Joshua 3
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Joshua 3-4
Notice the baby steps that Joshua and the people made in crossing the Jordan and entering the promise land. A great deal of instruction was given to Joshua and the people each baby-step of the way.
Joshua 3:1–4 (NASB95)
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
One of the most important verses in the Bible related to following the Holy Spirit. Everyone in the Church must follow the Holy Spirit, watching what He is doing.
The ark was a type of Holy Spirit. Don’t leave home without Him!
The priests were carrying the ark on their shoulders, which is exactly what David had never read, or had forgotten, when he had the ark placed in an ox cart and pulled by two oxen. People die when we or others don’t follow the instructions so clearly spelled out in the Bible.
4 “However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
2000 cubits is 300 yards, or three football fields.
Keeping our heart, spirit and eyes on the Holy Spirit, while following at a distance keeps us from committing the sin of presumption.
Psalm 19:13 (NASB95)
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Notice the words, “keep back”. This is exactly what we need to do in following the Holy Spirit into what He has called us to possess. We must be behind Him, in the “back area”, away from the front line that He will clear for us. The Lord does not want us to crowd Him as He advances against the enemy.. This is much easier said than done, but MUST be done in order to avoid disaster, loss and chaos that the enemy will inflict if we move outside the protection of the Lord (cf. Ps 91).
Joshua 3:5 (NASB95)
5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Consecration to the Lord (to set apart or render holy through religious rites), or a fresh rededication to the Lord was necessary to move forward. Notice that the same consecration was required prior to the Lord descending on Mt. Sinai:
Exodus 19:10–11 (NASB95)
10 The LORD also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
The people could not move forward without the step of consecration. The Church wants revival without consecrating themselves, presuming on what they believe to be their right standing with God without the requirements of holiness or obedience (Notice Jos 7:13).
Joshua 3:6 (NASB95)
6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
Pastors and other ministers must take up their responsibility to lead the way by following the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit clears the way for His people to take ground from the enemy. The Spirit moves forward to push back/open the front line of the enemy. Moving ahead of the Spirit, without His direction, will be dangerous if not deadly, and many pastors and churches have already suffered for their disobedient presumption.
Joshua 3:7–8 (NASB95)
7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know (#H3045: yada to know experientially) that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. 8 “You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ”
Before they set out, the Lord commands to Joshua what must be done at the Jordan. The priests are to stand still in the Jordan. Step-by-step, the Lord gave instructions when Joshua and the people needed them, not before. I find this type of life very difficult. It requires faith that is diametrically opposed to how I was raised and lived until well into my 50’s. There is nothing comfortable about it. The fear of not knowing what to do can become maddening if you allow it to do so. But the Lord has not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. The ant prepares ahead of time, but we are not permitted to do so. Why?
Joshua 3:9–13 (NASB95)
9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.” 10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know (#H3045 - yada: experiential knowledge) that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. 11 “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 “Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. 13 “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”
Joshua is speaking revelation that came by the Holy Spirit. This is revelation knowledge, or we could say, a word of knowledge, that would soon be confirmed to all the people. This was important for the Lord to confirm in the hearts of His people that the Lord was indeed with Joshua and would lead them forth in the power and protection of the Lord. What pastors/ministers move in this way today? Few if any, because they have never made it a priority to hear the voice of the Lord!
Notice the repetition of the phrase “Lord of all the earth” in vs. 10, vs. 13 and Rahab’s confession of faith in Jos 2:11
“When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
1). An assurance that the Lord would fulfill His promises to dispossess the inhabitants of the Land.
2). The ark will cross over before you. Which is to say that the Lord is making a clearing for you. God through Him!
3). The people were notified that they could select 12 men, but the reason was not revealed as yet.
4). Revelation knowledge of how things would turn out when they came to the Jordan is clearly spelled out so they would know that the Lord revealed the future and they could be confident in it. They were to understand that the Lord would present a mighty sign to them in that the waters of the Jordan would stand in a heap.
Joshua 3:14–16 (NASB95)
14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho.
vs 16 brings the fulfillment of what the Lord said He would do. Adam was approximately 15-20 miles to the north of the crossing point opposite Jericho.
Joshua 3:17 (NASB95)
17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
Again, the fulfillment of the prophetic word spoken by Joshua. They did cross on the 3rd day, just as Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.
