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In Joshua 6
● notice the Lord’s language: “I have given Jericho into your hand” (2),
● notice also that God’s people, though God has announced his already accomplished work, have their own responsibilities (perhaps somewhat similar to what happens in Jehoshaphat’s day (2 Chronicles 20),
● understand the ritual, ceremonial nature of those responsibilities: marching, seven (always a good number) priests sounding trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord borne around the walls (8- the third telling of the tasks),
● register the seven-fold compounding on the seventh day (4, 15), which brings forth the time of the collective shout and “the people” (20) entering the city, “every man going straight before him” (20),
● marvel at the discipline expected, keeping quiet during the marches (10) and then shouting at the right moment (10, 16),
● see the discipline expected in committing to destruction (21) the people and things “devoted to destruction” (18, 19),
● see also God at work as a boundary maker- do this not this, devoted to destruction not devoted- and perhaps especially showing this concern for guarding boundaries in the care taken to protect Rahab and those with her (22-25) and to honor the covenant made with her,
● notice the seriousness of the oath “laid on them” (26) by Joshua, a curse forgotten or ignored later (1 Kings 16:34), and
● understand two purposes in God’s work at Jericho, showing his support for Joshua and spreading abroad his “fame” (27).
Thank you,

Randy Tumlinson