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Joshua 6:26

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And Joshua adjured [them] at that time, saying, Cursed [be] the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest [son] shall he set up the gates of it.

And Joshua {H3091} adjured {H7650} them at that time {H6256}, saying {H559}, Cursed {H779} be the man {H376} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, that riseth up {H6965} and buildeth {H1129} this city {H5892} Jericho {H3405}: he shall lay the foundation {H3245} thereof in his firstborn {H1060}, and in his youngest {H6810} son shall he set up {H5324} the gates {H1817} of it.

Y'hoshua then made the people take this oath: "A curse before ADONAI on anyone who rises up and rebuilds this city of Yericho: he will lay its foundation with the loss of his firstborn son and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son."

At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”

And Joshua charged them with an oath at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before Jehovah, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: with the loss of his first-born shall he lay the foundation thereof, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

Commentary

Joshua 6:26 records a solemn oath and curse pronounced by Joshua immediately after the miraculous fall of the city of Jericho. This verse serves as a powerful warning against defying God's specific commands regarding the devoted city.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following the miraculous collapse of Jericho's walls, the city was declared cherem, meaning "devoted" or "set apart" to the LORD for complete destruction. This was not merely an act of warfare but a religious consecration, where the city and its contents (except for Rahab and her family, as promised) were to be utterly destroyed as a firstfruits offering to God, symbolizing that the first victory belonged entirely to Him. Joshua's curse ensures that no one would attempt to rebuild Jericho, thus preserving its status as a permanent memorial of God's power and judgment. Ancient curses often involved severe consequences, and the mention of the firstborn and youngest son signifies a complete and devastating loss, affecting the entire lineage and legacy of the rebuilder.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority and Judgment: The curse underscores God's absolute authority over the land and His judgment on wickedness. Jericho's destruction was a demonstration of His power and His intention to purify the land for His people.
  • The Seriousness of Disobedience: Joshua's adjuration highlights the severe consequences of defying a direct command from God. Rebuilding Jericho would be an act of rebellion against God's specific instruction and a disregard for its sacred, destroyed status.
  • Prophetic Foresight: This curse is not just a warning but a prophecy. It would be literally fulfilled centuries later, as recorded in 1 Kings 16:34, when Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho during the reign of King Ahab, losing his firstborn, Abiram, at the laying of the foundation, and his youngest, Segub, when setting up the gates. This demonstrates God's long memory and the certainty of His word.

Linguistic Insights

The word "adjured" in Hebrew is shaba' (שָׁבַע), meaning "to swear" or "to make an oath." Joshua was placing the people under a solemn vow before the LORD. The word "cursed" is 'arar (אָרַר), indicating a binding curse or imprecation, a declaration of divine judgment upon someone for an act of disobedience.

Practical Application

Joshua 6:26 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • Respect for God's Word: God's commands are not arbitrary; they are to be taken seriously. Disregarding them, especially when they involve specific boundaries or prohibitions, can have severe consequences.
  • The Enduring Nature of Prophecy: The literal fulfillment of this curse centuries later demonstrates the faithfulness of God to His word, whether it be blessing or judgment. It encourages trust in His promises and warnings, including those concerning future events and divine justice.
  • Learning from History: The story of Jericho and its subsequent curse serves as a cautionary tale for all generations, emphasizing the importance of obedience and the dangers of presumption or rebellion against divine will.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 16:34 (35 votes)

    In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest [son] Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

  • Acts 19:13 (8 votes)

    ¶ Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

  • Numbers 5:19 (6 votes)

    And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness [with another] instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:

  • Numbers 5:21 (6 votes)

    Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;

  • Matthew 26:63 (5 votes)

    But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

  • 1 Samuel 14:24 (4 votes)

    ¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted [any] food.

  • 1 Samuel 14:46 (4 votes)

    Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.