| Joshua explained how the city would
be taken: by marching, trumpet blasts and a shout. God
would give them their victory. But first, there were to
be six days of marching with trumpet blasts. God had spoken
from Mt Sinai to the accompaniment of trumpets (Exod.
19:16), but trumpet blasts were also a proclamation of
Sabbath rest (Lev. 23:24), and of a year of Jubilee
in which each person would be restored to their inheritance
(Lev. 25:9). Trumpet blasts also summoned the people to
battle (Num. 10:9). So it was now. The shout that
brought the walls down showed that nothing was needed
from Israel but their unbounded confidence in God. Such
faith was in order because the Lord was present on his
throne: the Ark of the Covenant (cf. II Sam. 6:14–15).
A Psalmist later sang that all who knew this shout were
blessed (Ps. 89:15). |