This is similar to the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex 14:15-16). The people crossed on dry ground. It is important to remember that before the crossing, the Lord gave specific directions what Moses was supposed to do, and the Lord outlined His responsibilities. Normally, one wouldn’t want the hearts of our enemies to be hardened to such a degree that we would be chased into the Sea. We would always look for God’s to turn the hearts of the enemy to favor us, but in this case, the Lord had determined to destroy the enemy.
Exodus 14:20 (NASB95)
20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.
This is interesting in that the cloud gave protection from the Sun, but here there was darkness as well.
Thus, the same cloud produced light (a symbol of favor) to the people of God, and darkness (a symbol of wrath) to their enemies (compare
Here the Bible confirms what the Spirit of the Lord has said concerning discriminating between His people and those reserved for judgment; glory and darkness.
2 Corinthians 2:15–16 (NASB95)
15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
Joshua 4:1–8 (NASB95)
1 Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’ ”
The Lord had commanded that 12 men be chosen (without any revelation as to what they would be called to do) in Jos 3:12.
Again, the Lord is giving Joshua precise instructions WITH precise timing. Leaders must have ears to hear and the ability to follow the Spirit!!
1). Call forward the 12 men already chosen; 2). take 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan; 3) Take the stones from where the priests stood on dry ground; 4). Carry them to where you camp on the other side, which ends up being Gilgal (Jos 4:19)
Joshua did not tell the people why they had to choose twelve men, but now it is revealed (Jos 3:12). The Lord simply would not reveal what was coming until the time it was needed to know.
4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 6 “Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” 8 Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there.
12 stone witnesses for future generations to understand and KNOW what the Lord did for His people as He made a way for them to cross over into the land He had promised them.
“Let (or that this may be) this be a sign among you...” - Signs are important! In this case it was a sign for future generations; children would ask, “what do these signs mean to you.” The Church in our day has no such signs to point to that demonstrate the power of God in this generation! Only the remnant who allow the Spirit of God to move among them have signs, wonders and miracles to talk about.” In fact, the Church today has NOTHING to pass down to the next generation! It is the Church at Laodicea, thinking they have everything and have need of nothing, when in fact they are blind, naked, miserable, wretched and poor with regard to the Holy Spirit and His power.
Note the ripple effect. Joshua receives direction from the Lord and the people follow through. Hearing, or not hearing, the voice of the Spirit will always affect others.
Joshua 4:9–11 (NASB95)
9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests who carried the ark were standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the LORD had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. And the people hurried and crossed; 11 and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed before the people.
Joshua takes another 12 stones and stacks them in the middle of the river where the priests stood carrying the ark as the people crossed over. The second of two witnesses of the miraculous power of the Lord wrought on behalf of His people.
A powerful demonstration of faith that speaks to all ministers of the Gospel. We must move forward into the water in the light of what the Lord has given to us. We have a part in the miraculous; He has His.
vs. 10 Notice the ripple of commands from Moses to Joshua were still in effect on this day:
Numbers 27:15–23 (NASB95)
15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, 16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” 18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. 20 “You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. 21 “Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.” 22 Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.
Note that Moses did not presume to know who would lead the congregation after he died. It would have been easy to presume that Joshua would have been the Lord’s choice, but Moses did not.
The Lord formalized Joshua’s call to succeed Moses with the laying on of hands in public.
Joshua was not given his commission until the time of Moses death. Again, this is another example of revelation not coming until the fulness of time. Joshua could have been commissioned weeks beforehand, but it was critical for the people not to be confused as to who was leading.
Moses followed the precise commands of the Lord, having learned the penalty of moving in presumption by striking the rock, when the Lord said he was to speak to it. A very heavy consequence that followed Moses the rest of his ministry (Num 20:12; Deut 1:37; 3:26; 4:21).
Joshua 4:12–14 (NASB95)
12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over in battle array before the sons of Israel, just as Moses had spoken to them; 13 about 40,000 equipped for war, crossed for battle before the LORD to the desert plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; so that they revered him, just as they had revered Moses all the days of his life.
that would be 40,000 in total, based upon the 30,000 that Joshua chose for the second battle at Ai (Jos 8:3). The Lord told him to take all of the warriors to defeat Ai (Jos 8:1). At this point I can only speculate that Joshua allowed 10,000 warriors to stay behind to guard the camp.
