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YT 18 Joshua part 13 chapter 5:13-15; 6:1-17

The Book of Joshua


Part 13
Chapter 5:13-15; 6:1-18

Recapping:

Contextually within the text of Joshua chapter 5 all that has been expressed thus
far is figurative. Joshua’s generation pictures the remnant generation that is going into
the land of Canaan to receive their inheritance ~ their betrothal gift. What is expressed
in figure to Israel is a literal reality for the generation under Joshua. Joshua’s generation
is going in to receive their inheritance and what is seen is: It is finished! Everything that
needed to be prepared in order for Israel to go in and take Jericho expressed: It is
finished!

In that finished work is a sense of Holy, Holy, Holy. Seen within the figurative of
the plan of Eternal life begun in eternity past is Holiness; initiated in time is Holiness;
and concluded at the end of the kingdom age is Holiness. The whole plan from
beginning to end, starting with Libra declared in the heavenly revelation Holy, Holy, Holy
unto the Lord.

For the nation under Joshua, all that remains is to go forward and receive the
land promised to Abraham and his seed. However, before the destruction of Jericho
Joshua, as well as the nation Israel, and also the inhabitants of that city will come face
to face with the holy of holies ~ the pre-incarnate Covenant Son.

The False Worship of Jericho

Jericho has the meaning of “city of the moon” in Arabic and “the place of
fragrance” in Hebrew. Names in the Scriptures have significance. Persons and places in
the Scriptures are not given names because the name is liked. The person or place is
often named according to the circumstances surrounding that particular time and place
or is figurative of a prophecy of that which shall be.

Jericho is about to be destroyed but we need to keep in mind that Jericho means
city of the moon and the place of fragrance. In the figurative pictorials of the sun, moon
and stars with their signs, Israel is the figure of the moon who receives her source of
light from the sun. In figure she is the Queen, not of heaven, but as the head nation in
the kingdom age. She will be the place of fragrance.

Every nation under the sun has had the same witness of the Eternal Covenant of
God in the heavenly revelation (this is witnessed by the revelation of Genesis chapter
11).

Here is the problem: the heart of humanity takes the figurative and worships it. All
one needs to do is read Romans chapter one to see that. Man worships and serves the
creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

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Jericho was a Canaanite city and the Canaanites were worshiping the moon ~ as
the Queen of Heaven, hence is the name of the city. Canaan was the son of Ham, who
was a son of Noah. Canaan’s line broke God’s covenant (Isaiah 24:5) and the peoples/
nations of the sons of Canaan were cursed because of their abominations, through
which they defiled the land (Leviticus18).

Archaeologists have uncovered many illustrations of the utter disgrace of the


Canaanite morality. Prostitution in connection to the worship of the host of heaven was
big business and a prostitute held a certain status of honor as priestess ~ remember
Rahab.

Thus, due to the enormity of the depravity ~ the result of the worship of the host
of heaven and with the land being defiled because of the abominations of their iniquity
being so great ~ God had to order the complete extermination of the Canaanites. The
wall of Jericho must come tumbling down flat, the inhabitants killed with the edge of the
sword and the city burnt.

Within the text at the end of chapter 5 and the destruction of Jericho in chapter 6
is the holiness of God set in contrast to the wickedness of man. Wicked is not what man
is, wickedness is the result of the enmity of man’s own thinking ~ his indifference to God
and His holiness. Being indifferent to God and indifferent to His holiness results in doing
what is imagined in the heart ~ evil: that which God cannot approve.

Here is the picture: Israel is going to receive her betrothal gift in figure. Jericho is
going to be the first city that they take. Set in contrast is the holiness of God and the
wickedness of man. The wickedness of man being the result of his indifference towards
God. And the grasp of the enormity of the schism between the two realities ~
indifference and holiness ~ comes the understanding of the Person of Love; which is
perceived not by external knowledge but internal experience.

Israel as God’s first born, of the sons of God in the kingdom age, will be His
channel of righteousness.

The Man of War ~ The LORD is His Name

Joshua 5:13-15:

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and
looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with His sword drawn in His
hand: and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him Art thou for us, or for our
adversaries?”

“And He said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And
Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship and said unto Him, What saith my
lord unto His servant?”

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YT 18 Joshua part 13 chapter 5:13-15; 6:1-17

“And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off
thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”

Cleary pondering what action to take concerning the destruction of Jericho,


Joshua who is by Jericho looks and behold there is a man with His sword drawn in his
hand. Nothing is said of Joshua having his sword drawn.

Joshua walking up to the man who had His sword drawn speaks to the character
of Joshua. He is fearless. If God be for him ~ than whom does he have to fear?

The army of Israel is the land-based branch of “service men” for the kingdom of
God.

The host of the LORD ~ are the angelic beings of spirit in the heavenly realm.
The Captain of the Host of the LORD is the pre-incarnate Son of the Covenant. With the
Captain’s presence, is the uniting of the two realms. One kingdom ~ two realms.

