Joshua 6:11-14 · Bible study
Joshua 6:11-14 Commentary: The Ark Circles Jericho Once Each Day
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Israel circle Jericho only once each day for six days and return to camp each night? Obedience, patience, and the presence of God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Israel's six-day ritual of circling Jericho once each day, returning to camp at night, was a test of obedience and patience that prepared them for God's dramatic intervention on the seventh day.
- Key words: va/iyassev (H5437) 'he caused to go around', Joshua orchestrates the procession; halokh (infinitive absolute of H1980) 'continually walking', sustained, ongoing movement; shofarot (H7782) 'trumpets of rams' horns', the sound of God's presence and call to worship.
- Main debate: Minimal. Some question whether the entire host participated; most scholars (Clarke, Cambridge) agree a select group sufficed given Jericho's size.
- Theological theme: Faith that acts on God's word before seeing results. Obedience is not about efficiency but about trust in God's timing and methods.
- Best use: Sermons on patience, spiritual warfare, the importance of daily disciplines, and the nature of corporate worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
11So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. And the people returned to the camp and spent the night there.
12Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests took the ark of the LORD.
13And the seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns kept marching ahead of the ark of the LORD and blowing the horns. The armed troops went in front of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the horns kept sounding.
14So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
WEB World English Bible 2000
11So he caused Yahweh’s ark to go around the city, circling it once. Then they came into the camp, and stayed in the camp.
12Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up Yahweh’s ark.
13The seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of Yahweh’s ark went on continually, and blew the trumpets. The armed men went in front of them. The rear guard came after Yahweh’s ark. The trumpets sounded as they went.
14The second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. They did this six days.
KJV King James Version 1769
11So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
13And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
11So he caused the ark of Jehovah to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of Jehovah.
13And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of Jehovah went on continually, and blew the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of Jehovah, the priests blowing the trumpets as they went.
14And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
11And the ark of Jehovah doth compass the city, going round once, and they come into the camp, and lodge in the camp.
12And Joshua riseth early in the morning, and the priests bear the ark of Jehovah,
13and seven priests bearing seven trumpets of the jubilee before the ark of Jehovah are walking, going on, and they have blown with the trumpets--and he who is armed is going before them, and he who is gathering up is going behind the ark of Jehovah--going on and blowing with the trumpets.
14And they compass the city on the second day once, and turn back to the camp; thus they have done six days.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
11And the ark of Jehovah went round the city, encompassing [it] once; and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests carried the ark of Jehovah.
13And the seven priests carrying the seven blast-trumpets before the ark of Jehovah went on and blew continually with the trumpets; and the armed men went before them, and the rearguard went after the ark of Jehovah; they blew with the trumpets in marching.
14And on the second day they went round the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did six days.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
11So the ark of the Lord went about the city once a day, and returning into the camp, abode there.
12And Joshua rising before day, the priests took the ark of the Lord,
13And seven of them seven trumpets, which are used in the jubilee: and they went before the ark of the Lord, walking and sounding the trumpets: and the armed men went before them, and the rest of the common people followed the ark, and they blew the trumpets.
14And they went round about the city the second day once, and returned into the camp. So they did six days.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Joshua 6:11
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the six days of once-daily circling, with the procession returning to camp each night, tested Israel's faith and obedience to a seemingly irrational command. Adam Clarke notes it was not the entire host, only a select number, since Jericho was a small city and the fighting men alone numbered nearly 600,000. The Cambridge Bible points out that each evening they returned to their encampment at Gilgal to spend the night. Gill emphasizes Joshua's rising early each morning, showing he carried out God's instructions with precise care and punctuality. Matthew Henry sees in the repetition a pattern of patient trust: Israel did not yet see results, but they obeyed anyway. The repeated circuit built anticipation for the seventh day, when the walls would fall. Across traditions, the unanimous reading is that the ritual was a test of willingness to follow God's method over human strategy.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The narrative reports that for six days Israel circled Jericho once each day and returned to camp each night in obedience to God's command, preparing for the seventh day's breakthrough.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Size of the procession | Only a portion of the people circled the city each day; the entire host could not have fit around Jericho. | All supplied commentators agree on this point; no significant debate. |
| Literal vs. symbolic interpretation | The narrative is presented as a literal historical account of Israel's conquest of Jericho. | Some traditions read it as straightforward history; others also see it as a typology or allegory of spiritual warfare, but the literal sense is not contested. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The ark of Yahweh occupied the center of Israel's worship and warfare. It signified God's throne on earth and his presence leading the army. At Jericho, the ark took the lead position in the procession, followed by the armed men and the rear guard. The Hebrew verb form va/i.ya.Sev (H5437), 'he caused to go around', shows Joshua gave the order; the ark itself was carried by priests, not pulled on a cart as it had been centuries earlier. The city of Jericho was 'shut up' (Joshua 6:1), a fortified stronghold guarding the entrance to Canaan. Israel's camp was at Gilgal, about two miles away, which is why Cambridge notes they 'came into the camp' each night rather than staying near the walls.
Only a portion of the people circled the city each day. Clarke argues convincingly that Jericho's walls could not have accommodated a full host of millions. So a select group, priests, ark-bearers, trumpet-blowers, armed guards, and a rear guard, performed the circuit. The order was precise: the armed men went first, then seven priests with rams' horns, then the ark, then the rear guard. The trumpets blew continuously, using the Hebrew infinitive absolute ha.Lokh and ta.Ko.a' to emphasize sustained, ongoing action. This was not a hurried march but a deliberate, rhythmic procession. Each day ended the same way: return to camp and rest until morning.
