HISTORICAL BOOKS
JOSHUA
CHAPTER
6
1. Now Jericho was shut up inside and out because of the Israelites; no one came out and no one went in.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 1)
At times of my life Oh God I was also like Jericho. I had decided to pull up the draw bridge, launch my defences on red alert and permit nobody to be part of my inner circles. However You showed me that this form of lifestyle was unhealthy for me. You showed me that I am to be careful regards whom I permit in a healthy way to be part of my life, however You were to be my guardian forever. During times of insecurity by means of others and even directly You showed me, those whom I can trust, from those whom I had better be on guard for my own well being. I thank You oh God for raising this sense of awareness in me.
2. The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have handed Jericho over to you, along with its king and soldiers.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 2)
Oh God You give us a victory over our moments of persecution when we are experiencing moments of tribulation. You tell us that the victory is Yours and that evil and its negative forces is no match for You.
3. You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city once. Thus you shall do for six days, 4. with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the trumpets. 5. When they make a long blast with ram's horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and all the people shall charge straight ahead."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 3 to 5)
Oh God if I were Joshua and I was given such a command in order to overthrow the city of Jericho humanly speaking I would have preferred praying that You send balls of fire as You did on Sodom and Gomorrah, however our ways are not Your ways. Moreover You always give us the peaceful and non violent option. I also imagine that the warriors circled the city in a spirit of prayer that reflects the mighty power of praise that is even strong enough to lay flat the walls of a mighty city. Therefore when in a crisis do not resort to physical violence but to the mighty power of praise to God, for as this power had the strength to destroy the walls of Jericho it has the power to destroy the barriers of Your problem or cause of concern.
6. So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD." 7. To the people he said, "Go forward and march around the city; have the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God may I always obey Your will as in the case of Joshua. May You always walk before me for I am weak and frail. However as in verses 6 to 7, You are telling me to go forward and proceed in life while to be convinced that You will always be with me in what I do and say when it is focused on doing Your will.
8. As Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. 9. And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets; the rear guard came after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 8 to 9)
In order to imagine what this procession looked like please click on the following link
The march on Jericho
In order to get an idea of what the scene may have looked like please move the marker of this video clip to 32.59 or better more view the entire video.
As in the case of Joshua You did not send him with missiles and tanks but with trumpets. As Christians instead of resorting to violence Your Mother Mary beckons on us to pray the Rosary which has the power to stop the harshest of wars.
10. To the people Joshua gave this command: "You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall you utter a word, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 10)
Oh God one thing that I know You like is our obedience. This is very important for us to walk according to Your will. In order to pledge our obedience to You we are to forsake ourselves and our wills in order to place our complete trust in You my God. Amen.
11. So the ark of the LORD went around the city, circling it once; and they came into the camp, and spent the night in the camp.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 11)
I can imagine how baffled were the soldiers of Jericho on seeing Joshua and your people in a procession around the city without making a sign of attack on the city. Oh God we can never understand Your ways for we are functioning on two different wavelengths. You function from a spiritual perspective and we function from a worldly one, which at times is contrary to Your ways. On the other hand our perspective is limited while You always see the big picture and are always more than one step ahead of us not limited by time and space.
12. Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark of the LORD passed on, blowing the trumpets continually. The armed men went before them, and the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. 14. On the second day they marched around the city once and then returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 12 to 14)
For six days oh God Joshua was to perform the same ritual. I can only imagine the frustration of his armed men and the rest of the people, however in life much patience is needed. When a situation does not change it may be the case that although the situation appears to be at a standstill in the background You are at work, ready to put into action Your plan at the perfect timing.
15. On the seventh day they rose early at dawn, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16. And at the seventh time when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. 17. The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 15 to 17)
Finally on the seventh day You gave the city to Your people. Oh God even though it may have seemed to be an eternity when the time arrived, You kept Your word and gave the city of Jericho to Joshua and Your people. In relation to my issue with the insurance company and the person who crashed into my car, after a 3 months period of waiting You, changed the situation by making me meet the right person at the agency, who intervened on my behalf and now justice is being done in the sense, that the insurance of the person who crashed into my car is going to pay for the damages incurred on my vehicle.
18. As for you, keep away from the things devoted to destruction, so as not to covet and take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel an object for destruction, bringing trouble upon it.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 18)
Oh God although You kept Your promise in relation to the conquest of the promised land, You still warned the people against being contaminated by the false gods and symbols worshipped by the people of Jericho, so that Your people may remain faithful to You.
Oh Father during our times 2016 people of different cultures and religions are settling down in Malta and in many parts of the world. Many people who do not have a strong relationship with You are marrying these people and denying their Faith for religions such as Islam.
19. But all silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 19)
Oh God in Your infinite wisdom You do not wish us to waste resources. You instructed Your people to salvage the good materials to be used in Your service and discard or destroy any false idol's that they might come across.
