So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is the profound significance of the instruments chosen: ram's horns. These weren't the gleaming, sacred silver trumpets used for official calls to worship; they were made from the humble horns of animals, symbolizing that victory wouldn't come through human might or impressive religious display, but solely through God's power. This detail underlines that God often chooses the seemingly weak and ordinary to showcase His extraordinary strength.
So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has just revealed to Joshua how He will conquer the seemingly impregnable city of Jericho, but the plan is far from ordinary warfare. Joshua now gathers the priests to relay these specific instructions: they are to carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, and seven priests, blowing trumpets made from ram's horns, are to march before it. This begins a bizarre seven-day ritual that will ultimately lead to the city's destruction, not by siege engines, but by God's direct intervention.
Why was the Ark of the Covenant central to this seemingly bizarre battle plan? It wasn't just a symbol; it was God's tangible presence with His people.
In Joshua 6:6, Joshua commands the priests to 'Take up the ark of the covenant.' This wasn't a mere ceremonial carrying of an artifact. The Ark represented God's direct presence, His covenant faithfulness, and His power to act on behalf of Israel.
A Symbol of Divine Authority
When the Ark moved, God moved with it. Its presence signaled that this was not a human military strategy but a divine operation. The impenetrable walls of Jericho would fall not by Israel's might, but by the power of the God who dwelt among them, symbolized by the Ark.
Why rams' horns? Why not gleaming silver trumpets? The choice of these simple instruments speaks volumes about where true power lies.
Joshua instructs 'seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns' (Joshua 6:6). The use of rams' horns, rather than the more ornate silver trumpets used for signaling in the camp, was intentional. These were simple, natural instruments, perhaps even considered crude or of 'dullest sound' compared to the silver trumpets.
Demonstrating God's Power
By using such humble instruments, God ensured that the victory would be unmistakably His. It wasn't the skill of the musicians or the impressiveness of the instruments that would bring down Jericho's walls. It was God's power working through obedient, ordinary means. This strategy stripped away any possibility of Israel taking credit for the conquest.
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Understand the original words
aron · Hebrew Noun
In biblical usage, an Ark refers to a sacred chest or container. The Ark of the Covenant was the wooden chest overlaid with gold that symbolized the presence and throne of God among His people, containing the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, revealed to Moses at the burning bush. It signifies His self-existence, eternal nature, and covenant faithfulness to His people.
shopar · Hebrew Noun
An instrument made from a ram's horn, used in Israelite worship and warfare to signal the presence of God, announce royal events, or call the people to battle or repentance. It carried significant spiritual authority as a sign of God’s sovereignty.
kohen · Hebrew Noun
A high priest or person set apart for service to God. They served as mediators between God and the people, performing sacrifices and carrying out the duties of the tabernacle or temple.
The miraculous fall of Jericho wasn't just about military might; it was a profound act of faith and obedience, highlighting God's power to overcome any obstacle through seemingly unconventional means. The use of ram's horn trumpets, rather than more imposing instruments, emphasized that victory came from God alone.
c. 1406 BC
Israel enters the Promised Land
After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River into the land of Canaan.
c. 1406 BC
The Siege of Jericho begins
The heavily fortified city of Jericho is the first major obstacle for the invading Israelites.
c. 1406 BC
Joshua receives divine instructions for Jericho
God gives Joshua a specific, unusual strategy for conquering Jericho, involving a silent march and trumpets.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Joshua commissions priests for the march
Joshua calls the priests, instructing them to carry the Ark of the Covenant and blow ram's horn trumpets.
c. 1406 BC
The Walls of Jericho fall
After seven days of marching and on the seventh day's seventh circuit, the city walls collapse following the priests' trumpets and the people's shout.
c. 1406 BC
Jericho is destroyed and cursed
The city and its inhabitants are devoted to destruction, with only Rahab and her household spared.
This verse describes God's presence dwelling above the cherubim on the ark's mercy seat, emphasizing the ark as the tangible representation of God's throne on earth, directly linking to its central role in Joshua's commanded procession.
Numbers 10:1-10These passages detail the use of silver trumpets for calling the assembly, signaling movement, and sounding alarms, highlighting the divinely ordained significance of trumpets in Israel's journey and worship, which is echoed in Jericho's conquest.
1 Samuel 4:3-5This account shows the ark of the covenant being brought into battle, bringing both confidence and disaster, illustrating the immense power and awe associated with the ark's presence, and how its use was to be handled with utmost care.
Hebrews 11:30This New Testament passage explicitly references the fall of Jericho's walls after they were encircled for seven days, underscoring the faith-driven nature of this event and its significance as an example for believers.
bensonJoshua 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 before the ark of the LORD."
Joshua 6:6 . Of rams’ horns — Of the basest matter and the dullest sound, that the excellence of the power might be of God. The original words, however, here and Joshua 6:4 , שׁופרות יובלום , shoperoth jobelim, may be properly rendered, trumpets of jubilee; that is, such trumpets as were to be blown…
calvinJoshua 6:1-19: "Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in."
And you shall compass the city, all you men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shall thou do six days.
Circuibitis itaque urbem, omnes viri bellatores, circundando eam semel: sic facies sex diebus.
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blo…
What's easily missed here is the profound significance of the instruments chosen: ram's horns. These weren't the gleaming, sacred silver trumpets used for official calls to worship; they were made from the humble horns of animals, symbolizing that victory wouldn't come through human might or impressive religious display, but solely through God's power. This detail underlines that God often chooses the seemingly weak and ordinary to showcase His extraordinary strength.
God has just revealed to Joshua how He will conquer the seemingly impregnable city of Jericho, but the plan is far from ordinary warfare. Joshua now gathers the priests to relay these specific instructions: they are to carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, and seven priests, blowing trumpets made from ram's horns, are to march before it. This begins a bizarre seven-day ritual that will ultimately lead to the city's destruction, not by siege engines, but by God's direct intervention.
God has just revealed to Joshua how He will conquer the seemingly impregnable city of Jericho, but the plan is far from ordinary warfare. Joshua now gathers the priests to relay these specific instructions: they are to carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, and seven priests, blowing trumpets made from ram's horns, are to march before it. This begins a bizarre seven-day ritual that will ultimately lead to the city's destruction, not by siege engines, but by God's direct intervention.
"So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”" — What's easily missed here is the profound significance of the instruments chosen: ram's horns. These weren't the gleaming, sacred silver trumpets used for official calls to worship; they were made fr…
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Last reviewed October 2026