Literarily, the passage builds tension. The reader knows the walls will fall on the seventh day, but the characters do not. Their nightly retreat to camp underscores that this was not a siege built on human logistics. It was a liturgical act of trust. Joshua's early rising (Genesis 22:3; Joshua 3:1 echoes Abraham's prompt obedience) shows a leader fully committed to each day's small step of faith.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Joshua 6:11-14. The passage is consistent across the Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions, with minor differences in English translations (e.g., 'compassed' vs. 'circled', 'rereward' vs. 'rear guard') reflecting translation style rather than underlying text.
Reception History
Across Christian history, Joshua 6:11-14 has been read as a model of faith in action. Early church writers drew parallels between the seven days of marching and the seven days of creation, a pattern of God bringing order out of chaos through his Word. In medieval spirituality, the slow circuit of Jericho was seen as an image of the contemplative life: repeated prayer and quiet trust that eventually brings down strongholds of sin. Protestant commentators such as Matthew Henry highlighted Joshua's prompt obedience as a lesson for leaders. Hymns like 'Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho' have kept the story alive in African-American spiritual tradition, celebrating God's power to deliver when human strength is set aside. The passage continues to comfort believers who feel they are walking in circles, reminding them that obedience is never wasted.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Obedience without explanation. God told Israel to march around a fortified city once a day for six days. No battle plan, no weapons. The command required trust that the unseen God was working.
- Rhythm of faith. Each day ended with a return to camp. The people did not camp in victory, they rested in obedience. Their work was simply to show up and do what God said.
- Anticipation built through repetition. Six days of the same routine prepared them for the seventh day's breakthrough. Faithfulness in the ordinary steady march leads to extraordinary outcomes.
Five-point outline
- The ark leads. God's presence, not human strategy, is at the front of the procession.
- The trumpets sound. The continuous blowing signaled that this was an act of worship as much as warfare.
- The people follow in order. Armed guards, priests, ark, rear guard, everyone had a place and a role.
- Daily repetition. One circuit per day for six days. No shortcuts, no fast-forwarding.
- Nightly return to camp. They did not camp at the city. They rested in God's provision, not in their own achievement.
Illustration hooks
- Waiting in a long line. You have a ticket, the event starts in six hours, but the line moves one step every hour. You could push ahead, but you trust the system. Each small step is progress, even when nothing visible changes.
- Following a recipe to the letter. The baker adds an ingredient that seems odd, a pinch of salt in a sweet cake. The instruction seems pointless, but the baker trusts the recipe. The final product proves the method.
- Praying the same prayer for months. You bring the same request to God day after day, with no visible answer. Each prayer is a circuit around the wall. You return to camp, to ordinary life, but you keep showing up. The breakthrough may come on the seventh day.
Questions your congregation is asking
- "Why would God ask us to do something that looks so pointless?"
- "How do I keep obeying when I see no results?"
- "Is there spiritual power in simple, repetitive obedience?"
Leading a Discussion
This passage invites us to examine how we respond when God's instructions do not match our expectations. The people of Israel had waited centuries to enter the land. Now they faced a fortified city, and God told them to walk around it in silence, once a day, and then go back to camp. How would you have felt on day three? On day five?
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the order of the procession in verses 11, 13? Why do you think God emphasized such specific details?
- The Hebrew verb for 'went on continually' (v.13) is an infinitive absolute, ha.Lokh, stressing ongoing action. What does this repetition teach about the nature of faith?
- Joshua rose early each morning (v.12). How does his example of prompt obedience challenge or encourage you in your own daily walk with God?
- The people returned to camp each night. Instead of camping near the city, they went back to Gilgal. Why was this rhythm and rest important? What would you have been tempted to do differently?
- Adam Clarke notes that only a select number of people, not the whole host, actually circled the city. How does this affect how you see your own role in God's work, even if your part seems small?
- How do you respond when God asks you to do something that feels weak, repetitive, or unstrategic? Can you think of a time when faithful repetition preceded a breakthrough?
- Read John 2:5 and John 2:8. How does Mary's instruction, 'Whatever he says to you, do it', connect to the obedience of Israel at Jericho?
- What would change in your life if you treated each day's simple obedience (prayer, kindness, work) as a circuit around a wall that God intends to bring down?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 22:3 | Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. |
| Deuteronomy 31:25 | Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, saying, |
| Joshua 3:1 | Joshua got up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They camped there before they crossed over. |
| Joshua 6:6 | Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before Yahweh’s ark.” |
| Joshua 6:8 | It was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before Yahweh advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of Yahweh’s covenant followed them. |
| John 2:5 | His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” |
| John 2:8 | He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. |
| John 6:10 | Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that the enormous Israelite host, numbering millions, could not have marched around Jericho daily. Only a select group, not the entire nation, was employed for this task, since Jericho was a small city that required far fewer troops than Joshua commanded.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible note draws attention to the fact that after each day's march around Jericho, the Israelites returned to their camp at Gilgal every evening. This pattern continued for the first day and the six succeeding days, showing they did not stay near the city
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the precise daily routine: the Ark led the procession once around Jericho for six days, with priests blowing rams-horn trumpets, armed men marching ahead, and the main army following behind. This orderly repetition and specific arrangement of the people around the Ark is the focus of the commentator's observation.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses the precise, unhurried order of the six days' marches: the ark was carried once around the city each day, keeping well out of arrow range, and all returned to camp at Gilgal every night. He notes Joshua's early rising to ensure every detail was done exactly as God commanded.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord —The second day's procession seems to have taken place in the morning. In all other respects, down even to the smallest details, the arrangements of the first day continued to be the rule followed on the other six.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes the patient, silent procession around Jericho for six days as an exercise in unconditional faith, designed to teach Israel that only God's power could conquer the city. He sees the miracle as a type of the final overthrow of all worldly powers opposed to God's kingdom, signaling that victory comes through divine intervention, not human effort.