Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 6:4
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
4. trumpets of rams’ horns ] Rather, trumpets of soundings, or, of jubilee; “seuen trompes, vhose use is in the jubile.” Not the long straight trumpets generally used, but the same kind that were to be employed on the first day of the seventh month (Lev 23:24), and to announce the year of Jubilee (Lev 25:9). This instrument was curved, and would be more accurately rendered “ cornet, ” as in 1Ch 15:28; 2Ch 15:14; Psa 98:6; Hos 5:8; Dan 3:5.
seven ] Observe the significance here of the number: seven priests; seven horns; seven days of compassing the walls; seven repetitions of it on the seventh day. The influence of the number “seven” was not restricted to the Hebrews. It prevailed among the Persians (Est 1:10; Est 1:14), among the ancient Indians, to a certain extent among the Greeks and Romans, and probably among all nations where the week of seven days was established, as in Egypt, Arabia, China. Amongst the Hebrews seven days were appointed as the length of the Feasts of Passover and Tabernacles; seven days for the ceremonies of the consecration of priests; seven victims were to be offered on any special occasion; and at the ratification of a treaty, the notion of seven was embodied in the very term signifying to swear, literally meaning to do seven times (Gen 21:28). The number seven was thus impressed with the seal of sanctity as the symbol of all connected with the Deity, with the subordinate notions of perfection or completeness. See Smith’s Bibl. Dict. Art. “Seven.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 4. Seven trumpets of rams’ horns] The Hebrew word yobelim does not signify rams’ horns; (See Clarke on Le 25:11); nor do any of the ancient versions, the Chaldee excepted, give it this meaning. The instruments used on this occasion were evidently of the same kind with those used on the jubilee, and were probably made of horn or of silver; and the text in this place may be translated, And seven priests shall bear before the ark the seven jubilee trumpets, for they appear to have been the same kind as those used on the jubilee.
Seven times] The time was thus lengthened out that the besiegers and the besieged might be the more deeply impressed with that supernatural power by which alone the walls fell.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of rams horns, or, of the jubilees, i.e. such trumpets wherewith they were to sound in the years of jubilee, Lev 25:9. Either this, or one of the other six, was certainly a sabbath day; and it is not material which was it, for the command of the Lord of the sabbath was sufficient to legitimate any action.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns,…. The ark was to be taken up and carried by priests round the city. Ben Gersom observes, that this was to direct the Israelites to keep and do according to all that was written in it; that is, in the law, which was contained in it; but no doubt the design of it was to show, that the subduing of Jericho, and the miracle that would be wrought, were owing to the power and presence of God, of which the ark was a symbol: and before it were to go seven other priests, with trumpets in their hands; which, according to our version, were made of rams horns: in the original it is “jobelim”, or “jubilee” trumpets. Some think it means only such as they were to use in the year of jubilee; so Abarbinel and others, as Masius and Noldius x; that they had their name from Jubal, the first inventor of musical instruments, Ge 4:21; for rams’ horns are objected to because they are solid, and not hollow; as if they could not be bored and made hollow, and fit for such a purpose. The Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret the word by rams horns, as we do y; and observe what R. Akiba said,
“when (says he) I went into Arabia, I heard them call; a ram “jobel”; and the trumpet itself is called “jobel”, because made of a ram’s horn z:”
and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times; in the same manner as on the other days:
and the priests shall blow with the trumpets; which they were to do; and did every day.
x P. 160. No. 1515. y So Joseph. Antiqu. l. 5. c. 6. sect. 5. z Kimchi, Sepher. Shorash. rad. R. Sol. Urbim. Ohel Moed, fol. 39. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) Seven trumpets of rams horns.Literally, trumpets of jubileei.e., of loud or joyful sound.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“ And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Ark, and the seventh day you shall surround the city seven times, and the priests will blow with the trumpets.”
Seven was the number of divine completeness among many nations. It was seen by all as a sacred number. Something sevenfold was total. (In Sumerian religious literature seven, along with three, were the only numbers ever used even though they were a highly numerate nation, and it was from Sumer that Abram came). Included in the surrounding of the city was the presence of the Ark. This demonstrated to all that what was to happen would be the activity of YHWH, there invisibly with His troops. The blowing of the trumpets and the silence of the soldiers would draw all eyes to the Ark. We are left to imagine the growing fear and dread in the hearts of the inhabitants.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 4. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns Some have observed, that rams’ horns cannot be bored, and made so as to give any thing of a strong sound; and therefore by rams’ horns here, they would understand trumpets made in the shape of rams’ horns. But this supposed difficulty, of making such an instrument of a ram’s horn as may give a pretty strong sound, is not well founded; it being certain, that the inside of these horns is no way hard, and may easily be taken out, excepting a space at the point, of about four or five inches, part of which is sawed off, in order to proportion the aperture to the mouth; after which, the rest is easily pierced. We can assure our readers, say the authors of the Universal History, that we have seen some of these trumpets, thus made, used by shepherds in the southern parts of Germany.
And the seventh day you shall compass the city, &c. Grotius very properly observes, that the number seven is suited or appropriated to things sacred: it is evidently so in this place. We shall not, however, insist upon it. The reader may consult a variety of authors respecting the facts; particularly Drusius on the passage, and on Lev 4:6.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jos 6:4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
Ver. 4. Seven trumpets of rams’ horns.] God usually goeth a way by himself, and worketh his will by such means as the world judgeth absurd and ridiculous.
And the seventh day.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
rams’ horns = trumpets of Jubilee, of long sound. Exo 19:13.
the seventh day = on the seventh day.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
trumpets of rams’: The words shopheroth hyyovelim, should rather be rendered jubilee, trumpets, i.e., such as were used on the jubilee, which were probably made of horn or silver: for the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan was indeed a jubilee to them – see note on Lev 25:11. Instead of the dreadful trumpet of war, they were ordered to sound the trumpet of joy, as already conquerors. Lev 25:9, Num 10:1-10, Jdg 7:7, Jdg 7:8, Jdg 7:15-22, 2Ch 13:12, 2Ch 20:17, 2Ch 20:19, 2Ch 20:21, Isa 27:13, Zec 4:6
seven times: Gen 2:3, Gen 7:2, Gen 7:3, Lev 4:6, Lev 14:16, Lev 25:8, Num 23:1, 1Ki 18:43, 2Ki 5:10, Job 42:8, Zec 4:2, Rev 1:4, Rev 1:20, Rev 5:1, Rev 5:6, Rev 8:2, Rev 8:6, Rev 10:3, Rev 15:1, Rev 15:7, Rev 16:1
Reciprocal: Num 10:8 – General Num 31:6 – the holy instruments Jos 6:8 – before the Lord Jos 6:15 – only on that day Jdg 7:20 – blew Jdg 7:22 – blew 1Sa 4:3 – Let us 2Sa 6:15 – the sound 2Sa 15:24 – bearing 2Ki 4:29 – lay my staff 2Ch 6:41 – the ark 2Ch 7:6 – the priests 2Ch 29:26 – the priests Neh 12:35 – with trumpets Zec 9:14 – blow 1Co 14:8 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of {e} rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
(e) That the conquest might not be assigned to man’s power, but to the mercy of God, which with most weak things can overcome that which seems most strong.