Josué 6
Arthur Pink · Citado em PreceptAustin
Josué 6
Pink says this repetition "is an expressive emphasis in the Hebrew like..."in blessing I will bless thee" (Ge 22:17)”. The fact that Jericho is tightly shut emphasizes the difficulty of the obstacle that was facing Israel. Based on conventional warfare wisdom, Jericho was not a "pushover." Alan Carr adds - Jericho is known as the oldest city in the world, in Joshua’s day, it was surrounded by a system of two massive stone walls. The outer wall was 6 ft. thick and about 20 ft. high. The inner wall was about 12 ft. thick and was 30 ft. high. Between the walls was a guarded walkway about 15 ft. wide. Israel’s problem was that they had a city to conquer, but there were some extremely huge walls in the way. As we go through life, we have obstacles that we face as well. (How To Make Your Walls Fall Down Flat) As Rahab had explained to the two spies, "the terror of (Israel) has fallen on us" (Joshua 2:9+) and this was even before they had crossed the Jordan River, which would have increased their fear for now the raging river was no protection for Jericho! Fear prompted the city to close the gates so that they might be safe behind their fortified walls (and as shown in the depiction above archaeology suggests Jericho actually had a double set of walls). The kingdom of Og had "cities fortified with high walls, gates and bars" (Dt 3:4-5+) but they were "utterly destroyed" even as were the cities in the kingdom of Sihon (Dt 3:6+). And Jericho knew of the fate of Sihon and Og (Josh 2:10+), which had contributed to their initial terror. NIV Study Note on Jericho - Modern Tell es-Sultan (see map). Archaeological excavations have revealed that Jericho may have been the first site of village settlement in Canaan and one of the oldest cities in the world. (People who moved about and lived by hunting and gathering had been present in the area for thousands of years.) The earliest settled occupation dates from c. 7000 BC. By Joshua’s day, more than two dozen cities had already been built and destroyed on the site, one above the other, over a period of more than 5,000 years. Many of them had powerful double walls. Jericho may have been a center for the worship of the moon god (cf Ge 11:31). Jericho probably means “moon city.” If so, God was destroying not only Canaanite cities but also Canaanite religion. To Joshua's eyes the tightly shut city and fortified walls presented an obstacle even as the raging river had presented an obstacle. At this point Joshua did not know how Jericho was to be conquered. But soon both Joshua and the city of Jericho would discover that high walls and shut gates are no match for the Most High God (El Elyon - Sovereign Over All)! See the map of the military campaigns above and note that campaign #1 includes Jericho and then into central Palestine. So clearly Jericho was a strategic city if Israel was to conquer the central kingdoms. Keep the context in mind remembering the poor chapter break. Joshua with his sandals removed is on holy ground before the Holy One (Joshua 5:15+), in need of hearing His "military plan" to conquer Jericho. Clearly, a victory by Israel over this strategic stronghold would serve as a confidence (faith) building demonstration to Joshua and his army that the LORD was with them and that their enemies could be conquered. Tighty shut (cagar cagar) is translated in the Septuagint with the verb sugkleio from sun/syn = together + kleio = to shut up, enclose) means literally to shut up or enclose together on all sides (there is "no escape"). The idea is to shut up securely, enclosing on all sides with no way of escape, as with fish "shut up" in a net (in Lk 5:6+ = "they enclosed a great quantity of fish"), i.e., completely and without the possibility of escape. Also used in Gal 3:22+ to describe one of the important functions of the Law (not to save but to shut up and show the need for salvation!) Woudstra - The purpose of this verse is to describe the seemingly hopeless situation confronting Israel , a people unskilled in the kind of warfare that was now required. Thus the miracle of God's giving of the city would stand out all the more clearly. (The Book of Joshua The New International Commentary on the OT) Paul Enns - From a human standpoint, the conquest of Jericho was impossible. The Lord had previously indicated He would lead them in battle (Deut. 9:1-6; 12 : 29; 18:9-14; Josh . 