Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it came to pass at the seventh time,.... Of their going round the city on the seventh day: and at the seventh time:

when the priests blew with the trumpets; as they did every time they compassed the city:

Joshua said unto the people, shout; both those that were armed, and those that were not; they were to make one grand and general shout at once, as when victory is obtained, or is sure, and so it follows:

for the Lord hath given you the city; intimating that it would be presently delivered into their hands, and in such manner, that it would plainly show it was of the Lord, and no other.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

Shout — To testify your faith in God's promise, and thankfulness for this glorious mercy; to encourage yourselves and brethren, and to strike a terror into your enemies.

Given you the city — It is given to them, to be devoted to God, as the first, and perhaps the worst of all the cities of Canaan.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

Ver. 16. Shout.] To show your faith, to encourage one another, and to terrify the enemy.

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ver. 16. And—at the seventh time—Joshua said unto the people, Shout, &c.— This shouting might be made in a two-fold view. It might be designed to terrify the enemy, and to animate at the same time the Israelitish soldiery; and, doubtless, it was also to express the faith of the whole people, and the confidence wherewith they relied upon the divine promises. By faith, says St. Paul, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about seven days. Hebrews 11:30.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Shout, to testify your faith in God’s promise, and thankfulness for this glorious mercy, and to encourage yourselves and brethren, and to strike a terror into your enemies.

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

‘And so it was at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for YHWH has given you the city.” ’

This was possibly the long blast of verse 5. The shout was to be a shout of expectation of triumph. YHWH had given them the city!

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

16.Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city — They were to praise the Lord for what he was about to do. Up to this moment it is probable that the soldiers knew nothing of the mode by which the city was to be taken, yet they obeyed with alacrity orders which must have been totally dark with mystery. Verily this is worthy of enrolment among the signal victories of faith. “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” Hebrews 11:30.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Joshua 6:16. At the seventh time Joshua said, Shout — To testify your faith in God’s promise, and thankfulness for this glorious mercy; to encourage yourselves and brethren, and to strike a terror into your enemies. The Lord hath given you the city — It is given to you to be devoted to God, as the first (and perhaps the worst) of all the cities of Canaan.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

CHAPTER VI.

Said, or "had said," when he gave the people the sound of the trumpet for a sign (Haydock) when they were to shout, ver. 5. He probably gave the regulations respecting the plunder of the city, before the army left the camp. (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

the seventh time.Compare Hebrews 11:30.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

It came to pass at the seventh time. This delay, as was evidently the intention of the repeated circuits, brought out their faith and obedience in so remarkable a manner that it is celebrated by the apostle (Hebrews 11:30).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Shout

5; Judges 7:20-22; 2 Chronicles 13:15; 20:22,23