Joshua 6:6-7
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.” And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to overlook that Joshua isn't just giving orders; he's orchestrating a profound act of faith. By placing the Ark of the Covenant, God's very presence, at the center and having priests carry ram's horn trumpets, he's signaling that this battle isn't about military might but divine power. The trumpets, made from humble materials, underscore that their strength comes not from human hands but from God's command.
Facing the formidable, seemingly impenetrable walls of Jericho, Joshua receives God's radical plan for conquest. Instead of a frontal assault, he instructs the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, while seven priests blow trumpets made of ram's horns before it, setting the stage for a divine intervention that would shatter their assumptions about warfare.
Why would God choose ordinary priests, the Ark of the Covenant, and ram's horns for such a monumental victory?
Jericho's walls were formidable, yet God's plan for their destruction involved seemingly humble elements. Joshua is instructed to have priests carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, and to have seven priests blow seven trumpets made from ram's horns.
This wasn't about the strength of men or the materials used. The use of ram's horns, described as being of 'the basest matter and the dullest sound,' highlights that the victory would not be by human might or skill. It was a deliberate choice to showcase that the power to demolish the walls belonged solely to God. This teaches us that God often works through the ordinary and unassuming, demonstrating that His power is not dependent on our impressive resources, but on our willing obedience.
What do the Ark of the Covenant and the ram's horn trumpets really represent in this divine strategy?
The instructions given to Joshua are rich with symbolism.
The Ark of the Covenant
Carrying the Ark before the people represented God Himself marching with them. It was the tangible sign of His presence and covenant faithfulness. It assured Israel that their victory was not a solo mission but a divine operation, with God at the forefront.
The Ram's Horn Trumpets
These trumpets, often called 'shofars,' were used for various significant purposes in Israelite life: to announce festivals, to rally troops, to signal a time of war, and most importantly, to proclaim the Jubilee year, a time of release and restoration. In the context of Jericho, their sound was a call to remember God's promises, to break down barriers, and to usher in a new season of possession for His people. The specific number seven also signifies divine completeness or perfection.
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.
The battle plan for Jericho was radically different from typical military strategy, highlighting that Israel's victories were not due to their own might but God's direct intervention. The emphasis on the Ark and the priests' role underscores their reliance on God's presence and leadership.
~1446 BC
Israel Enters Canaan
Following 40 years of wandering, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River into the promised land of Canaan.
~1446 BC— this verse
The Fall of Jericho
Joshua and the Israelites march around Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, the priests blow trumpets, and the walls of the city miraculously fall down.
~1445 BC
The Sin of Ai
After Jericho, the Israelites suffer a defeat at Ai due to Achan's disobedience in taking forbidden spoils, showing the importance of obedience.
~1445 BC
Covenant Renewal at Mount Ebal
Joshua leads the people in a ceremony to renew their covenant with God and obey His laws, solidifying their commitment after early victories and failures.
This verse highlights the ark as the place where God would meet with Israel and speak from between the cherubim, underscoring its divine significance in the procession at Jericho.
Numbers 10:1-10These passages describe the use of trumpets, particularly the silver trumpets, for signaling and gathering the assembly, paralleling the special role of trumpets in God's commanded strategy at Jericho.
1 Samuel 4:3-4This account shows the ark being brought into battle previously, but with a different outcome and human-led initiative, contrasting with God's direct command and supernatural intervention at Jericho.
Hebrews 11:30This New Testament passage explicitly references the fall of Jericho's walls after they were circled, emphasizing faith as the active principle behind this seemingly strange act.
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…
It's easy to overlook that Joshua isn't just giving orders; he's orchestrating a profound act of faith. By placing the Ark of the Covenant, God's very presence, at the center and having priests carry ram's horn trumpets, he's signaling that this battle isn't about military might but divine power. The trumpets, made from humble materials, underscore that their strength comes not from human hands but from God's command.
Facing the formidable, seemingly impenetrable walls of Jericho, Joshua receives God's radical plan for conquest. Instead of a frontal assault, he instructs the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, while seven priests blow trumpets made of ram's horns before it, setting the stage for a divine intervention that would shatter their assumptions about warfare.
Facing the formidable, seemingly impenetrable walls of Jericho, Joshua receives God's radical plan for conquest. Instead of a frontal assault, he instructs the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, while seven priests blow trumpets made of ram's horns before it, setting the stage for a divine intervention that would shatter their assumptions about warfare.
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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.
"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.” And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the c…" — It's easy to overlook that Joshua isn't just giving orders; he's orchestrating a profound act of faith. By placing the Ark of the Covenant, God's very presence, at the center and having priests carry…
