Exposition of Joshua 6:8 and Its Significance
Joshua 6:8, from the King James Version, states: "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." This verse describes a specific moment in the Israelites' conquest of Jericho, detailing the procession around the city.
The broader context of Joshua 6 describes the unique divine strategy for taking Jericho. After the defeat at Ai due to Achan's sin, God encourages Joshua and provides a new plan for the next conquest [1, 2, 3]. The Lord instructs Joshua that the armed men, priests, and the Ark of the Covenant are to march around the city once a day for six days, and on the seventh day, they are to march around seven times, with the priests blowing trumpets, followed by a great shout from the people [2]. Joshua 6:8 specifically highlights the role of the priests and the Ark in this procession.
The "seven trumpets of rams' horns" (Hebrew: shofarot) were not typical war trumpets but instruments associated with religious ceremony and proclamation, such as the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25:9). Their use here emphasizes the spiritual nature of the battle and God's direct involvement. The presence of the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel, further underscores this [4]. The Ark's position "before the Lord" signifies its sacred role as a symbol of divine authority and leadership in the procession.
Commentators note that this detailed, seemingly unconventional military strategy demonstrates God's disciplinary government, where obedience to divine commands leads to victory [1]. The marching and trumpet blowing were acts of faith, not conventional warfare. Adam Clarke suggests that Joshua might have used a flag or ensign on his spear as a signal, which could be seen from a distance, indicating the importance of visual and auditory signals in the military strategy of the time [5].
The significance of this passage lies in its portrayal of divine warfare and the importance of obedience to God's specific instructions. The fall of Jericho was not achieved through Israel's military might but through their faithful adherence to God's unusual command, with the priests and the Ark at the forefront of the spiritual battle.
Sources
- Joshua (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joshua 8 (introduction): GOD ENCOURAGES JOSHUA. (Jos. 8:1-28) The Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not--By the execution of justice on Achan, the divine wrath was averted, the Israelites were reassured, defeat was succeeded by victory; and thus the case of Ai affords a striking example of God's disciplinary government, in which chastisements for sin are often made to pave the way for the bestowment of those temporal benefits, which, on account of sin, have been withdrawn, or withheld for a time. Joshua, who had been greatly dispirited, was encouraged by a special commu”
- Joshua (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Joshua 8 (introduction): The embarrassment which Achan's sin gave to the affairs of Israel being over, we have them here in a very good posture again, the affairs both of war and religion. Here is, I. The glorious progress of their arms in the taking of Ai, before which they had lately suffered disgrace. 1. God encourages Joshua to attack it, with the assurance of success, and directs him what method to take (Jos 8:1, Jos 8:2). 2. Joshua gives orders accordingly to the men of war (Jos 8:3-8). 3. The stratagem is managed as it was projected, and succeeds as it was desired (Jos ”
- Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 8 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 8 Joshua is encouraged to go up and take Ai, and is directed what method to make use of, Jos 8:1; accordingly he set an ambush on the west side of it, and, he and the rest of the army went up before it, Jos 8:3; which, when the king of Ai saw, he and all his forces came cut against them, and the Israelites making a feint as if they were beaten, drew on the men of Ai to pursue them, upon which the ambush arose and entered the city and set fire to it, Jos 8:14; the smoke of which being observed by Joshua and Israel, they turned back ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 98: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:5 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:23 2:24 2:24 4:19 8:10 8:12 9:6 12:3 14:22 15:1-21 17:7 17:12 21:23 22:2 24:1-67 24:3 26:31 27:4 27:12 27:34-38 29:18 29:27 29:28 30:1 34:12 47:31 49:2-4 49:10 49:17 Exodus 1:19 1:20 3:13 3:14 6:8 6:12 16:23 16:26 20:1-26 20:2 21:9 21:12 21:14 21:17 22:10 22:19 23:7 24:8 26:3 26:5 26:6 26:17 31:13 31:14 31:16 31:17 34:28 Leviticus 4:17 7:18 10:11 14:6 17:1-16 17:4 18:1-30 18:6 18:8 18:16 18:18 18:18 18:18 19:12 20:23 23:1-44 24:17 25:39-41 26:1 26:41 Numbers 5:19 6:3-5 19:11 19:11-13”
- Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 8:18: Stretch out the spear - It is very probable that Joshua had a flag or ensign at the end of his spear, which might be easily seen at a considerable distance; and that the unfurling or waving of this was the sign agreed on between him and the ambush. (see Jos 8:13, and the preceding observations on Jos 8:1 (note), observation 6); and on seeing this flag or ensign unfurled, the men who lay in ambush arose and entered the city, making the fire previously agreed on. See Jos 8:8.”