The Lord waited 400 years for their to be enough warriors to take the promised land. He knows when we are strong enough to fight.
Joshua 4:15–18 (NASB95)
15 Now the LORD said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests who carry the ark of the testimony that they come up from the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 It came about when the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come up from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks as before.
Once they crossed over and the waters returned to flood its banks as before, there was no going back. They, and we, must keeping following the Lord.
The Lord gives precise commands to His leader. Nothing was left to chance to allow Joshua to presume what to do.
Joshua was learning how to closely follow the Lord.
Joshua 4:19–24 (NASB95)
19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho.
A new year, a new month, a new beginning for Israel.
20 Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.
This is what the Lord commanded Joshua to do in Jos 4:1-9, with the 12 men chosen in Jos 3:12.
21 He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 “For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”
The testimony of that generation who participated in the supernatural crossing of the Jordan and flood stage, was a living witness to the power of God. It was not only a witness to the adults, but for their children, in fact, for the whole earth. The world and the Church are to know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that all may fear the Lord God forever. No wonder there is no fear of God in the Church! There are no signs or wonders!
Joshua 5
Joshua 5:1 (NASB95)
1 Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed {MCB: The Lord can spread the news of His power}, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.
When the power of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in the earth, darkness is defeated and demons are expelled. At present, it is the Church that operates its mouth like a bullhorn, but it has no power against the enemy because it has refused to submit to the Holy Spirit.
Only the Holy Spirit, operating in power through the believer, can take ground from the enemy. Believers are called to follow behind the shield of the Spirit of God as He advances.
When we stay behind the shield of the Holy Spirit, then He can work on our behalf to clear a path for us and wage war against the enemy, stripping them of their confidence and bringing them into confusion.
When hordes of demons realize that Christ is in the midst of obedient believers, he must melt away.
Joshua 5:2–8 (NASB95)
2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” 3 So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth {MCB: Lit foreskin hill}. 4 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way. 8 Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.
Young’s literal translation: Joshua 5:2 (YLT)
2 At that time said Jehovah unto Joshua, ‘Make for thee knives of flint, and turn back, circumcise the sons of Israel a second time;’
This is interesting in that it suggests a repentance, a turning back to the original covenant as set forth in Gen 17:10-14 This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. “And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. “A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. “But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Note the severity of the conditions of the covenant if a male is not circumcised. The Lord brought His people back to the standard of the covenant which He had established. This was a serious breech, so much so that the Bible records that the Lord sought to kill Moses because he had not circumcised his sons (Exodus 4:24–26 (NASB95) 24 Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision.
Clearly, the generation of the sons of Israel who came out of Egypt had not been obedient in the act of circumcision, which is just another demonstration of their disregard for the covenant and the Lord’s laws. Why had Moses been reckless concerning the covenant when he had been threatened by the Lord in that he had not circumcised his son prior to returning to Egypt (Ex 4:24-26)? Having been unfaithful in little, i.e., circumcision and hearing the voice of the Lord, they proved to be unfaithful to the degree that the Lord ultimately cursed them and refused to allow them passage into the Promised Land (Num 14:20-23, 26-38).
Joshua 5:13–15 (NASB95)
13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”
I draw the conclusion that both Jericho and Ai were Amorite cities. As the Lord revealed to Abraham (Gen 15:16) and Joshua’s lament concerning Ai after the army was defeated (Jos 7:6-9).
Joshua does not yet discern who the man is who is prepared for battle. A man does not draw his sword until he is ready to attack.
Joshua would have known that there was no turning back because the waters of the Jordan had come back to flood stage, therefore, Jericho had to be taken (BKC). It seems reasonable that Jericho was the most formidable city in the Promised Land.
Israel had no seige weapons to take Jericho and Joshua has not as yet received instructions as to how to take the city. If they bypassed Jericho, that would leave their families, goods and cattle exposed at Gilgal.
It was time for Joshua to have an encounter with the Lord, which is similar to Moses’ encounter at the burning bush where the Lord spoke to him, in that He commands both to take off their sandals for they are standing on holy ground.
