Joshua 6
Judges 6 begins with the scene of the Israelites being oppressed by the Midianites, and it unfolds up to the point where God calls Gideon as a judge. This chapter clearly shows the repeating pattern of Israel’s recurring disobedience and suffering, along with God’s merciful cycle of salvation history.
1verseNow Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Israel. No one went out, and no one came in.
2verseThe LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty men of valor.
3verseAll of your men of war shall march around the city, going around the city once. You shall do this six days.
4verseSeven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day, you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5verseIt shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the city wall will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight in front of him.”
6verseJoshua 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 LORD’s ark.”
7verseThey said to the people, “Advance! March around the city, and let the armed men pass on before the LORD’s ark.”
8verseIt was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them.
9verseThe armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the ark went after them. The trumpets sounded as they went.
10verseJoshua commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”
11verseSo he caused the LORD’s ark to go around the city, circling it once. Then they came into the camp, and stayed in the camp.
12verseJoshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the LORD’s ark.
13verseThe seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the LORD’s ark went on continually, and blew the trumpets. The armed men went in front of them. The rear guard came after the LORD’s ark. The trumpets sounded as they went.
14verseThe second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. They did this six days.
15verseOn the seventh day, they rose early at the dawning of the day, and marched around the city in the same way seven times. On this day only they marched around the city seven times.
16verseAt the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!
17verseThe city shall be devoted, even it and all that is in it, to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18verseBut as for you, only keep yourselves from what is devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so you would make the camp of Israel accursed and trouble it.
19verseBut all the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD. They shall come into the LORD’s treasury.”
20verseSo the people shouted and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they took the city.
21verseThey utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
22verseJoshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman and all that she has out from there, as you swore to her.”
23verseThe young men who were spies went in, and brought out Rahab with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. They also brought out all of her relatives, and they set them outside of the camp of Israel.
24verseThey burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only they put the silver, the gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house.
25verseBut Rahab the prostitute, her father’s household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lives in the middle of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26verseJoshua commanded them with an oath at that time, saying, “Cursed is the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho. With the loss of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he will set up its gates.”
27verseSo the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.
Israel’s Suffering and Crying Out (6:1-6)
The people of Israel disobey God and do evil. As a result, they are oppressed by the Midianites for seven years, losing their crops and livestock and falling into great hardship. Eventually, the people cry out to God, and this process shows the cycle of “sin—discipline—crying out—salvation” that appears repeatedly throughout Judges.
The Prophet’s Message (6:7-10)
God responds to the Israelites’ cries, but first He sends a prophet. The prophet reminds them of the grace by which God delivered Israel from Egypt and warns that suffering has come because they served other gods. This is an instructive message meant to remind them of God’s purpose in salvation and the people’s responsibility.
Gideon’s Calling (6:11-24)
The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon who is in Ophrah and calls him to be a warrior. However, Gideon considers himself too weak and questions the reality of suffering he cannot understand. God calls him directly, promises peace, and Gideon offers a sacrifice and experiences a sign. This process shows God’s choosing, human weakness, and the journey from unbelief to trust.
Gideon’s First Mission: Tear Down the Baal Altar (6:25-32)
God commands Gideon to tear down the Baal altar and the Asherah pole in his father’s house and to offer sacrifices to the Lord. Even in fear, Gideon obeys God’s command. Through this, you can see how personal faith expands into family and community.
Israel’s Gathering and Gideon’s Test (6:33-40)
The Midianites, the Amalekites, and the people of the East join forces to come against Israel. The Spirit of God comes upon Gideon, and each tribe of Israel is summoned. Yet, to confirm God’s promise, Gideon asks for a “wool fleece sign.” God responds to the sign kindly, not once but twice, highlighting the moment in which He gives assurance to the fearful.
Meditation Points
- God assigns a mission even within human weakness and plants assurance through kindness and patience.
- Suffering often becomes an opportunity for us to look back at ourselves and to hold on to God’s saving hand.
- Faith is a process of overcoming fear and doubt, and God accomplishes great things through our small acts of obedience.
Apply It to Me
- In the midst of the hardships in my life, let’s check how I am listening to God’s message.
- If there is a mission entrusted to my weak self, trust God and try obeying one step at a time.
- God patiently guides us even through our doubts and weakness. Let’s remember that it’s okay for my faith to begin small.
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