Shame rolled away
Josh 5:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
The kings were rightfully frightened. They served idols, fallen spirits. Even the devil trembles at the presence of the Lord.
Josh 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
This was the token of the old covenant. An outward sign of a heart, and a people separated unto God.
Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Deu 30:7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
Josh 5:3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
Josh 5:4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
Josh 5:5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
Josh 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
The older generation kept this covenant, now the new generation were required to follow God's command in the old covenant law. This is not a requirement in the new testament. The new testament sign is water baptism.
Josh 5:7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
Josh 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
Remember the tribe of Simeon, who tricked the Caananites into being circumcised so they could marry the daughters of Israel? When they were sore the Hebrews slew the men, for they were unable to fight back. (Gen 34)
Joshua's men faced the enemy at Jericho, completely vulnerable. But their strength and our strength was trusting in God.
Josh 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
Gilgal, means a rolling away. Those who were once slaves and the sons of slaves, had their shame and scorn rolled away. In Jesus our sins and reproaches are taken from us. At the rolling away of the grave stone we were made free.
No more Manna
Josh 5:10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
The Passover was to remember God's deliverance in Egypt. The death angel passed over the homes who had the blood of the lamb around the doors. The lamb of God would come, Jesus is the Lamb and savior of his people. Gilgal was a place of memorials, the passover service was held there and the memorial stones were reminders of the River crossing. This was their home base, a place of miracles and remembrances. We all have memorial places, and perhaps some are no longer there, but there is one everlasting memorial, the presence of Jesus in our hearts.
Josh 5:11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
New food from the promise land. For forty years they were fed by the manna from heaven, now they were tasting food from the new land.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Josh 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
They were learning to obey God. Now God was showing them the harvest of their trust. They were given more in the promise land. No longer manna, but the abundance of the land.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
We have abundance in this land, but let us also thank him and seek an abundance of his Spirit and his word. We cannot be satified only with the needs of the flesh. The Spiritual life is everlasting, we must grow and feed the Spirit and be a blessing. The Spirit is hungry for the word. He will show you all truth.
Captain of the Hosts
Josh 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
A man, looking like a man of war, with sword drawn, a stranger as Joshua approached Jericho. Are you for us or against us?
Josh 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
Are you for us or against us, no, as the captain of the host of the LORD, the angels, am I come. Who is captain of the hosts? Either a head angel, such as Michael, or God himself in human form. Joshua falls down in submission and did worship. asking what was required of him?
Josh 5:15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
This was said to Moses, from the voice of God wthin the burning bush.
Exo 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
Exo 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Exodus, speaks of an angel coming to guide them into the promise land.
Exo 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Exo 23:21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
Angels were not to be worshipped, but this angel had God's name in him. Perhaps God the Word spoke through the angel? Angels have been described as looking like men, never women. The man who Joshua worshipped, said for him to remove his shoes, he did not stop him from worshipping. It was holy ground, God's presence was there. This was God's voice from this man. Many have said that this was the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal living word, come before his time to be. One thing we know, the man was recognized as superior and a guide to Joshua and all Israel. He would show them how to conquer Jericho.
The Sovereign, the General, the Captain, the Prince of the armies of Jehovah appeared here with a drawn sword. What does this mean? It means that the war Joshua was then engaged in was NOT Joshua's war, it was GOD's war! The Almighty God, completely disgusted at last with the unprecedented wickedness of the peoples of Canaan, was at that moment determined to destroy them. (Coffman)
Jericho
Josh 6:1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
Jericho was shut up, as a turtle withdrawing within it's protective shell, they withdrew behind their massive walls.
Jericho was a key city facing the Jordan River. It was in a tropical climate with many date palms. The site had a 12-15 foot retaining wall, 6 foot wide and on this was a mud brick wall making a height of about forty feet.
Josh 6:2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
The LORD had spoken, probably by the Captain of the hosts. Jericho and it's king are given to you.
Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Josh 6:3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
Josh 6:4 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.
The ASV and many other recent versions have mistranslated the words here given as "rams' horns." "There is no mention of rams' horns in the original Hebrew."The horns used were the jubilee trumpets, long metal devices that were also used in the Feast of Trumpets. "The word from which trumpets comes here means loud trumpets or trumpets of jubilee, and is the same word found in Lev. 25:9." (Coffman)
Josh 6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, (jubile) 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.
As often happens, the LORD gave detailed instructions, that would be useless without obedience. See how important it is not to be a hearer only, but a doer of God's word?