Is this not a warning to all Christians who seek the Lord and desire to have an encounter with Him. Listening to the Lord regarding the small things is paramount for the other challenges ahead that will require the presence of His Holy Spirit and the armies of heaven.
This seems to be a “your not in Kansas any more” awakening for Joshua, and yet he will move in presumption as soon as the people arrive at Ai.
14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
“Are you for us or for our adversaries?”: A reasonable question, which is disregarded after the fashion of Jesus not answering the questions of the disciples from time to time; at least, not in the manner they would have expected. Joshua’s question was irrelevant. The Captain of the Lord of hosts was purposely making Himself known to Joshua for his sake.
Young’s literal translation and the AMP both translate captain as Prince, which they capitalize, meaning that Joshua was meeting Jesus. It should be noted when Daniel encountered the angel he referred to Michael as one of the princes (Dn 10:13, 20, 21. & 12:1) , which in a way explains his response that he was neither for the Israelites or for the Amorites; he had simply come to do the Lord’s work. But, and probably most definitive, is that the Commander told Joshua to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground, which was the same experience Moses had at the burning bush. This, along with the Commander tolerating Joshua bowing down to worship indicates that this was Jesus. No angel throughout the Bible tolerated being worshipped (Rev 19:10; 22:8-9.
New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 2
18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind
How important was it for Joshua to have an encounter with Jesus before the battle with Jericho? Immensely important, for it would confirm to Joshua’s heart that the Lord was with him and the people to take not only Jericho, but all of the promised land.
Joshua knew that Heaven’s commander should have a message, but in this case the encounter was more important than the strategy for taking Jericho, which would come latter starting in Jos 6:2.
Joshua 6:1–2 (NASB95)
1 Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. 2 The LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.
Israel had become a threat when it was reported that they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, which Rahab had heard about: Joshua 2:8–10 (NASB95)8Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. [MCB: Rahab knew a great deal1] 10“For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
No wonder Jericho was shut up! Rahab stated that she knew the Lord had given the land into the sons of Israel, which was a reasonable conclusion given the reports she had heard, but I suspect the Lord had given her revelation of His intentions.
Notice Rahab states that the “terror of you has fallen on us.” This is indeed evidence as to how the Lord carried the news of His exploits and that the Shield of the Spirit of God had gone ahead of Joshua to prepare the way. The Spirit was actively at work demoralizing the enemies of the Lord and the sons of Israel fare in advance of Israel’s arrival.
Joshua 6:3–4 (NASB95)
3 “You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. 4 “Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
The Lord’s command seems clear enough in that the trumpets were to be blown only on the seventh day, but the seven priests blew the trumpets on each day of the first six days (vs 8).
Certainly not the strategy that would enter the mind of man! This was divine revelation that is glossed over by many commentaries. Joshua’s steps were being ordered by the Lord, and as He led Joshua forward, He did so supernaturally.
There was nothing logical regarding the Lord’s command. It appears foolish if not outlandish to the reasoning of the mind. However, the Promised Land would not be taken by reason. It would only be taken by revelation from the Lord and His supernatural power. This is exactly how Jesus operated in that He repeated the fact that He did nothing on His own initiative, but only did what He saw His Father doing. He also stated that His teaching was not His own, but it was His Father’s. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that the Lord would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Eph 1:17) which includes the fact that Jesus is the wisdom and power of God (I Cor 1:24). The fact that He has said that “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside” (I Cor 1:18-25). Paul continues this truth in saying, “And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God” (I Cor 2:4-5), and again in I Cor 4:20, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.”
Therefore, obedience to the revelation and commands that come by the Spirit brings forth supernatural demonstrations of power.
Joshua 6:5 (NASB95)
5 “It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.”
We too will hear the sound of a trumpet when Christ returns! (cf. Rev 8-11; I Cor 15:52; Mt 24:31; I Thess 4:16; Num 10:1-10, Rev 1:10; Joel 2:1; Ps 81:3; Zech 9:14; Isa 27:13; Ex 19:16-19; Heb 12:19)
Note the importance of the trumpets in Numbers 10 and what the Lord revealed to Moses concerning their use when attacking an adversary in the promise land.
