“The next morning Y’hoshua got up early, and the cohanim took up the ark of Adonai.”-Joshua 6:12
Joshua Chapter 6 is jam-packed with Hebraisms and divine principles.
In verse 12, we’re told that Joshua “got up early in the morning”.
This isn’t some throwaway phrase we should lightly gloss over.
This is a literary device the Scripture uses to indicate Joshua’s zealousness in wanting to get on with the Lord’s work.
It is a phrase indicating exceptional worth and honor…
…which makes me feel good because I just happen to be writing this article at about 5am in the morning.
Next, it is impossible to overlook the frequent appearances of the number 7 in this story.
We’re told there were 7 priests carrying 7 shofars who would march around Jericho for 7 days and…
…then finally on the 7th day they would circle the city 7 times.
In addition, the people were told to keep their mouths shut.
There wasn’t to be a peep until the 7th day when everyone was commanded to shout out loud in unison.
What’s the meaning behind all of this?
FIRST, the number 7 indicates the Lord’s perfection, that the taking of Jericho was Hashem’s perfect work and His divine will.
SECOND, the command to the people that they were to stay silent indicates that this work was ALL a work of God and that fleshly man was just an instrument in God’s hands in this situation.
Onward, in verse 16th, we arrive at the momentous 7th day which was going to be an exceptionally long day because the whole army along with the Ark of the Covenant carried by the priests would be encircling the city a whopping 7 times.
And then on the 7th time around, the soldiers were to shout out loud and the shofars were to be blown.
Again, the same Hebrew word RUA is used to describe BOTH the shouting of the army and the blowing of the shofars in order to demonstrate the divine connection between these two actions.
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