Joshua 6:1

ΒΆ Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

Now Jericho {H3405} was straitly {H5462} shut up {H5462} because {H6440} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}: none went out {H3318}, and none came in {H935}.

Yericho had completely barricaded its gates against the people of Isra'el - no one left, and no one entered.

Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

Commentary

Joshua 6:1 serves as the introductory verse to one of the Bible's most iconic narratives: the Battle of Jericho. It immediately sets the scene for the Israelites' first major engagement in the Promised Land, highlighting the formidable challenge they faced.

Context and Setting the Stage

Following their miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, the children of Israel, led by Joshua, were poised to begin their conquest of Canaan. Jericho was an ancient, heavily fortified city, strategically positioned at the gateway to the central highlands of Canaan. This verse describes the city's reaction to the approaching Israelite host: it was "straitly shut up." This phrase conveys a complete and desperate closure, indicating that no one was permitted to enter or leave. The inhabitants of Jericho were undoubtedly aware of the Israelites' journey from Egypt and their recent victories, spreading fear throughout the land. Their fear, as recounted by Rahab in Joshua 2:9-11, led them to take extreme measures to secure their city.

Key Themes and Insights

  • Fear and Security: The shutting up of Jericho underscores the deep fear that gripped its inhabitants. They sought security within their formidable walls, believing their defenses were impenetrable. This highlights a common human tendency to rely on physical barriers rather than divine protection when facing overwhelming threats.
  • The Impossibility Factor: This verse emphasizes the human impossibility of taking Jericho by conventional siege warfare. The city's complete closure and robust defenses present an insurmountable obstacle, thereby magnifying the miraculous nature of the victory that follows. It sets the stage for God to demonstrate His unique power.
  • Divine Strategy Awaits: Despite the city's impregnable appearance, the narrative subtly points to God's impending intervention. Jericho's closure, intended by its residents for protection, inadvertently prepares the city for God's unconventional and awe-inspiring plan, which would involve the collapse of its walls.

Linguistic Nuance

The KJV phrase "straitly shut up" translates the Hebrew verb Χ‘ΦΈΧ’Φ·Χ¨ (sagar), meaning "to shut," "to close," or "to deliver." The adverb "straitly" emphasizes the absolute and rigid nature of this closure. It conveys a sense of total lockdown, reflecting both the city's isolation and its inhabitants' profound apprehension and desperation in the face of the Israelite advance.

Practical Application

Joshua 6:1 reminds us that seemingly insurmountable obstacles often stand between us and God's promises. Just as Jericho was a formidable barrier to the Israelites entering their promised land, we too encounter "walled cities" in our lives – challenges that appear impenetrable. This verse encourages us to remember that God's ways are not our ways. When human efforts and defenses prove insufficient, it is precisely then that God often steps in with His divine and unconventional solutions, requiring our faith and obedience rather than our strength. It teaches us that true security comes not from self-imposed isolation or physical defenses, but from trusting in God's power and plan.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 2:9 (9 votes)

    And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

  • Joshua 2:14 (9 votes)

    And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

  • Joshua 2:24 (9 votes)

    And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

  • Psalms 127:1 (6 votes)

    ΒΆ A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.

  • Joshua 2:7 (1 votes)

    And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

  • 2 Kings 17:4 (-1 votes)

    And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as [he had done] year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.