Joshua 6:2
And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God emphasizes not just the city, but its king and mighty men of valor, reminding Joshua that the victory isn't just over walls, but over the very strength and leadership of the enemy, assuring him that all opposition is already conquered by divine decree. This declaration underlines that the coming triumph is entirely God's doing, preordaining the outcome before any human action begins.
Jericho, a formidable city, has sealed its gates, creating a seemingly insurmountable barrier for the Israelites. In response to this challenge, the Lord speaks to Joshua, reassuring him that the city, its king, and its warriors are already conquered in God's eyes and will soon be in their hands. This divine promise sets the stage for the unconventional strategy God will reveal for taking the city, emphasizing that the victory will be entirely His, not Israel's.
Jericho, a formidable city, stood strong against Israel. Yet, before any battle plan was even executed, God declared victory.
In Joshua 6:2, God tells Joshua, 'See, I have given Jericho into your hand.' This isn't just a promise; it's a declaration of a settled reality from God's perspective. The commentators highlight that this assurance comes before Israel takes any offensive action. It’s meant to convey that the outcome was already determined by God, not by Israel’s military might or strategy. The city's strong walls and valiant defenders were irrelevant in the face of God's sovereign decree. This teaches us that our confidence in difficult situations shouldn't be based on our ability to overcome them, but on God's power and His prior commitment to bring about His purposes.
God’s plan to conquer Jericho was unlike any military strategy. It involved marching, silence, and trumpets, but no swords or shields.
The instructions given for the fall of Jericho were radically unconventional. Israel was to march around the city for six days, with priests carrying the Ark and blowing trumpets, followed by armed men and the people. On the seventh day, they were to circle the city seven times, and then shout. The commentaries point out how strange and perhaps even foolish this must have seemed. There was no direct assault, no siege engines, no visible exertion of military force. This method was designed to test and demonstrate Israel's faith and obedience. It removed any possibility of Israel taking credit for the victory, ensuring all glory went to God. The lesson here is that God’s ways are not our ways; often, His path to achieving His purposes involves actions that seem illogical or impossible to human reason, requiring us to trust and obey Him completely.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the God of Israel, the self-existent One who enters into covenant relationship with His people. It signifies His faithfulness, holiness, and sovereignty.
chayil · Hebrew Noun
A title for a person of noble character, strength, or high social/military rank. In a military context, it refers to soldiers who are physically powerful and skilled in battle.
The promise in Joshua 6:2 is given just as the Israelites are about to engage in their first major military obstacle after entering the Promised Land, emphasizing that victory comes from God's power, not human might.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites Cross the Jordan River
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites miraculously cross the Jordan River, entering the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. This event marks the beginning of their conquest.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
The Fall of Jericho
The Israelites, following God's specific instructions, march around Jericho for seven days. On the seventh day, the priests blow trumpets, the people shout, and the walls of Jericho miraculously collapse.
c. 1406 BC
Destruction of Jericho
Jericho is utterly destroyed and cursed, with only Rahab and her family spared for their help to the Israelite spies. This sets a precedent for the conquest and serves as a warning.
c. 1406 BC
Defeat at Ai
Following the victory at Jericho, the Israelites suffer a humiliating defeat at Ai due to Achan's sin. This highlights the consequences of disobedience and the need for purity within the camp.
This passage describes God's covenant with Abraham, foretelling the conquest of Canaan. It sets the stage for God's promise to give the land, including fortified cities like Jericho, to Abraham's descendants, just as He promises to Joshua.
Exodus 14:13-14Here, Moses tells the Israelites not to fear but to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord during the parting of the Red Sea. This echoes Joshua 6:2's assurance that God has already given the victory, emphasizing that deliverance comes from God's power, not human might.
Deuteronomy 7:17-19Moses reminds Israel not to say 'My own strength and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth,' but to remember that the Lord their God gives them power to get wealth. This reinforces the idea that victory, even over strong cities like Jericho, is a gift from God.
Isaiah 40:31This prophetic passage speaks of those who wait for the Lord renewing their strength, soaring on wings like eagles. It captures the spiritual essence of waiting on God's timing and power, which is precisely what the Israelites were called to do in the peculiar conquest of Jericho.
cambridgeJoshua 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."
2 . And the Lord said ] The interview between the Hebrew leader and “the Prince of Jehovah’s host” is here resumed. See, I have given ] Compare for a similar expression Joshua 11:6 . As Israel had stood on the shores of the Red Sea and seen “the salvation of God,” so now they were themselves to adopt no warlike measures for the capture of the city, everythi…
gillJoshua 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."
And the Lord said unto Joshua,.... The same divine Person called in the preceding chapter the Captain of the Lord's host, Joshua 5:14 , now with him, and who gave him the following orders, instructions, and assurances: see, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof: which might be concluded from the fear that was fallen upon the inhabitants o…
God emphasizes not just the city, but its king and mighty men of valor, reminding Joshua that the victory isn't just over walls, but over the very strength and leadership of the enemy, assuring him that all opposition is already conquered by divine decree. This declaration underlines that the coming triumph is entirely God's doing, preordaining the outcome before any human action begins.
Jericho, a formidable city, has sealed its gates, creating a seemingly insurmountable barrier for the Israelites. In response to this challenge, the Lord speaks to Joshua, reassuring him that the city, its king, and its warriors are already conquered in God's eyes and will soon be in their hands. This divine promise sets the stage for the unconventional strategy God will reveal for taking the city, emphasizing that the victory will be entirely His, not Israel's.
Jericho, a formidable city, has sealed its gates, creating a seemingly insurmountable barrier for the Israelites. In response to this challenge, the Lord speaks to Joshua, reassuring him that the city, its king, and its warriors are already conquered in God's eyes and will soon be in their hands. This divine promise sets the stage for the unconventional strategy God will reveal for taking the city, emphasizing that the victory will be entirely His, not Israel's.
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c. 1405 BC
Conquest of Canaan Continues
After dealing with the sin at Ai, the Israelites resume their conquest, eventually conquering many cities and kingdoms throughout Canaan.
"And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor." — God emphasizes not just the city, but its king and mighty men of valor, reminding Joshua that the victory isn't just over walls, but over the very strength and leadership of the enemy, assuring him t…
