without analogy; for the appearance in Act 10:9., which O. v. Gerlach cites as similar, contains a very distinct explanation in Act 10:13-16.)

This meaning is to be found not merely in the fact that the Lord was about to give Jericho into the hands of the Israelites, but chiefly in the fact that the town which He was about to give into their hands was so strongly fortified.

Jos 6:1

"Jericho was shutting its gates (vid., Jdg 9:51), and closely shut." The participles express the permanence of the situation, and the combination of the active and passive in the emphatic form מסגּרת (lxx συγκεκλεισμένη καὶ ὠχυρωμένη; Vulg. clausa erat atque munita) serves to strengthen the idea, to which still further emphasis is given by the clause, "no one was going out and in," i.e., so firmly shut that no one could get out or in.

Jos 6:2-5

"And the Lord said to Joshua:" this is the sequel to Jos 5:15, as Jos 6:1 is merely a parenthesis and Jehovah is the prince of the army of Jehovah (Jos 5:14), or the angel of Jehovah, who is frequently identified with Jehovah (see Pentateuch, pp. 106ff.). "See, I have given into thy hand Jericho and its king, and the mighty men of valour." ("Have given," referring to the purpose of God, which was already resolved upon, though the fulfilment was still in the future.) "The mighty men of valour" (brave warriors) is in apposition to Jericho, regarded as a community, and its king. In Jos 6:3-5 there follows an explanation of the way in which the Lord would give Jericho into the hand of Joshua. All the Israelitish men of war were to go round the town once a day for six days. אחת פּעם ... הקּיף, "going round about the city once," serves as a fuller explanation of סבּותם ("ye shall compass"). As they marched in this manner round the city, seven priests were to carry seven jubilee trumpets before the ark, which implies that the ark itself was to be carried round the city in solemn procession. But on the seventh day they were to march round the town seven times, and the priests to blow the trumpets; and when there was a blast with the jubilee horn, and the people on hearing the sound of the trumpet raised a great cry, the wall of the town should fall down "under itself." The "jubilee trumpets" (Eng. Ver. "trumpets of rams' horns") are the same as the "jubilee horn" (Eng. Ver. "rams' horn") in Jos 6:5, for which the abbreviated form shophar (trumpet, Jos 6:5; cf. Exo 19:16) or jobel (jubilee: Exo 19:13) is used. They were not the silver trumpets of the priests (Num 10:1.), but large horns, or instruments in the shape of a horn, which gave a loud far-sounding tone (see at Lev 23:24; Lev 25:11). For בש תּקע, blow the trumpet (lit. strike the trumpet), in Jos 6:4, בּקּרן משׁך, draw with the horn, i.e., blow the horn with long-drawn notes, is used in Jos 6:5 (see at Exo 19:13). The people were then to go up, i.e., press into the town over the fallen wall; "every one straight before him," i.e., every one was to go straight into the town without looking round at his neighbour either on the right hand or on the left (vid., Jos 6:20).

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Now Jericho was straitly shut up - The king of Jericho, finding that the spies had escaped, though the city was always kept shut by night, took the most proper precaution to prevent every thing of the kind in future, by keeping the city shut both day and night, having, no doubt, laid in a sufficiency of provisions to stand a siege, being determined to defend himself to the uttermost.

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¹ Now Jericho [03405] was straitly [05462] shut up [05462] because [06440] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: none went out [03318], and none came in [0935].
² And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Joshua [03091], See [07200], I have given [05414] into thine hand [03027] Jericho [03405], and the king [04428] thereof, and the mighty men [01368] of valour [02428].
³ And ye shall compass [05437] the city [05892], all ye men [0582] of war [04421], and go round about [05362] the city [05892] once [06471] [0259]. Thus shalt thou do [06213] six [08337] days [03117].
⁴ And seven [07651] priests [03548] shall bear [05375] before [06440] the ark [0727] seven [07651] trumpets [07782] of rams' horns [03104]: and the seventh [07637] day [03117] ye shall compass [05437] the city [05892] seven [07651] times [06471], and the priests [03548] shall blow [08628] with the trumpets [07782].
⁵ And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [04900] blast with the ram's [03104] horn [07161], and when ye hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], all the people [05971] shall shout [07321] with a great [01419] shout [08643]; and the wall [02346] of the city [05892] shall fall down [05307] flat [08478], and the people [05971] shall ascend up [05927] every man [0376] straight before him.
⁶ And Joshua [03091] the son [01121] of Nun [05126] called [07121] the priests [03548], and said [0559] unto them, Take up [05375] the ark [0727] of the covenant [01285], and let seven [07651] priests [03548] bear [05375] seven [07651] trumpets [07782] of rams' horns [03104] before [06440] the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068].
⁷ And he said [0559] unto the people [05971], Pass on [05674], and compass [05437] the city [05892], and let him that is armed [02502] pass on [05674] before [06440] the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068].

¹⁴ And he said [0559], Nay; but as captain [08269] of the host [06635] of the LORD [03068] am I now come [0935]. And Joshua [03091] fell [05307] on his face [06440] to the earth [0776], and did worship [07812], and said [0559] unto him, What saith [01696] my lord [0113] unto his servant [05650]?
¹⁵ And the captain [08269] of the LORD'S [03068] host [06635] said [0559] unto Joshua [03091], Loose [05394] thy shoe [05275] from off thy foot [07272]; for the place [04725] whereon thou standest [05975] is holy [06944]. And Joshua [03091] did [06213] so.

²⁰ So the people [05971] shouted [07321] when the priests blew [08628] with the trumpets [07782]: and it came to pass, when the people [05971] heard [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], and the people [05971] shouted [07321] with a great [01419] shout [08643], that the wall [02346] fell down flat [05307], so that the people [05971] went up [05927] into the city [05892], every man [0376] straight before him, and they took [03920] the city [05892].