20. So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpets, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat; so the people charged straight ahead into the city and captured it.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 20)
United as one people, with one voice, one intention and one people our prayers are also able to cause miracles to happen, miracles much greater than the fall of walls, a change of heart and attitude in the hearts of those people who wish to wage war on Christians and people of other religions. Instead of condemning them, we can unite in prayer for their salvation Amen.
21. Then they devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep and donkeys.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 21)
Oh God when You give us victory over ourselves, or maybe an addiction, compulsive behaviour or any other form of negative act, we are to destroy the object that is causing us to sin, as in cigarettes, or alcohol or drugs, so as not to be able to access them again forever. For if the occasion befalls us we might be found weak and we might fall into temptation.
22. Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house, and bring the woman out of it and all who belong to her, as you swore to her."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 22)
Oh God as much as You keep Your promises, You also would like us to keep our promises, especially after You have graciously been of help to us, It is only fair that we be fair to others and keep our commitments.
23. So the young men who had been spies went in and brought Rahab out along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her- they brought all her kindred out-and set them outside the camp of Israel.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 23)
Oh God as in Your case Joshua kept his word and had mercy on Rahab and her family, however even though she proved to be a genuine person, her family was not yet allowed to integrate within the people of Israel, in order to preserve the sanctity or purity of the people.
24. They burned down the city, and everything in it; only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 24)
Oh God when You have given us total overcoming of our old life, there is no going back to it. The past is in the past, and we have a new life before us to lead. Anything from our old life that can be used to help both ourselves and others in our new life based on You may be saved, however the rest may willingly perish.
25. But Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her; Joshua spared. Her family has lived in Israel ever since. For she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 25)
Oh God how true are Your Words. For those of us who think that as Christians we are in a way privileged to the Kingdom of Heaven over others who are opinion are not living a life according to the will of God, please think again and consider the case of Rahab, who although had led the life of a prostitute by means of one act God had mercy on her and her family and gave them salvation and security from the penalty that had been declared on Jericho. The same thing and reasoning is also valid for the Kingdom of Heaven. So those of us who think they are righteous go ahead and help others walk the same way, but those who feel superior get off the the throne of pride and go back to the basics and seek a u turn in one's life and return to the pathway of Salvation!
26. Joshua then pronounced this oath saying, "Cursed before the LORD be anyone who tries to build this city-this Jericho! At the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates!" 27. So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 26 to 27)
Apparently in time the city of Jericho was reconstructed and as proclaimed in Joshua's oath during the construction the oath was fulfilled as found in the following link:-
The price of building Jericho
Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God I pray both for myself and even for the world. My prayer is that we overcome our selves and learn to discover and obey Your will every day of our lives. May You give us the strength to go against our will in order to obey Your Holy Will. May we will what You will and that nothing that goes against Your will be found in us Amen.
2. The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have handed Jericho over to you, along with its king and soldiers.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 2)
Oh God You give us a victory over our moments of persecution when we are experiencing moments of tribulation. You tell us that the victory is Yours and that evil and its negative forces is no match for You.
3. You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city once. Thus you shall do for six days, 4. with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the trumpets. 5. When they make a long blast with ram's horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and all the people shall charge straight ahead."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 3 to 5)
Oh God if I were Joshua and I was given such a command in order to overthrow the city of Jericho humanly speaking I would have preferred praying that You send balls of fire as You did on Sodom and Gomorrah, however our ways are not Your ways. Moreover You always give us the peaceful and non violent option. I also imagine that the warriors circled the city in a spirit of prayer that reflects the mighty power of praise that is even strong enough to lay flat the walls of a mighty city. Therefore when in a crisis do not resort to physical violence but to the mighty power of praise to God, for as this power had the strength to destroy the walls of Jericho it has the power to destroy the barriers of Your problem or cause of concern.
6. So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD." 7. To the people he said, "Go forward and march around the city; have the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God may I always obey Your will as in the case of Joshua. May You always walk before me for I am weak and frail. However as in verses 6 to 7, You are telling me to go forward and proceed in life while to be convinced that You will always be with me in what I do and say when it is focused on doing Your will.
8. As Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. 9. And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets; the rear guard came after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 8 to 9)
In order to imagine what this procession looked like please click on the following link
The march on Jericho
In order to get an idea of what the scene may have looked like please move the marker of this video clip to 32.59 or better more view the entire video.
As in the case of Joshua You did not send him with missiles and tanks but with trumpets. As Christians instead of resorting to violence Your Mother Mary beckons on us to pray the Rosary which has the power to stop the harshest of wars.
10. To the people Joshua gave this command: "You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall you utter a word, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 10)
Oh God one thing that I know You like is our obedience. This is very important for us to walk according to Your will. In order to pledge our obedience to You we are to forsake ourselves and our wills in order to place our complete trust in You my God. Amen.
