John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And ye shall compass the city, all [ye] men of war , etc.] Joshua their chief commander under the Lord, and all that were able to make war, even all above twenty years of age; these were to compass the city, not in the form of a siege, but by a procession around it: [and] go round about the city once ; or one time, for the first once in a day, and no more: thus shall thou do six days ; one after another; that is, go round it, once every day, for such a time. This order was given, according to the Jews f82 , the twenty second of Nisan, after the feast of unleavened bread was over.
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 וסבתם5437 את853 העיר5892 כל3605 אנשׁי376 המלחמה4421 הקיף5362 את853 העיר5892 פעם6471 אחת259 כה3541 תעשׂה6213 שׁשׁת8337 ימים׃3117