5 : 13-15), and that now became essential if Jericho was to be conquered. Jericho's defense was formidable. William Newell - Jericho, "the fragrant place," represents our spiritual enemies as entrenched in that which is sweet and dear to the natural heart of man. Its fall before Israel is the first step in the conquest of the land of inheritance . Spiritually, its fall signified to us the utter wreck nature and the world become in the eye of the soul that has accepted for itself its position as "over Jordan"--dead and buried with Christ, and raised up with Matthew Henry Concise Commentary - Verses 1-5. Jericho resolves Israel shall not be its master. It shut itself up, being strongly fortified both by art and nature. Thus were they foolish, and their hearts hardened to their destruction; the miserable case of all that strengthen themselves against the Almighty. God resolves Israel shall be its master, and that quickly. No warlike preparations were to be made. By the uncommon method of besieging the city, the Lord honoured the ark, as the symbol of his presence, and showed that all the victories were from him. The faith and patience of the people were proved and increased. Shut up (05462) (cagar/sagar) means 1) to shut, close 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to shut 1a2) to close, close up 1a3) closed up, closely joined, shut up 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be shut up 1b2) to be shut or closed 1c) (Piel) to shut up, deliver up 1d) (Pual) to be shut up 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to deliver up 1e2) to shut up, imprison. This verb means "to close, to shut up; to stop: to close up a hole in one’s flesh (Gen. 2:21); to shut, to close a door, etc. (Gen. 7:16; 19:6, 10); to shut, enclose something, e.g., Israel in the wilderness terrain (Ex. 14:3); to close the womb from being fertile (1 Sam. 1:5). In its passive uses, it means to be shut, shut up, closed (Num. 12:14, 15; Josh. 6:1; 1 Sam. 23:7; Neh. 13:19; Eccl. 12:4). In its intensive and causative stems, it means to enclose, to deliver over to someone or something (1 Sam. 17:46; 24:18[19]); to give into another’s authority or power (Deut. 23:15[16]; 1 Sam. 23:11; Amos 1:6; Obad. 1:14). It is used of things tightly fitted together, closed in on each other (Job 41:15[7])." Cagar is also a "A masculine noun meaning the finest gold, pure gold. It was used for overlaying (1 Kgs. 6:20); for Temple furniture (1 Kgs. 7:49, 50); Temple vessels (1 Kgs. 10:21). It was especially valuable and used in wise comparisons (Job 28:15)." (The Complete Word Study Old Testament) R D Patterson - The primary meaning of the root, found in the basic stem, is also known in Ugaritic, Biblical Aramaic, and Ethiopic. The ideas “deliver up,” “hand over,” “abandon,” found in the derived stems, are known in other West Semitic dialects (e.g. Syriac, Phoenician). The root has been related to Akkadian sekēru “stop,” “dam up,” “shut up/off,” a word found with similar meanings also in Hebrew. While J. V. K. Wilson (“Hebrew and Akkadian Philological Notes,” Journal of Semitic Studies 7:179–80) may be right in insisting that the East Semitic skr “dam up” is to be separated from West Semitic sgr “close up,” it is interesting to note that in ancient Aramaic skr carries a similar range of meanings to Hebrew sgr and that Arabic sakara can be used both of shutting doors and damming streams. This root is to be distinguished from another sgr known in Arabic and lying behind the Hebrew sagrîr “steady rain.” The root sgr is often employed for the act of shutting doors or gates (e.g. Gen 19:6, 10; Josh 6:1) or closing up a breach in a wall (I Kgs 11:27). It also has many specialized uses. Thus, the shutting of the womb pictures non-conception (I Sam 1:5–6; cf. Job 3:10). At times, it can portray a hostile, arrogant, greedy, or indifferent attitude. The Psalmist (Ps 17:10) prays for deliverance from his enemies whose insensitivity has shut them up to an arrogance that is bent on the destruction of others. An individual or group of people can be shut up to unfortunate circumstances. For example, Saul believes that David has shut himself up within the easily besieged Judean town of Keilah (I Sam 23:7). The root then depicts the conditions or result of a siege (Isa 24:10; Jer 13:19). The derived stems carry the idea of shutting someone or something into the hand of someone/ thing else (I Sam 23:20; Ps 78:48, 50). Even God’s own can, because of sin, be delivered over to the enemy (Ps 78:62; Lam 2:7; Amos 6:8). The word is utilized in contexts which make it clear that God himself is in sovereign control of the circumstances of life (Job 11:10; 12:14), guiding the events of history (Isa 45:1) to their proper end, when his enemies will be judged (Isa 24:22) and a glorified and prosperous Zion will stand serenely secure with unclosed gates. Accordingly, men ought to shut themselves up to God’s will and plan for their lives (Isa 26:20; Ezk 3:24). (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament TWOT) Cagar/sagar - 88v - battle-axe(1), close(2), closed(9), confined(1), deliver(5), delivered(6), gave over(2), given(1), given over(1), hand over(1), hands over(1), imprison(1), imprisons(1), isolate(7), locked(1), pure(9), quarantine(3), quarantined(1), shut(31), shuts(2), surrender(4), tightly shut(1). Gen. 2:21; Gen. 7:16; Gen. 19:6; Gen. 19:10; Exod. 14:3; Lev. 13:4; Lev. 13:5; Lev. 13:11; Lev. 13:21; Lev. 13:26; Lev. 13:31; Lev. 13:33; Lev. 13:50; Lev. 13:54; Lev. 14:38; Lev. 14:46; Num. 12:14; Num. 12:15; Deut. 23:15; Deut. 32:30; Jos. 2:5; Jos. 2:7; Jos. 6:1; Jos. 20:5; Jdg. 3:22; Jdg. 3:23; Jdg. 9:51; 1 Sam. 1:5; 1 Sam. 1:6; 1 Sam. 17:46; 1 Sam. 23:7; 1 Sam. 