The Captain of the LORD’S Host by definition as a Captain in the heavenly


realm is obviously a commander who is above Israel’s earthly leader Joshua.

Once the introductions are made it is evident to Joshua that his Commander and
Chief is there to lead the army. But first things first ~ worship! The very first thing that
Joshua does is worship.

Obviously with Joshua prostrating himself and worshipping the Captain ~ the
Man with the drawn sword ~ Joshua is acknowledging that this is no ordinary son of
Adam but God clothed in flesh ~ the pre-incarnate Covenant Son Who has come to lead
Israel into victory ~ “am I now come”. Joshua would never have worshiped an ordinary
man.

Joshua who is pondering what action to take concerning the destruction of


Jericho ~ and here comes his Commander and Chief ~ that would cause great worship.
The Captain says, I am now come ~ Why? Because it is His to give Israel their betrothal
gift.

The True Worship of God

This leads us to the next question. What is the true worship of God?

Worship is the rightly directed reverence towards God. Clearly Joshua


understands worship.

He prostrates himself ~ in his proper position face down. In that position, one
cannot defend themself. Joshua is in a position of submission, humility and vulnerability
~ all of which are a decision of the will. It is a decision of the will to submit himself, to
humble himself, and to be vulnerable to the Man with the drawn sword.
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With Joshua’s question ~ “What saith ‘my lord’ unto his servant?” ~ Is the
understanding of Who is in charge. Joshua is the servant and his lord ~ “my lord” ~ is
the Master. Obviously, Joshua has been seeking direction as to the destruction of
Jericho.

In response to Joshua’s question ~ “What saith ‘my lord’ unto his servant?” ~
Comes the reply, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest
is holy”. Having acknowledged the Captain as God pre-incarnate, Joshua is on his feet
standing face to face with his LORD.

Joshua has gone from the position of worship ~ on his face; to the position of
grace ~ he is standing in the Presence of the Captain. What is interesting, and more
humbling, and more revealing of the Love of God for His creation is that: here is the Son
of Man and Joshua; the Captain of the LORD’S host, pre incarnate God clothed in flesh
and His creation (Joshua) communicating as military men.

Their communication as military men is as “equals” ~ face to face, making eye


contact. Making eye contact is a form of reverencing somebody, counting them as
important. The authority has already been established; the authority is one of
subjugation. Joshua has already been on his face. The Captain is God. God is holy and
He is Other than His creation of humanity.

Shoes are figurative of the path one walks. The "path" Joshua is going to be
walking in ~ standing with His Captain ~ is holy. Honestly, we have very limited
understanding of the contrast regarding the holiness of God with the wickedness of
man. That is why that cup was so agonizing to Christ the Covenant Son and why He
didn’t want to drink it. The price He paid ~ can only be appreciated and understood by
the Father and Son.

The sinfulness of man is so contrary to everything that God is and because it is


all we know ~ we are comfortable with it ~ we have become comfortable with our sin.
We have no concept of the cost on Him ~ “who though He was rich, yet for our sakes
became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

And we have no concept of the effect on Him to “become sin that we might
become the righteousness of God in Christ”. What does it mean to become the
Righteousness of God? And how did we become the Righteousness of God? He
became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Truly, God’s love for His creation of mankind is great ~ He is not willing that any
should perish. If we would keep that in our thinking, we would recognize how much time
that we do not have ~ and people are perishing. We need to ask the Lord Jesus to help
us to wake up to our Righteousness for His Name sake.

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However, because we are more comfortable with our sinfulness than with God’s
holiness we have no understanding of the depth of His love. Love for God and the
holiness of God go hand in hand. You cannot have a love for God without having an
understanding of the holiness of God. If you have a love for God the emphasis is God.

Joshua understood both the holiness and the love of God. First he worshiped;
and then he removed his shoes; and he was handed the victory of Jericho, the king, and
their mighty men of valor ~ all before the instructions of engagement were explained.

Because God is righteous, He must execute His righteous justice and destroy
Jericho. “Now Jericho was straightly shut up because of the children of Israel: none
went out and none came in. And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into
thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.” The plan laid
out for the taking of the city was a simple one ~ no storming of the gate, The LORD is
giving it to Joshua. The city, the king and his mighty men are all given to Joshua by
following the LORD’S lead and the victory is his.

In chapter 6 the plan for victory is filled with figurative symbolism ~ from the
number of times Israel is to march around the city; to how many days; to the number of
priests; and the number of ram’s horns.

There is symbolism in the positions given for the order of the march. There is
symbolism in the silence of holiness Israel is entrusted with; and even to the shout of
victory. Each and every instruction declares the battle is the LORD’S! The man of war ~
The LORD is His Name.

Joshua 6:1-18: Read

Jericho the City

Jericho was a fenced city meaning it had a wall around it. It was the bridgehead ~
the ideal tactical location for the preparation of all subsequent assaults westward,
southward and northward and was considered a great advantage militarily speaking.

