Joshua 6:1

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 6:1 introduces the formidable challenge facing the Israelites at the outset of their conquest of Canaan, depicting Jericho as a city hermetically sealed due to the fear of the approaching Israelite army. This verse immediately establishes the human impossibility of taking the city by conventional means, thereby setting the stage for God's miraculous and unconventional intervention, which would underscore His sovereignty and power in fulfilling His promises to His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the immediate narrative bridge from the preparations for conquest to the execution of God's strategy. Following the miraculous [crossing of the Jordan River](/joshua/3 "Joshua 3 - The Crossing of the Jordan"), the Israelites have been encamped at Gilgal, where they observed the Passover and renewed their covenant through circumcision ([Joshua 5:2-12](/joshua/5-2 "Joshua 5:2-12 - Circumcision at Gilgal")). Crucially, the preceding verses in [Joshua 5](/joshua/5 "Joshua 5 - Preparations for Conquest") describe Joshua's encounter with the Commander of the Lord's Army, who reveals that the ground is holy and that the battle belongs to the Lord. Thus, Joshua 6:1 shifts the focus from Israel's spiritual readiness to the physical obstacle of Jericho, emphasizing its impregnability to highlight that the victory will be a divine act, not a human military triumph.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jericho was one of the oldest cities in the world, strategically located at a key crossroads in the Jordan Valley, serving as a gateway to the central highlands of Canaan. Archaeological evidence suggests it was heavily fortified, likely possessing a double wall system, making it a formidable stronghold. The practice of "straitly shutting up" a city was a common defensive measure in ancient warfare when facing an overwhelming or feared enemy. The inhabitants of Jericho would have been acutely aware of the Israelites' journey from Egypt, their miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, and their recent victories over Sihon and Og east of the Jordan ([Numbers 21:21-35](/numbers/21-21 "Numbers 21:21-35 - Israel Defeats Sihon and Og")). Rahab's testimony in [Joshua 2:9-11](/joshua/2-9 "Joshua 2:9-11 - Rahab's Confession of Fear") explicitly confirms the widespread fear and demoralization that had gripped the Canaanite peoples, leading Jericho to adopt this extreme measure of isolation.
* **Key Themes:** Joshua 6:1 introduces several crucial themes that permeate the narrative of the conquest. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Sovereignty versus Human Security**. Jericho's reliance on its impenetrable walls and complete isolation demonstrates a human attempt to secure itself against a perceived threat, contrasting sharply with God's ultimate control over all circumstances. Secondly, the verse establishes the **Impossibility Factor**, presenting an insurmountable human obstacle that magnifies God's power and unconventional methods. By making Jericho humanly unconquerable, God ensures that the ensuing victory will be undeniably His, reinforcing the theme of **God Fighting for His People**. Lastly, it subtly foreshadows the theme of **Obedience to Divine Command**, as Israel's role in the coming battle will not be conventional warfare but faithful adherence to God's unique and seemingly illogical instructions.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Straitly Shut Up (Hebrew, _sāgar_):** The Hebrew verb סָגַר (_sāgar_), meaning "to shut," "to close," or "to bar," is intensified by the adverbial phrase "straitly" (from the root סָגַר, often translated "tightly" or "completely"). This emphasizes the absolute and rigid nature of Jericho's closure. It conveys a sense of total lockdown, indicating that the city was not merely closed but hermetically sealed, reflecting both the inhabitants' profound apprehension and their desperate attempt to secure themselves against the perceived threat of the Israelite advance. The phrase underscores the city's isolation and the complete cessation of normal movement.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ Now Jericho was straitly shut up":** This opening clause immediately establishes the physical state of the city. The use of "straitly shut up" paints a vivid picture of a city under maximum security, its gates barred and its defenses fully activated. This was not a partial closure but a complete lockdown, signaling the inhabitants' extreme fear and their belief that their only hope lay in their formidable fortifications.
* **"because of the children of Israel":** This crucial phrase provides the motivation for Jericho's drastic defensive posture. The city's inhabitants were not merely preparing for a general siege; they were reacting specifically to the presence and reputation of the Israelite army, whose God had miraculously delivered them from Egypt and granted them victories over other powerful kingdoms. Their fear stemmed from the reports of God's mighty acts on behalf of Israel.
* **"none went out, and none came in":** This final clause reiterates and emphasizes the absolute nature of the lockdown. It highlights the complete cessation of all traffic and communication with the outside world. This total isolation meant no one could escape the city, nor could any reinforcements or supplies enter. This detail further underscores the desperate situation of Jericho and sets the stage for a confrontation where conventional military tactics would be rendered useless, making God's impending intervention all the more remarkable.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 6:1 employs several powerful **Literary Devices**. The verse utilizes **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the unconventional nature of the coming battle. By emphasizing Jericho's impregnability, it sets up the expectation that only a supernatural intervention could lead to its fall, thus foreshadowing God's unique and miraculous strategy. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; the very measures taken by Jericho for its security – its complete closure and reliance on its walls – inadvertently prepare it for its unique destruction. The city's self-imposed isolation ensures that all its inhabitants are contained within, making the subsequent divine judgment comprehensive. Furthermore, the description "straitly shut up" and "none went out, and none came in" can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the extreme fear and the absolute nature of the city's defenses, thereby magnifying the scale of the human challenge and the magnitude of God's impending triumph.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 6:1 powerfully illustrates the universal human tendency to seek security in self-reliance and physical defenses rather than in divine power. Jericho's impenetrable walls and complete closure represent the "strongholds" we often erect in our lives – whether physical, emotional, or spiritual – believing they can protect us from perceived threats or allow us to control our circumstances. Yet, this verse subtly reveals that such human efforts, no matter how formidable, are ultimately futile against the sovereign will of God. It sets the stage for a profound theological truth: where human strength reaches its limit, divine power is perfectly poised to manifest. The "impossibility factor" of Jericho was not a hindrance to God's plan but a necessary precondition to demonstrate His unique glory and to teach Israel that their victories would come through faith and obedience, not military might.
* [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalms/33-16 "No King is Saved by the Size of His Army")
* [Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Not by Might Nor by Power")
* [2 Corinthians 10:4](/2_corinthians/10-4 "The Weapons of Our Warfare")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 6:1 serves as a profound reminder that our spiritual journeys are often marked by "walled cities"—seemingly insurmountable obstacles that stand between us and the fulfillment of God's promises. Just as Jericho was an impenetrable barrier to the Israelites entering their promised land, we too encounter challenges that appear formidable, whether they are personal struggles, relational conflicts, financial difficulties, or spiritual strongholds. This verse encourages us to recognize that when human efforts and conventional defenses prove insufficient, it is precisely then that God often steps in with His divine and unconventional solutions. Our response should not be despair or reliance on our own limited strength, but rather a posture of faith and obedience, trusting that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. True security comes not from self-imposed isolation or physical barriers, but from placing our trust in God's omnipotence and His unique, often surprising, plans. It calls us to surrender our "Jerichos" to Him, believing that He specializes in doing the impossible.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "walled cities" or seemingly insurmountable obstacles are you facing in your life right now?**
* **In what ways might you be tempted to "straitly shut up" yourself or rely on your own defenses rather than trusting God with these challenges?**
* **How does the "impossibility factor" of Jericho encourage you to seek God's unconventional solutions rather than relying solely on human strategies?**
* **What specific act of faith or obedience might God be calling you to, even if it seems illogical or counter-intuitive, in the face of your "Jericho"?**