23:11; 1 Sam. 23:12; 1 Sam. 23:20; 1 Sam. 24:18; 1 Sam. 26:8; 1 Sam. 30:15; 2 Sam. 18:28; 1 Ki. 6:20; 1 Ki. 6:21; 1 Ki. 7:49; 1 Ki. 7:50; 1 Ki. 10:21; 1 Ki. 11:27; 2 Ki. 4:4; 2 Ki. 4:5; 2 Ki. 4:21; 2 Ki. 4:33; 2 Ki. 6:32; 2 Chr. 4:20; 2 Chr. 4:22; 2 Chr. 9:20; 2 Chr. 28:24; 2 Chr. 29:7; Neh. 6:10; Neh. 13:19; Job 3:10; Job 11:10; Job 12:14; Job 16:11; Job 28:15; Job 41:15; Ps. 17:10; Ps. 31:8; Ps. 35:3; Ps. 78:48; Ps. 78:50; Ps. 78:62; Eccl. 12:4; Isa. 22:22; Isa. 24:10; Isa. 24:22; Isa. 26:20; Isa. 45:1; Isa. 60:11; Jer. 13:19; Lam. 2:7; Ezek. 3:24; Ezek. 44:1; Ezek. 44:2; Ezek. 46:1; Ezek. 46:2; Ezek. 46:12; Amos 1:6; Amos 1:9; Amos 6:8; Obad. 1:14; Mal. 1:10 GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 6 We fully assent to the remark of Dr. Adam Clarke, that there is scarcely a more unfortunate division of chapters in the whole Bible than here. According to the present arrangement, the reader is greatly at a loss to know what is intended by this extraordinary appearance of the Son of God, as it would seem that the whole account of his visit is closed with the foregoing chapter, whereas in fact it is continued in the present. The first verse of ch. 6, is a mere parenthesis, relating the state of Jericho at the time Joshua was favored by this encouraging vision. The thread of the narrative respecting this Divine personage, commenced in the preceding chapter, is then resumed, and continued to v. 5. 1. Now Jericho was straitly shut up. Strictly, closely shut up. Heb. סגרת ומסגרת sogereth u-mesugereth, did shut up and was shut up, or closing and was closed. The original expression is peculiar and emphatic, and was doubtless designed to imply the extreme care and vigilance with which the gates had been closed and were watched, not only by night, as when the spies came, ch. 2:5, but also by day. Accordingly the Chal. renders it, ‘And Jericho was shut up with iron doors and fortified with brazen bolts, so that none came out either to combat or to make offers of peace.’ The language also intimates, that the city was not only effectually shut up and made secure from within, but was also so closely blockaded by the Israelites from without, that there was no going out or coming in even to its own citizens. Because of the children of Israel. ‘Methinks I see how they called their council of war, debated of all means of defence, gathered their forces, trained their soldiers, set strong guards to the gates and walls; and now would persuade one another that unless Israel could fly into their city, the siege was vain. (So) vain worldlings think their ramparts and barricadoes can keep out the vengeance of God; their blindness suffers them to look no further than the means; the supreme hand of the Almighty comes not within the compass of their fears. Every carnal heart is a Jericho shut up; God sits down before it, and displays mercy and judgment in sight of the walls thereof: it hardens itself in a wilful security, and saith, “Aha, I shall never be moved.” ’ Bp. Hall. Warren Wiersbe introduces Joshua 6 - You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict.” The courageous Syrian preacher and martyr John Chrysostom (347–407) said that, and he was right; for the Christian life involves challenge and conflict whether we like it or not. Our enemies are constantly waging war against us and trying to keep us from claiming our inheritance in Jesus Christ. The world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:1–3) are united against Christ and His people just as the nations in Canaan were united against Joshua and the Jewish nation. It’s unfortunate that many of the “militant songs” of the church have been removed from some hymnals, apparently because the idea of warfare disturbs people and seems to contradict the words and works of Jesus Christ. But these zealous editors with scissors seem to have forgotten that the main theme of the Bible is God’s holy warfare against Satan and sin. In Genesis 3:15, God declared war on Satan, and one day He will declare the victory when Jesus comes as Conqueror to establish His kingdom (Rev. 19:11–21). If you eliminate the militant side of the Christian faith, then you must abandon the cross; for it was on the cross that Jesus won the victory over sin and Satan (Col. 2:13–15). A pastor attended a court hearing to protest the building of a tavern near his church and a public school. The lawyer for the tavern owners said to him, “I’m surprised to see you here today, Reverend. As a shepherd, shouldn’t you be out taking care of the sheep?” The pastor replied, “Today I’m fighting the wolf!” Too many Christians cultivate only a sentimental emphasis on “peace and goodwill” and ignore the spiritual battle against sin; and this means they’ve already lost the victory and are working for the enemy. We must never forget Paul’s warning about the savage wolves that are ready to destroy the flock (Acts 20:28–29). The Christian’s warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against enemies in the spiritual realm (Eph. 6:10–18); and the weapons we use are spiritual (2 Cor. 10:3–6). Satan and his demonic armies use people to oppose and attack the church of God; and if we don’t take our stand with Christ, we’ve already lost the battle. In the army of Jesus Christ there can be no neutrality. “He that is not with Me is against Me,” said Jesus; and He spoke those words in the context of spiritual warfare (Matt. 12:24–30). Since the Apostle Paul often used the military image to describe the Christian life, we dare not ignore the subject (Eph. 6:10ff; 2 Tim. 2:1–4; Rom. 13:12; 1 Thes. 5:8). Israel’s victory at Jericho illustrates three principles of spiritual conflict and victory applicable to our lives today, no matter what challenges we may be called to confront. 