Joshua 6
יהושע פרק ו׳
Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Joshua | Chapter: 6 of 24 | Day: 6 of 742
Date: February 17, 2026
קלאוד על הנ״ך
Joshua chapter 6 tells the story of the fall of Jericho—one of the most dramatic and iconic narratives in all of Tanakh. Jericho, the first fortified city in Canaan, is completely sealed shut in anticipation of the Israelite advance. No one goes out and no one comes in. God’s battle plan, however, is unlike anything in conventional warfare.
God instructs Joshua to have the armed men march around the city once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying seven shofars (ram’s horns) before the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they are to circle the city seven times, the priests are to blow a long blast on the shofars, and the entire people are to shout—at which point the walls will collapse. The emphasis on sevens throughout the narrative (seven priests, seven shofars, seven days, seven circuits) evokes the creation narrative and Shabbat, suggesting that the conquest of the land is itself an act of divine creation—God building Israel’s future in the Promised Land.
During the six days of circling, the people are commanded to be completely silent—no war cry, no voice at all. This enforced silence heightens the dramatic tension and teaches a profound lesson: this victory belongs entirely to God, not to human military might. When the shout finally erupts on the seventh day, it is not a battle cry but an expression of faith. The walls fall flat (תַּחְתֶּיהָ), and the people charge straight ahead.
The chapter records that Jericho is placed under total חֵרֶם (proscription)—everything is to be destroyed except for precious metals, which go to God’s treasury. The sole exception is Rahab and her family, spared because she hid the Israelite spies (chapter 2). Joshua sends the two spies to bring out Rahab and her household, honoring the oath they swore. The text notes that Rahab “dwelt among Israel to this day,” a remarkable statement about a Canaanite woman who chose faith. The Talmud (Megillah 14b) teaches that Rahab eventually married Joshua and became an ancestor of prophets.
The chapter concludes with Joshua pronouncing a curse on anyone who would rebuild Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest shall he set up its gates.” This curse is fulfilled centuries later in I Kings 16:34. The final verse states simply: “God was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land”—a divine endorsement of his leadership as the conquest begins.
פרק ו׳ · Chapter 6
פסוק א׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
וִֽירִיחוֹ֙ סֹגֶ֣רֶת וּמְסֻגֶּ֔רֶת מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֥ין יוֹצֵ֖א וְאֵ֥ין בָּֽא׃ {ס}
English:
(Now Jericho was shut up tight because of the Israelites; no one could leave or enter.)
פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ רְאֵה֙ נָתַ֣תִּי בְיָֽדְךָ֔ אֶת־יְרִיח֖וֹ וְאֶת־מַלְכָּ֑הּ גִּבּוֹרֵ֖י הֶחָֽיִל׃
English:
GOD aGOD I.e., the captain of 5.14–15, on GOD’s behalf; cf. Kimhi. said to Joshua, “See, I will deliver Jericho into your hands—its king and warriors.
פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
וְסַבֹּתֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעִ֗יר כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה הַקֵּ֥יף אֶת־הָעִ֖יר פַּ֣עַם אֶחָ֑ת כֹּ֥ה תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה שֵׁ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃
English:
Let all your troops march around the city and complete one circuit of the city. Do this six days,
פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה כֹהֲנִ֡ים יִשְׂאוּ֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֤��ֹת הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י תָּסֹ֥בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃
English:
with seven priests carrying seven ram’s horns preceding the Ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.
פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
וְהָיָ֞ה בִּמְשֹׁ֣ךְ ׀ בְּקֶ֣רֶן הַיּוֹבֵ֗ל (בשמעכם) [כְּשׇׁמְעֲכֶם֙] אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר יָרִ֥יעוּ כׇל־הָעָ֖ם תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וְנָ֨פְלָ֜ה חוֹמַ֤ת הָעִיר֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יהָ וְעָל֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ נֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
English:
And when a long blast is sounded on the horn—as soon as you hear that sound of the horn—all the troopsbtroops Lit. “people.” shall give a mighty shout. Thereupon the city wall will collapse, and the troops shall advance, every man straight ahead.”
פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
וַיִּקְרָ֞א יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בִּן־נוּן֙ אֶל־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם שְׂא֖וּ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֑ית וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה כֹהֲנִ֗ים יִשְׂאוּ֙ שִׁבְעָ֤ה שֽׁוֹפְרוֹת֙ יֽוֹבְלִ֔ים לִפְנֵ֖י אֲר֥וֹן יְהֹוָֽה׃
English:
Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and let seven priests carrying seven ram’s horns precede the Ark of GOD.”
פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
(ויאמרו) [וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙] אֶל־הָעָ֔ם עִבְר֖וּ וְסֹ֣בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֑יר וְהֶ֣חָל֔וּץ יַעֲבֹ֕ר לִפְנֵ֖י אֲר֥וֹן יְהֹוָֽה׃
English:
And he instructed the troops, “Go forward, march around the city, with the vanguard marching in front of the Ark of GOD.”
פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֗י כֶּאֱמֹ֣ר יְהוֹשֻׁ֘עַ֮ אֶל־הָעָם֒ וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹשְׂאִים֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עָבְר֕וּ וְתָֽקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת וַֽאֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה הֹלֵ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃
English:
When Joshua had instructed the troops, the seven priests carrying seven ram’s horns advanced before GOD, blowing their horns; and the Ark of GOD’s Covenant followed them.
פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
וְהֶחָל֣וּץ הֹלֵ֔ךְ לִפְנֵי֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (תקעו) [תֹּקְעֵ֖י] הַשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת וְהַֽמְאַסֵּ֗ף הֹלֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן הָל֖וֹךְ וְתָק֥וֹעַ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃
English:
The vanguard marched in front of the priests who were blowing the horns, and the rear guard marched behind the Ark, with the horns sounding all the time.
פסוק י״ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
וְאֶת־הָעָם֩ צִוָּ֨ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ לֵאמֹ֗ר לֹ֤א תָרִ֙יעוּ֙ וְלֹא־תַשְׁמִ֣יעוּ אֶת־קֽוֹלְכֶ֔ם וְלֹא־יֵצֵ֥א מִפִּיכֶ֖ם דָּבָ֑ר עַ֠ד י֣וֹם אׇמְרִ֧י אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם הָרִ֖יעוּ וַהֲרִיעֹתֶֽם׃
English:
But Joshua’s orders to the rest of the troops were, “Do not shout, do not let your voices be heard, and do not let a sound issue from your lips until the moment that I command you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”
פסוק י״א · Verse 11
Hebrew:
וַיַּסֵּ֤ב אֲרוֹן־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הָעִ֔יר הַקֵּ֖ף פַּ֣עַם אֶחָ֑ת וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ {פ}
English:
So he had the Ark of GOD go around the city and complete one circuit; then they returned to camp and spent the night in camp.
פסוק י״ב · Verse 12
Hebrew:
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהֹוָֽה׃
English:
Joshua rose early the next day; and the priests took up the Ark of GOD,
פסוק י״ג · Verse 13
Hebrew:
וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹשְׂאִים֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֜וֹת הַיֹּבְלִ֗ים לִפְנֵי֙ אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֔ה הֹלְכִ֣ים הָל֔וֹךְ וְתָקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת וְהֶחָלוּץ֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וְהַֽמְאַסֵּ֗ף הֹלֵךְ֙ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֔ה (הולך) [הָל֖וֹךְ] וְתָק֥וֹעַ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃
English:
while the seven priests bearing the seven ram’s horns marched in front of the Ark of GOD, blowing the horns as they marched. The vanguard marched in front of them, and the rear guard marched behind the Ark of GOD, with the horns sounding all the time.
פסוק י״ד · Verse 14
Hebrew:
וַיָּסֹ֨בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֜יר בַּיּ֤וֹם הַשֵּׁנִי֙ פַּ֣עַם אַחַ֔ת וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה כֹּ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ שֵׁ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃
English:
And so they marched around the city once on the second day and returned to the camp. They did this six days.
פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַיַּשְׁכִּ֙מוּ֙ כַּעֲל֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔חַר וַיָּסֹ֧בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֛יר כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט הַזֶּ֖ה שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים רַ֚ק בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא סָבְב֥וּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים׃
English:
On the seventh day, they rose at daybreak and marched around the city, in the same manner, seven times; that was the only day that they marched around the city seven times.
פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16
Hebrew:
וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּפַּ֣עַם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ית תָּקְע֥וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בַּשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ אֶל־הָעָם֙ הָרִ֔יעוּ כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָעִֽיר׃
English:
On the seventh round, as the priests blew the horns, Joshua commanded the troops, “Shout! For GOD has given you the city.
פסוק י״ז · Verse 17
Hebrew:
וְהָיְתָ֨ה הָעִ֥יר חֵ֛רֶם הִ֥יא וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֖הּ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה רַק֩ רָחָ֨ב הַזּוֹנָ֜ה תִּֽחְיֶ֗ה הִ֚יא וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתָּ֣הּ בַּבַּ֔יִת כִּ֣י הֶחְבְּאַ֔תָה אֶת־הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלָֽחְנוּ׃
English:
The city and everything in it are to be proscribed for GOD; only Rahab the prostitute is to be spared, and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers we sent.
פסוק י״ח · Verse 18
Hebrew:
וְרַק־אַתֶּם֙ שִׁמְר֣וּ מִן־הַחֵ֔רֶם פֶּֽן־תַּחֲרִ֖ימוּ וּלְקַחְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַחֵ֑רֶם וְשַׂמְתֶּ֞ם אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְחֵ֔רֶם וַעֲכַרְתֶּ֖ם אוֹתֽוֹ׃
English:
But you must beware of that which is proscribed, or else you will be proscribed:cbe proscribed I.e., be put to death; cf. Lev. 27.28–29. if you take anything from that which is proscribed, you will cause the camp of Israel to be proscribed; you will bring calamity upon it.
