Read Joshua 6 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
5:13-6:1 {s} Joshua encountered the Commander of YHVH’s army
6:2-11 {p} The strategy to circle Jericho came from the mouth of YHVH
6:12-25 {p} Israel circled Jericho for seven days, shouted, and the walls fell down
6:26 {s} Cursed is the man who rebuilds Jericho
6:27-7:1 {s} YHVH was with Joshua, but Israel took of what was devoted to YHVH
Joshua 5:13-6:27 Chiastic Structure:
We are seeing events in the life of Joshua Repeat Events from the life of Moses. YHVH divided the waters of the Jordan so that Israel would cross it on dry ground, just as He divided the waters of the Red Sea so that Israel would cross it on dry ground. Then,
“Put off your shoe from your foot; for the place where you stand is holy.” Jos 5:15
Repeats:
So when YHVH saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Exo 3:4-5
Then,
And YHVH said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, and its king, even its mighty men of valor.” Jos 6:2
Repeats that Moses encountered YHVH face to face:
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM [i.e., Yehovah] has sent me to you.’” Exo 3:14
Then,
“And it shall be, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the horn, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him.” Jos 6:5
Repeats that God gave Moses the strategy for victory:
“But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.” Exo 3:19-20
God is conferring the same authority onto Joshua that He conferred onto Moses, so that the nations would fear him, and Israel would listen to him, and obey him.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
The Walls of Jericho – Associates for Biblical Research
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