11. So the ark of the LORD went around the city, circling it once; and they came into the camp, and spent the night in the camp.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 11)
I can imagine how baffled were the soldiers of Jericho on seeing Joshua and your people in a procession around the city without making a sign of attack on the city. Oh God we can never understand Your ways for we are functioning on two different wavelengths. You function from a spiritual perspective and we function from a worldly one, which at times is contrary to Your ways. On the other hand our perspective is limited while You always see the big picture and are always more than one step ahead of us not limited by time and space.
12. Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark of the LORD passed on, blowing the trumpets continually. The armed men went before them, and the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. 14. On the second day they marched around the city once and then returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 12 to 14)
For six days oh God Joshua was to perform the same ritual. I can only imagine the frustration of his armed men and the rest of the people, however in life much patience is needed. When a situation does not change it may be the case that although the situation appears to be at a standstill in the background You are at work, ready to put into action Your plan at the perfect timing.
15. On the seventh day they rose early at dawn, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16. And at the seventh time when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. 17. The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 15 to 17)
Finally on the seventh day You gave the city to Your people. Oh God even though it may have seemed to be an eternity when the time arrived, You kept Your word and gave the city of Jericho to Joshua and Your people. In relation to my issue with the insurance company and the person who crashed into my car, after a 3 months period of waiting You, changed the situation by making me meet the right person at the agency, who intervened on my behalf and now justice is being done in the sense, that the insurance of the person who crashed into my car is going to pay for the damages incurred on my vehicle.
18. As for you, keep away from the things devoted to destruction, so as not to covet and take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel an object for destruction, bringing trouble upon it.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 18)
Oh God although You kept Your promise in relation to the conquest of the promised land, You still warned the people against being contaminated by the false gods and symbols worshipped by the people of Jericho, so that Your people may remain faithful to You.
Oh Father during our times 2016 people of different cultures and religions are settling down in Malta and in many parts of the world. Many people who do not have a strong relationship with You are marrying these people and denying their Faith for religions such as Islam.
19. But all silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 19)
Oh God in Your infinite wisdom You do not wish us to waste resources. You instructed Your people to salvage the good materials to be used in Your service and discard or destroy any false idol's that they might come across.
20. So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpets, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat; so the people charged straight ahead into the city and captured it.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 20)
United as one people, with one voice, one intention and one people our prayers are also able to cause miracles to happen, miracles much greater than the fall of walls, a change of heart and attitude in the hearts of those people who wish to wage war on Christians and people of other religions. Instead of condemning them, we can unite in prayer for their salvation Amen.
21. Then they devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep and donkeys.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 21)
Oh God when You give us victory over ourselves, or maybe an addiction, compulsive behaviour or any other form of negative act, we are to destroy the object that is causing us to sin, as in cigarettes, or alcohol or drugs, so as not to be able to access them again forever. For if the occasion befalls us we might be found weak and we might fall into temptation.
22. Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house, and bring the woman out of it and all who belong to her, as you swore to her."
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 22)
Oh God as much as You keep Your promises, You also would like us to keep our promises, especially after You have graciously been of help to us, It is only fair that we be fair to others and keep our commitments.
23. So the young men who had been spies went in and brought Rahab out along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her- they brought all her kindred out-and set them outside the camp of Israel.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 23)
Oh God as in Your case Joshua kept his word and had mercy on Rahab and her family, however even though she proved to be a genuine person, her family was not yet allowed to integrate within the people of Israel, in order to preserve the sanctity or purity of the people.
24. They burned down the city, and everything in it; only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 24)
Oh God when You have given us total overcoming of our old life, there is no going back to it. The past is in the past, and we have a new life before us to lead. Anything from our old life that can be used to help both ourselves and others in our new life based on You may be saved, however the rest may willingly perish.
25. But Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her; Joshua spared. Her family has lived in Israel ever since. For she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verse 25)
Oh God how true are Your Words. For those of us who think that as Christians we are in a way privileged to the Kingdom of Heaven over others who are opinion are not living a life according to the will of God, please think again and consider the case of Rahab, who although had led the life of a prostitute by means of one act God had mercy on her and her family and gave them salvation and security from the penalty that had been declared on Jericho. The same thing and reasoning is also valid for the Kingdom of Heaven. So those of us who think they are righteous go ahead and help others walk the same way, but those who feel superior get off the the throne of pride and go back to the basics and seek a u turn in one's life and return to the pathway of Salvation!
26. Joshua then pronounced this oath saying, "Cursed before the LORD be anyone who tries to build this city-this Jericho! At the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates!" 27. So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.
(Historical Books Joshua Chapter 6 verses 26 to 27)
Apparently in time the city of Jericho was reconstructed and as proclaimed in Joshua's oath during the construction the oath was fulfilled as found in the following link:-
The price of building Jericho
Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God I pray both for myself and even for the world. My prayer is that we overcome our selves and learn to discover and obey Your will every day of our lives. May You give us the strength to go against our will in order to obey Your Holy Will. May we will what You will and that nothing that goes against Your will be found in us Amen.
