John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Now Jericho was straitly shut up, because of the children of Israel , etc.] Or “it shut up”, or “was shutting, and was shut up” f81 ; that is, the king and the inhabitants shut it up within; the Targum says with iron doors, and bars of brass, and it was blocked up without by the children of Israel: none went out and none came in ; none of their forces went out to make a sally on the Israelites, or to seek to make peace with them; nor any of their neighbours went in to them, to carry them any provision, or to assist them, or to be sheltered by them, not being able to do it because of the camp of Israel.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Jericho resolves Israel shall not be its master. It shut itself up being strongly fortified both by art and nature. Thus were the foolish, and their hearts hardened to their destruction; the miserabl case of all that strengthen themselves against the Almighty. God resolves Israel shall be its master, and that quickly. No warlik preparations were to be made. By the uncommon method of besieging the city, the Lord honoured the ark, as the symbol of his presence, an showed that all the victories were from him. The faith and patience of the people were proved and increased.
Original Hebrew ויריחו3405 סגרת5462 ומסגרת5462 מפני6440 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 אין369 יוצא3318 ואין369 בא׃935