1. Before the challenge: remember that you fight from victory, not just for victory (Josh. 6:1–5) 2. During the challenge: Remember that you overcome the enemy by faith (Josh. 6:6–16, 20) 3. After the victory: Remember to obey God’s commands and give Him the glory (Josh. 6:17–19, 21–27) (Be Strong -- Joshua: Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life) Rod Mattoon - There are three stages of a Christian’s life. 1. The Christian living in the bondage of worldliness as Israel was in bondage in Egypt. 2. The selfish, carnal, Christian wandering in the wilderness. 3. The productive Christian living in victory and conquering the enemy of his or her soul. This is where we find God’s people in Joshua 6.… conquering, obedient, possessing God’s blessings, and victorious. J. Hudson Taylor stated there are three different ways to serve the Lord! 1. Make the best plans we can and hope they succeed. 2. Make our own plans and ask God to bless them. 3. Ask God for His plan and do what He tells us to do. In chapter six we find Joshua getting God’s plan and doing what He says to do! This chapter demonstrates again that God uses foolish things to confound the mighty. * With Gideon, He used torches and pitchers. * With David, He used a sling and a stone. * With Joshua, He used trumpets and a shout. Beloved, there are three degrees of faith. * Reposing Faith … it rests upon the Gospel of Christ. * Reckoning Faith … it counts upon God’s promises. * Risking Faith … it dares to do something for the Lord. The book of Joshua is about these three degrees of faith as God’s people rest upon God’s Word, count on God’s promises, and dare to do great things for God because they believe and obey His Word. God’s people have dedicated themselves to serve God and “Boom,” they were immediately confronted with a Jericho. If you dedicate yourself to be what Christ wants you to be, you are going to be faced with many Jericho’s in your life. You will face.… * the Jericho of popularity with the world. * the Jericho of sinful habits that need to be conquered. * the Jericho of materialism and greed as money becomes the basis of your decisions instead of the will of God. * the Jericho of paganism and persecution. * the Jericho of apathy and indifference. The “I Don’t Care” attitude must be defeated. * the Jericho of carnal Christians that might mislead or discourage you must be beaten. Victory in the Christian life involves conquering these Jericho’s! Israel could not leave Jericho in its rear. They had to confront it and conquer it. We must do the same with that which would hinder us. (Treasures from Joshua) Bob
Josué 6
Pink - We turn next to consider the patience of their faith, which was conspicuously evidenced here. The walls of Jericho did not fall down the first day nor the sixth that Israel marched around them, but only "after they had been compassed about seven days." Nor did they fall the first time they were encompassed on the seventh day, but not until after seven circuits had been made on that day. No less than thirteen journeys around them were completed before the power of God was displayed. Why so? To test their patience as well as their courage and obedience. They must be kept waiting on the Lord....Israel were required to carry out the orders they had received, to persevere in the performance of duty, and leave the issue with the Lord. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to those who are steadfast and persistent. Joshua 6:15 Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times. they rose early at the dawning of the day: Ps 119:147 Mt 28:1 2Pe 1:19 only on that day: Jos 6:4 Joshua 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SEVEN CIRCUITS OF THE CITY Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times - The seventh day was unique with 7 times around the city. Alan Redpath - Why had they walked thirteen times around that place in silence? I suggest it took that long for every one of them to realize that it was utterly impossible for them to capture Jericho if God were not with them--thirteen big long looks at the enemy, until they became convinced that they were no match for those behind the walls. God made the Israelites walk around the great fortification until within themselves they died to every hope of conquest unless God should intervene. (Victorious Christian Living) Henry