Numbers 10:1–10 (NASB95)
1 The LORD spoke further to Moses, saying, 2 “Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out. 3 “When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 4 “Yet if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall assemble before you. 5 “But when you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall set out. 6 “When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are pitched on the south side shall set out; an alarm is to be blown for them to set out. 7 “When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. 8 “The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 “When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. 10 “Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”
Note the visitation of the Lord on Mount Sinai was accompanied with a very loud trumpet sound - Exodus 19:16–19 (NASB95) 16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.
Thunder = the tongues of God
In Acts 2 the first manifestation of the Holy Spirit was a sound from Heaven like a violent rushing wind.
How else would Israel take Jericho if not by the supernatural power of God?! And yet, the Church expects to accomplish the Great Commission without listening to or following the Holy Spirit. This is the great presumptuous sin of the Church that the Lord has spoken about.
Joshua 6:6–9 (NASB95) (06.20.26)
6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.” 7 Then he said to the people, “Go forward, and march around the city, and let the armed men go on before the ark of the LORD.” 8 And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets.
We observe that the Lord works through His people. In this case the priests are carrying a type of the presence of God into battle. The Lord goes before His people into battle, which is the only way it should be. If we do not follow the Lord, then we are moving forward into territory we have no business in. This is the sin of presumption that the Church must avoid at all cost.
This is but part of what the Lord would reveal to Joshua concerning taking the promised land.
Armed warriors guarded the priests in front and behind the procession. Nothing was given to chance so that neither the ark nor the priests would suffer harm. This seems to be a practical and reasonable addition to the commands the Lord gave to Joshua to take Jericho.
Joshua 6:10 (NASB95)
10 But Joshua commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout!”
Joshua was very careful to follow the Lord’s revealed strategy. Note the care that he demonstrates commanding that the people were not to speak at all during their march around Jericho. There is no doubt that all of this would have been an odd spectacle to the inhabitants of Jericho.
How flippant the Church is in following the Lord’s directions today. Pastors take great care in designing services while disregarding the Holy Spirit and His commands.
Joshua 6:11–16 (NASB95)
11 So he had the ark of the LORD taken around the city, circling it once; then they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. 12 Now Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went before them and the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while they continued to blow the trumpets. 14 Thus the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp; they did so for six days. 15 Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times. 16 At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.
Joshua and the people followed the commands of the Lord. How could they not be successful?
Joshua gave the command to “Shout!” and at the same time declared what the Lord had promised in giving them the city. This declaration was made in faith in vss 2-6 according to the word of the Lord.
Joshua 6:17 (NASB95)
17 “The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 6
17. And the city shall be accursed—(See on
The last statement strikes me in that what does the Church today have to point to in their services that would demonstrate that the Holy Spirit moves in power today? The demonstration of the Lord’s anger toward Ananias and Sapphira brought great fear upon the church in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit has made it clear that whatever was devoted to the Lord was His. Ananias and Sapphira had broken a most holy command concerning devoted items (Le 27:28).
Leviticus 27:28 (NASB95)
28 ‘Nevertheless, anything which a man sets apart to the LORD out of all that he has, of man or animal or of the fields of his own property, shall not be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction is most holy to the LORD.
Leviticus 27:32–33 (NASB95) [MCB: Notice the importance and the holiness of the tithe.]
32 ‘For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD. 33 ‘He is not to be concerned whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; or if he does exchange it, then both it and its substitute shall become holy. It shall not be redeemed.’ ”
New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 2764a חֵרֶם (cherem)
2764a. חֵרֶם cherem (356a); from 2763a; devoted thing, devotion, ban:—accursed(2), ban(2), curse(2), devoted(2), devoted to destruction(1), devoted thing(2), set apart(1), something banned(1), things devoted(1), things devoted to destruction(1), things under(10), things under the ban(10), under the ban(3), which is put under(1).
New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 2763a חָרַם (charam)
2763a. חָרַם charam (355c); a prim. root; to ban, devote, exterminate:—annihilate(1), covet(1), destroy them utterly(1), destroy utterly(1), destroyed them utterly(1), destroying(1), destroying them completely(2), destruction(2), devote(2), forfeited(1), set apart(1), sets apart(1), utterly destroy(11), utterly destroyed(22), utterly destroying(3).