### FAQ

**Why was Jericho considered so important to the Israelites' conquest?**

Answer: Jericho was strategically vital because it was the first major city encountered after crossing the Jordan River, serving as a gateway to the central highlands of Canaan. Its capture was essential for establishing a foothold in the Promised Land and for dividing the northern and southern Canaanite kingdoms, preventing them from forming a unified resistance against Israel. Its fall also served as a powerful sign to both the Israelites and the Canaanites that God was indeed fighting for Israel.

**What does "straitly shut up" imply about the city's state and its inhabitants' mindset?**

Answer: The phrase "straitly shut up" (KJV) or "tightly shut up" (NIV) implies a complete and absolute lockdown. It means the city's gates were not just closed but sealed, with no one permitted to enter or leave. This reflects the extreme fear and desperation of Jericho's inhabitants, who were aware of the Israelites' miraculous journey and victories ([Joshua 2:9-11](/joshua/2-9 "Joshua 2:9-11 - Rahab's Confession")). They believed their only hope for survival lay in their formidable fortifications and complete isolation, cutting themselves off from the outside world entirely.

**How did the people of Jericho know about the children of Israel and their God?**

Answer: The fame of the Israelites' God and His mighty acts had spread throughout the region. Rahab's testimony in [Joshua 2:9-11](/joshua/2-9 "Joshua 2:9-11 - Rahab's Confession of Fear") explicitly states, "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." This indicates that news of God's miraculous interventions and Israel's subsequent victories had instilled widespread terror among the Canaanites, prompting cities like Jericho to take extreme defensive measures.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 6:1, with its depiction of an impregnable Jericho, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate "walled city" that humanity faces: the stronghold of sin and death, which no human effort can breach. Just as Jericho was "straitly shut up" against Israel, humanity was shut out from God's presence by the barrier of sin, with no one able to "go out" from its dominion or "come in" to true life. However, this verse points forward to the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Commander of the Lord's Army ([Joshua 5:13-15](/joshua/5-13 "Joshua and the Commander of the Lord's Army")), who came to dismantle the ultimate spiritual strongholds. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ accomplished what was humanly impossible. He broke down the dividing wall of hostility between God and humanity ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Christ Our Peace, Breaking Down Walls")), triumphing over principalities and powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Triumph Over Principalities")). The fall of Jericho, brought about by God's unconventional strategy and Israel's obedient faith, serves as a magnificent type of Christ's victory over sin and death, opening the way for all who believe to enter the true Promised Land – the eternal kingdom of God, where we have bold access to the throne of grace ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Approach the Throne of Grace")). He is the one who ultimately "shuts up" the power of death and "opens" the gates of righteousness for His people ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 2:9

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

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

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

¶ 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

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

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.