Add parallel Print Page Options

12-13 Joshua got up early the next morning, and for the second time the priests and soldiers marched around the city in the same order as the day before: first, the advance guard; next, the seven priests blowing the seven trumpets; then, the priests carrying the Lord's Covenant Box; and finally, the rear guard. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 14 On this second day they again marched around the city one time and then returned to camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day they got up at daybreak and marched seven times around the city in the same way—this was the only day that they marched around it seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests were about to sound the trumpets, Joshua ordered the people to shout, and he said, “The Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and everything in it must be totally destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only the prostitute Rahab and her household will be spared, because she hid our spies. 18 But you are not to take anything that is to be destroyed; if you do, you will bring trouble and destruction on the Israelite camp. 19 Everything made of silver, gold, bronze, or iron is set apart for the Lord. It is to be put in the Lord's treasury.”

20 (A)So the priests blew the trumpets. As soon as the people heard it, they gave a loud shout, and the walls collapsed. Then all the army went straight up the hill into the city and captured it. 21 With their swords they killed everyone in the city, men and women, young and old. They also killed the cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

Read full chapter

12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.(A) 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!(B) 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a](C) to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute(D) and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid(E) the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things,(F) so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction(G) and bring trouble(H) on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron(I) are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

20 When the trumpets sounded,(J) the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout,(K) the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.(L) 21 They devoted(M) the city to the Lord and destroyed(N) with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 6:17 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 18 and 21.