The New Bible Commentary 6:1–27 Battle of Jericho
The principle is worked out in the church through excommunication (
This comment sets forth a connection I would not have made. In this day, the Lord is warning of His intention to close temples of idols which portray themselves as churches. Judgment is coming to such places as He cannot and will not allow such assemblies to exist and to continue their deception.
Joshua 6:18–19 (NASB95) (06.18.26 - 06.19.26)
18 “But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it. 19 “But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.”
What type of covetousness abides in the hearts of God’s people and His leaders? In Ex 19:22 outlines the Lord’s warning for the priests in that they were to consecrate themselves, otherwise the Lord would “break out against them.” At this time, the Lord is warning the Church that He will bring judgment to them if they stand against His Spirit and refuse to allow Him to move in and through them in great power so that the world can see God for who He truly is, rather than the powerlessness consistent with rebellious churches and leaders. God’s people are called to be fire hydrants attached to the endless power and resources that flow from the Holy Spirit. Through them, the Lord has always intended to put out the fires of hell destroying people and families. The Devil’s endgame has always been lead souls to hell, and he is doing so because so many Christians allow the Holy Spirit to fight through them.
The Lord has revealed that many of His pastors are nothing but wolves with hearts fixated on the money the Lord’s people give. Should anyone think that they can stand with impunity when they are walking with this type of sin in their hearts? Indeed not!
Joshua assumed that Israel abided by the above terms and warnings concerning the ban. Judgment would be swift if anyone violated the Lord’s commands.
It is interesting that Joshua didn’t take heed of the warning of the ban and check with the Lord concerning their status with Him before going to battle to take Ai. He took it for granted that everything was good and that the people were in compliance - BUT they were not in compliance and the Lord would have told him IF he had gone to the Lord and consulted Him before approving the plan and attack on Ai. This should stand as a warning to all pastors and other ministers who endeavor to lead congregations forward in revival. They and those they are called to minister to must consecrate themselves to the Lord and carefully consider their walks with Him.
Joshua 6:20–21 (NASB95) (06.20.26-
20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city. 21 They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
Joshua 7:1 (NASB95) (06.19.26)
1 But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.
Is this not a severe warning to all leaders that they must have revelation as to what is wrong in the church the Lord has given them responsibility for.
It was the same with Ananias and Sapphira, who attempted to hide money from the Holy Spirit, lying to the Him and the congregation the selling prices of their land. Their deception was to make it appear that they had “given all” when in fact what they gave was only a portion of the selling price. The judgment that fell upon them was swift. It appears from Scripture that at the same time they brought the money, Peter moved in the word of knowledge exposing their plot not only to them, but to the entire congregation. The sin was lying to the Holy Spirit; the sentence was death, as it was for Achan and his entire family. Ananias’ wife was a co-conspirator in the plot and suffered the same fate, in the same suddenness of time as her husband when she lied about the plot to Peter who undoubtedly inquired by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Position within the Church is not to be bought, nor should it be sold, but both have been done in the long history of the Church.
In both instances and separately, the scriptures reveal that a wave of fear fell upon the church as well as others who heard of it (Acts 5:5, 11).
All of this should stand as a grave warning to leaders in the Church who have a love for money. As the Lord comes to cleanse His Church, I have grown in an awareness that such acts of judgment will be repeated in order to restore the fear of the Lord among His people to keep them from sin.
Joshua 7:2–4 (NASB95) (06.19.26)
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.
Neither Moses or Joshua had much success with committees. In the instances where the 12 spies returned with a bad report concerning the promised land and those who scouted Ai, their recommendations did not include revelation from the Lord. If there are to be groups deciding upon various issues before the church, then they must be charged to hear from the Lord and their recommendations are to be tested to see if they are in fact just that. The Church is full of people in leadership who have never heard from the Lord and yet have been entrusted with spiritual decision making concerning the Lord’s house and His work to extend the kingdom. It is precisely because of worldly wisdom that has entered the Church that it has become ineffective in advancing the kingdom of God. When the Lord states that He will destroy the wisdom of the wise (I Cor 1:19), the Church and its leaders should take heed. Grave consequences have come to those who allow their human perspective to run cross-grain to the plans and purposes of God.