פסוק י״ט · Verse 19
Hebrew:
וְכֹ֣ל ׀ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֗ב וּכְלֵ֤י נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ וּבַרְזֶ֔ל קֹ֥דֶשׁ ה֖וּא לַיהֹוָ֑ה אוֹצַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה יָבֽוֹא׃
English:
All the silver and gold and objects of copper and iron are consecrated to GOD; they must go into the treasury of GOD.”
פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20
Hebrew:
וַיָּ֣רַע הָעָ֔ם וַֽיִּתְקְע֖וּ בַּשֹּׁפָר֑וֹת וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ הָעָ֜ם אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֗ר וַיָּרִ֤יעוּ הָעָם֙ תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַתִּפֹּ֨ל הַחוֹמָ֜ה תַּחְתֶּ֗יהָ וַיַּ֨עַל הָעָ֤ם הָעִ֙ירָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ נֶגְדּ֔וֹ וַֽיִּלְכְּד֖וּ אֶת־הָעִֽיר׃
English:
So the troops shouted when the horns were sounded. When the troops heard the sound of the horns, they raised a mighty shout and the wall collapsed. The troops rushed into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they captured the city.
פסוק כ״א · Verse 21
Hebrew:
וַֽיַּחֲרִ֙ימוּ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּעִ֔יר מֵאִישׁ֙ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה מִנַּ֖עַר וְעַד־זָקֵ֑ן וְעַ֨ד שׁ֥וֹר וָשֶׂ֛ה וַחֲמ֖וֹר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃
English:
They exterminated everything in the city with the sword: man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey.
פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22
Hebrew:
וְלִשְׁנַ֨יִם הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים הַֽמְרַגְּלִ֤ים אֶת־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ בֹּ֖אוּ בֵּית־הָאִשָּׁ֣ה הַזּוֹנָ֑ה וְהוֹצִ֨יאוּ מִשָּׁ֤ם אֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָ֔הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּעְתֶּ֖ם לָֽהּ׃
English:
But Joshua bade the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into that prostitute’s house and bring out the woman and all that belong to her, as you swore to her.”
פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23
Hebrew:
וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ הַנְּעָרִ֣ים הַֽמְרַגְּלִ֗ים וַיֹּצִ֡יאוּ אֶת־רָ֠חָ֠ב וְאֶת־אָבִ֨יהָ וְאֶת־אִמָּ֤הּ וְאֶת־אַחֶ֙יהָ֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָ֔הּ וְאֵ֥ת כׇּל־מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֶ֖יהָ הוֹצִ֑יאוּ וַיַּ֨נִּיח֔וּם מִח֖וּץ לְמַחֲנֵ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
English:
So the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father and her mother, her brothers and all that belonged to her—they brought out her whole family and left them outside the camp of Israel.
פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24
Hebrew:
וְהָעִ֛יר שָׂרְפ֥וּ בָאֵ֖שׁ וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֑הּ רַ֣ק ׀ הַכֶּ֣סֶף וְהַזָּהָ֗ב וּכְלֵ֤י הַנְּחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ וְהַבַּרְזֶ֔ל נָתְנ֖וּ אוֹצַ֥ר בֵּית־יְהֹוָֽה׃
English:
They burned down the city and everything in it. But the silver and gold and the objects of copper and iron were deposited in the treasury of the House of GOD.
פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25
Hebrew:
וְֽאֶת־רָחָ֣ב הַ֠זּוֹנָ֠ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֨ית אָבִ֤יהָ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָהּ֙ הֶחֱיָ֣ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בְּקֶ֣רֶב יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֤י הֶחְבִּ֙יאָה֙ אֶת־הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לְרַגֵּ֥ל אֶת־יְרִיחֽוֹ׃ {פ}
English:
Only Rahab the prostitute and her familydfamily Lit. “father’s house.” were spared by Joshua, along with all that belonged to her, and she dwelt among the Israelites—as is still the case. For she had hidden the messengers that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26
Hebrew:
וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖יא לֵאמֹ֑ר אָר֨וּר הָאִ֜ישׁ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָקוּם֙ וּבָנָ֞ה אֶת־הָעִ֤יר הַזֹּאת֙ אֶת־יְרִיח֔וֹ בִּבְכֹר֣וֹ יְיַסְּדֶ֔נָּה וּבִצְעִיר֖וֹ יַצִּ֥יב דְּלָתֶֽיהָ׃ {ס}
English:
At that time Joshua pronounced this oath: “Anyone who undertakes to fortify this city of Jericho is hereby under GOD’s curse: its foundations shall be laid at the cost of their first-born, and its gates set up at the cost of their youngest.”
פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַיְהִ֥י שׇׁמְע֖וֹ בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
English:
GOD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.