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Josh 6:6 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 (jubile) before the ark of the LORD.
Seven is first mentioned in Genesis, as the completion. It stands for God's perfection.
Josh 6:7 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.
Josh 6:8 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.
The seven priests led the procession, blowing the jubilee trumpets all the while, followed by the ark of the covenant. The trumpets shall precede the coming of the Lord Jesus. His angels shall destroy every stronghold of the devil.
Josh 6:9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
Josh 6:10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
Lots of sound from the trumpets, the praises lifted to God, but no voice was to make a sound, until he gave the order to shout. Perhaps this was done because Joshua remembered that forty years earlier, negative words of fear kept Israel from going into God's promise. Our words are strength or they can destroy hopes. Negative words can destroy morale. What about all the negative words on our news reports? We are the givers of God's good news. The good news of triumph over sin and eternal life, through Jesus Christ.
The LORD's Treasury
Josh 6:11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
Josh 6:12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
Josh 6:13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
Some believe that the shophar, rams horns, were used in this march, whatever, it was a glorious sound, that encouraged Israel and put fear in the hearts of the enemy in Jericho.
Josh 6:14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
Josh 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
Josh 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
The people were to shout. The soldiers led the march, followed by the priests and the ark, and then more men of war. It was not the might of men, but the might of the presence of God. The people of Jericho would learn the fear of the LORD.
Josh 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
All were accursed, but Rahab and her family. She would be saved because she believed in the God of Israel, and helped the two spies. Because of this they were blessed with life. The blessings of Abraham come to all who bless Israel, to those who believe in the promises to Israel. All who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are saved from God's wrath. It is by grace that we are saved.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Josh 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
Josh 6:19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
No personal gain was to be taken from Jericho, for it was accursed. The victory is the Lords, all treasures of metals were to go to the treasury of the Lord, for the Lord's purpose. Eventually it would be used to build the temple.
Lets look at these as symbols. Iron is used for battle; we battle in God's Spirit. Brass represents judgment. Silver is tried by intense fire, carefully watched under the refiners fire. Gold is the pure things of God that are left over, from the refining. We judge and remove sins in our life. God refines us by putting us through things where we must trust in him. The gold is the eternal reward left from that which does not perish when God's fire comes. Until that final day, we battle in the armor of God, and in prayer. Jesus is our reward.
Many say that God is love, that is true. But, God is a God of justice. He knew that if the heathen people were not removed, that they would destroy Israel, because of sin and false gods. America, will serve the living God, upon whom they trust. Or, they will try to remove Him, and be cursed as the heathen nation of Jericho. God is not tolerant of those who seek to worship false gods.
This was the first of the ten commandments:
Exo 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,
Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
We are not to partake of the cursed things of the world. We hide God's good treasures in the temple of our hearts. We are to be separated unto him.
2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2 Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Rahab's Salvation
Josh 6:20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
This was God's plan, we can shout at walls and they remain, but when we trust God, they will come down if he so wills it. It was the plan of God that the walls would come down in this manner. The people went straight up into the city, because the hillside city walls fell forward making an easy climb. Excavations of the site, indicate that one portion of the wall was left standing. No doubt this was where Rahab's home was. She would be saved and her family.
Josh 6:21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
Josh 6:22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
Josh 6:23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
Every living thing was destroyed, except faithful Rahab and her family. Learn from this that God is willing to save you, no matter what your past has been. If you trust in His promise, if you trust in Jesus, you will be saved and accepted as children of God. Rahab is included in the genealogy that would be connected to Joseph, the legal guardian father of Jesus. Through Rahab's marriage to Salmon, came the blood line connecting Jesus to King David and the covenant promise of an everlasting King, from the throne of David.
Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab (Rahab); and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Mat 1:6 And Jesse begat David the king;...
This is God's forgiving grace at work. Who he forgives, he blesses and makes his own. There are no second class children of God.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Rahab and Ahab
Josh 6:24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
After the walls fell, the men of valour burned the city, saving only the metals and one family.
Josh 6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Josh 6:26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
Rahab and her family were saved, showing God's grace. Those of her world were destroyed by fire. This represents God's wrath on the ungodly. Joshua places a curse on the city and upon any who would rebuild it. The city was rebuilt under wicked king Ahab.
1 Ki 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
1 Ki 16:34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
Both of Hiel's sons were killed, being under the curse and warning given by Joshua. Wicked kings do not heed the warnings and word of God and those who serve them suffer because of it.
Josh 6:27 So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.
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