Joshua 6:15–21
15 Then on the seventh day they got up early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same way seven times; only on that day did they march around the city seven times.
16 And at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.
17 But the city shall be designated for destruction, it and everything that is in it belongs to the Lord; only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18 But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things designated for destruction, so that you do not covet them and take some of the designated things, and turn the camp of Israel into something designated for destruction and bring disaster 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.”
20 So the people shouted, and the priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with
21They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
March on the Seventh Day
Seventh day
Then it came to pass on the seventh day. On this day, the Israelites once again marched around the city, but it was not the same as the first six days. (1) On this day, they circled the city seven times. (2) The seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to give out a great shout. (3) When the Israelites shouted, the walls of Jericho collapsed. The walls fell neither outward nor inward, rather they fell in their place. (4) So, every man was able to go straight into the city and take it into their hands. Had only a part of the wall collapsed, they would have entered the city through the opening; but it is said that they went straight ahead. They did not need to even climb over the debris.
Herem
Joshua commanded the people to utterly destroy the city, except for Rahab and her household. A Hebrew word in Verse 17, which NASB rendered as “shall be under the ban,” is “herem.” ASV translated the same word as “shall be devoted.” NKJV translated it as “shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction.” Obviously, the Bible translators had great difficulties in attempting to render the word in English (Note: Japanese translations had much more challenges in rendering the word in Japanese). The word “herem” means to set apart completely for the Lord. If it is referring to people, it means to “destroy.” If it is referring to things, it means to “devote” to the Lord. Many may find the concept of “herem” rather disturbing. So, let’s look into the reason why the Lord commanded the Israelites to do so. (1) The conquest was neither a political battle nor a military conflict. It was a religious battle. (2) It was a battle of the Holy God to cast judgment and destroy sin. God Himself is the subject. The Israelites were the means to carry out God’s judgment. (3) This battle was also intended to keep Israel from Canaan’s sin. If we forget the holiness of our God, all passages concerning God’s judgment will be rendered meaningless. Let us remember that our God is holy, righteous, and loving, as we pray and work for the spiritual salvation of our neighbors.
Today's prayer
Holy God, I now dedicate my life to You. I thank You for saving and sustaining me when I was doomed to perish. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.