¹³ There shall not an hand [03027] touch [05060] it, but he shall surely [05619] be stoned [05619], or [0176] shot [03384] through [03384]; whether it be beast [0929] or [0518] man [0376], it shall not live [02421]: when the trumpet [03104] soundeth long [04900], they shall come up [05927] to the mount [02022].

⁵ And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [04900] blast with the ram's [03104] horn [07161], and when ye hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], all the people [05971] shall shout [07321] with a great [01419] shout [08643]; and the wall [02346] of the city [05892] shall fall down [05307] flat [08478], and the people [05971] shall ascend up [05927] every man [0376] straight before him.

⁴ And seven [07651] priests [03548] shall bear [05375] before [06440] the ark [0727] seven [07651] trumpets [07782] of rams' horns [03104]: and the seventh [07637] day [03117] ye shall compass [05437] the city [05892] seven [07651] times [06471], and the priests [03548] shall blow [08628] with the trumpets [07782].

¹¹ A jubile [03104] shall that fiftieth [02572] [08141] year [08141] be unto you: ye shall not sow [02232], neither reap [07114] that which groweth [05599] of itself in it, nor gather [01219] the grapes in it of thy vine undressed [05139].

²⁴ Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], saying [0559], In the seventh [07637] month [02320], in the first [0259] day of the month [02320], shall ye have a sabbath [07677], a memorial [02146] of blowing [08643] of trumpets, an holy [06944] convocation [04744].

¹ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],

¹⁶ And it came to pass on the third [07992] day [03117] in the morning [01242], that there were thunders [06963] and lightnings [01300], and a thick [03515] cloud [06051] upon the mount [02022], and the voice [06963] of the trumpet [07782] exceeding [03966] loud [02389]; so that all the people [05971] that was in the camp [04264] trembled [02729].

³ And ye shall compass [05437] the city [05892], all ye men [0582] of war [04421], and go round about [05362] the city [05892] once [06471] [0259]. Thus shalt thou do [06213] six [08337] days [03117].
⁴ And seven [07651] priests [03548] shall bear [05375] before [06440] the ark [0727] seven [07651] trumpets [07782] of rams' horns [03104]: and the seventh [07637] day [03117] ye shall compass [05437] the city [05892] seven [07651] times [06471], and the priests [03548] shall blow [08628] with the trumpets [07782].
⁵ And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [04900] blast with the ram's [03104] horn [07161], and when ye hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], all the people [05971] shall shout [07321] with a great [01419] shout [08643]; and the wall [02346] of the city [05892] shall fall down [05307] flat [08478], and the people [05971] shall ascend up [05927] every man [0376] straight before him.

¹ Now Jericho [03405] was straitly [05462] shut up [05462] because [06440] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: none went out [03318], and none came in [0935].

¹⁵ And the captain [08269] of the LORD'S [03068] host [06635] said [0559] unto Joshua [03091], Loose [05394] thy shoe [05275] from off thy foot [07272]; for the place [04725] whereon thou standest [05975] is holy [06944]. And Joshua [03091] did [06213] so.

² And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Joshua [03091], See [07200], I have given [05414] into thine hand [03027] Jericho [03405], and the king [04428] thereof, and the mighty men [01368] of valour [02428].
³ And ye shall compass [05437] the city [05892], all ye men [0582] of war [04421], and go round about [05362] the city [05892] once [06471] [0259]. Thus shalt thou do [06213] six [08337] days [03117].
⁴ And seven [07651] priests [03548] shall bear [05375] before [06440] the ark [0727] seven [07651] trumpets [07782] of rams' horns [03104]: and the seventh [07637] day [03117] ye shall compass [05437] the city [05892] seven [07651] times [06471], and the priests [03548] shall blow [08628] with the trumpets [07782].
⁵ And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [04900] blast with the ram's [03104] horn [07161], and when ye hear [08085] the sound [06963] of the trumpet [07782], all the people [05971] shall shout [07321] with a great [01419] shout [08643]; and the wall [02346] of the city [05892] shall fall down [05307] flat [08478], and the people [05971] shall ascend up [05927] every man [0376] straight before him.

⁵¹ But there was a strong [05797] tower [04026] within [08432] the city [05892], and thither fled [05127] all the men [0582] and women [0802], and all they [01167] of the city [05892], and shut [05462] it to them, and gat them up [05927] to the top [01406] of the tower [04026].

¹ Now Jericho [03405] was straitly [05462] shut up [05462] because [06440] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: none went out [03318], and none came in [0935].

¹³ And [2532] there came [1096] a voice [5456] to [4314] him [846], Rise [450], Peter [4074]; kill [2380], and [2532] eat [5315].
¹⁴ But [1161] Peter [4074] said [2036], Not so [3365], Lord [2962]; for [3754] I have [5315] never [3763] eaten [5315] any thing [3956] that is common [2839] or [2228] unclean [169].
¹⁵ And [2532] the voice [5456] spake unto [4314] him [846] again [3825] [1537] the second time [1208], What [3739] God [2316] hath cleansed [2511], that call [2840] not [3361] thou [4771] common [2840].
¹⁶ [1161] This [5124] was done [1096] thrice [1909] [5151]: and [2532] the vessel [4632] was received up [353] again [3825] into [1519] heaven [3772].

⁹ [1161] On the morrow [1887], as they [1565] went on their journey [3596], and [2532] drew nigh [1448] unto the city [4172], Peter [4074] went up [305] upon [1909] the housetop [1430] to pray [4336] about [4012] the sixth [1623] hour [5610]:

¹ Now Jericho [03405] was straitly [05462] shut up [05462] because [06440] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: none went out [03318], and none came in [0935].