The Church’s failure is rooted in following the wisdom of man, rather than receiving revelation from the Spirit of Christ sent to lead the Church. This is intertwined with the Church’s refusal to allow the Spirit of God to move in supernatural power. Where you find one, you find the other: men moving and “operating” God house in the powerlessness of men’s ways. The result is that multitudes know nothing of what it means to abide in the Spirit. They are cut off from the Spirit of life and have become withered branches worthy of burning because they are useless, foolish virgins doomed for judgment (Jn 15).
Notice that the Lord had not revealed that He had given Ai into Joshua’s hands until after the Achan incident was corrected. With Jericho, the Lord revealed to Joshua that He had given that city, the king and his warriors into his hands (Joshua 6:1-2). Note: Sounds like something to remember concerning any church we are sent to. Unless the Lord has given a church into our hands, we dare not go! These churches are fortified bastions of hell and are not to be trifled with. The sin of presumption will be dangerous, if not deadly at any church where a minister’s intention is to do His will without His plan.
We must hear the words of the Lord as to 1) whether He has given the church and its pastor into our hands, and 2) and what His strategy is for taking the church. We dare not go there blind as to how we are to uproot both the darkness and the rebellious hearts.
Joshua’s committee didn’t have revelation from the Lord as to what His strategy was. The Bible doesn’t record Joshua seeking the Lord. So, Joshua and the spies are running blind without revelation. Better to have alignment with the Lord squared away before going into battle! Assume nothing about yourself, those around you or a pastor, or the leaders around him, nor the church he pastors!
Rule #1: Assume nothing when you approach for battle!
Making decisions based upon “what you see” is a flawed approach for ministry. Revelation from the Holy Spirit is required.
The committee made their recommendations based upon past battles and the victory at Jericho. How did they come up with 2000-3000 were all that was needed and then sent 3000 warriors? They were moving in presumption based on perceived facts to war against an enemy they knew nothing about. They didn’t have a clue what they were getting into.
You can get all the information there is and still not have a clue as to how to approach a problem or get victory of the enemy.
It only took one person to bring a curse on an entire nation. But was it only one person? No, it was Joshua, and the spies who were at fault as well! They never even considered the warning that the Lord had given them. Was it because they didn’t take the warning seriously? I think there is a high probability that was the case. So Israel was thinking they were holy, but the Lord’s anger was burning against them.
Getting the blessings to flow again takes intentional and corrective action...and no doubt, time; just like unclogging a sewer pipe. It takes heavy equipment, rather pouring in a little Drano!
The human mind loves to operate in presumption rather than revelation.
Opening Up Joshua The Lord’s Explanation of the Defeat (vv. 1, 10–12)
God had also made something else plain before the people made their final, dramatic marches around Jericho: if anyone violated God’s command about the spoils he would bring calamity, not just upon that person, but upon the whole nation (6:18). The whole nation was to be held responsible for the disobedience of any individuals.
Joshua 7:5–9 (NASB95)
5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. 7 Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 “O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? 9 “For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”
To any church leader, this would be disaster. Not only did 36 men perish, but the hearts of the people fell into fear. This was exactly what Joshua didn’t need.
Joshua had never seen this type of defeat by the hands of their enemies, even when he lead the army under Moses. But now, he had to learn that victory came with a price: to wait for revelation and move in obedience presuming nothing. The sin of presumption had caught up with Moses when he struck the rock, rather than speaking to it, and was immediately judged. If the mistake of not inquiring from the Lord had happened with Jericho, the results could have been catastrophic and could have resulted in the end of his leading Israel.
Joshua 8 - Corrections for Victory
Joshua 8:1 (NASB95)
1 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
The breach that had been caused by Achan had now been dealt with and the Lord was again a in their midst He would give them success again. Joshua must have had some misgivings of having another failure at Ai or some other city. Judgment causes someone to be extra-careful, where they had been careless before.
The Lord encouraged Joshua again not to fear or be dismayed as He had in Joshua 1:6–9 (NASB95) 3 times; 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Notice that it is only here that the Lord reveals to Joshua that He had given the king of Ai, his people, his city and lands into his hands. How was it that Joshua never inquired of the Lord how to defeat Ai, nor wait for the Lord to reveal that the city had been turned over to him before he sent 3000 warriors who were defeated?