According to archaeologists the city was approximately six acres total, located in
the midst of a vast grove of palm trees. Thus, when you consider the size of the city you
understand that not all of Israel’s warriors were necessary. Six acres is not a very large
area.

Jericho has been straightly shut for a while, since the days the spies left the city.
Remember Rahab’s testimony ~ “your terror is fallen on us and all the inhabitants of the
land faint because of you” ~ Israel hadn’t even crossed the Jordan when she had said
that. Rahab bound that scarlet line to the window the night the spies left. Anyone
outside the city would have seen that “flag” and would have most likely reported Rahab
and her dealings to the king of the city had not the gates been shut up.

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Before Israel crossed the Jordan the condition of the inhabitants has been one of
fear. It was not only the city Jericho that was scared witless, all the kings of the
Amorites and all the kings of the Canaanites hearts did melt with fear and neither was a
fighting spirit in them anymore. Everyone was in terror because of Israel’s God.

The Scripture does not indicate how long the nation was in the land before the
engagement of battle with Jericho but the suspense of the LORD’S strategy is doing its
work. The city of Jericho is in terror but who would be thinking the wall is going to fall
flat? They know that Israel’s God can do mighty wonders ~ they heard of the Red Sea
and now Israel has crossed the Jordan.

The city is fortified by a wall at least 9 to14 feet high (according to


archeologists). Add to that ~ the city has been on lock down for a while, they have been
waiting and waiting for something to happen and now the day has arrived and what
does Israel do? They march in silence once around the city with a limited number of
warriors with their priests blowing rams horns and then they head back to their camp!

Can you just hear the exchange within the city ~ what are those Israelites doing?
No shouts of war, no storming the gate? A march of silence? The blowing of ram’s
horns and then back to camp?

The Ordinal One

Once around the city. One is the ordinal that is the “first” ~ the true beginning of
all. In all languages, it is the symbol of unity and it denotes primacy.

“One” excludes all difference and marks the beginning. In the figurative imagery
of the symbolism of scriptural numerology, the number one is the number that speaks of
the Eternal Godhead, one Spirit Being of Deity, is the true beginning of all.

The Ordinal Six

Six days consecutively Israel is to march around the city once. Six is the ordinal
associated with man because it is the day of his creation and is also the number
associated with man’s labor.

In scriptural numerology the number six speaks figuratively of man’s world with
man’s enmity ~ man’s indifference to God. Thus, to march around the city six times is to
declare that God knows of man’s enmity; and that the end of that thinking is death.

The Ordinal Seven

Seven times around the city, Israel is to march on the 7th day. The ordinal seven
is used as no other number is in the scripture. Seven and its compounds occur in
multiples in the Scripture.
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In Scriptural numerology, the number expresses perfection or completeness


and is the second of four perfect numbers (three, ten and twelve are the remaining
perfect numbers).
Israel is to march on the 7th day seven times around the city ~ the figurative
symbolism of double the perfection. The ordinal fourteen being a multiple of seven
(7+7), Fourteen partakes of its importance and, being double that number, implies a
double measure of spiritual perfection. It is finished!

Therefore, in the ordinals of the numbers is the figurative symbolism of that which
is to be accomplished in the Eternal Godhead ~ the true beginning of all concerning the
establishment of the Kingdom.

The enmity of man (the ordinal 6) with his indifference toward his Creator will be
judged and the perfection of completeness ~ man in God’s image, after His likeness a
kingdom of sons of God ~ a kingdom of priests will be established.

Seven Priests with Seven Trumpets

Although the vanguard marched in front of the seven priests with seven trumpets,
the instructions of the plan begins with the priesthood for good reason.

In the kingdom age the governing authority will not be the warriors. The
government will be a government of peace and righteousness; thus, it is that the priests
are mentioned first ~ afterward the order of the march is given in verses 6-9.

Isaiah 2:1-4:

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
And it came to pass in the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be
established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all
nations shall flow unto it.”

“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain
of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and
we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the
LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many
people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
any more.”

The government of God will be complete in the perfection of holiness ~ hence the
priests; a government of jubilee ~ hence the seven ram’s horns. Before we consider the
figurative meaning behind the ram’s horn we must first consider the Ram. As New

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Testament gentiles and not Old Testament Israelites, we have not been taught the
figurative, but Israel would have understood the meaning of the figures.

Figure of the Ram

The heavens declare the sign of the ram as the seventh sign of the Eternal
Covenant ~ Aries. Aries is illuminated in the heavens in the second month Ziv of the
Jewish calendar, later called Iyyar after the Babylonian Captivity.

The ram figuratively is the animal that speaks of the Consecrated Righteousness
of the Appointed Substitute ~ the Perfection of Completeness of the Covenant Son as
the 1st Begotten Son of God from the dead. The Son who is the Eternal One ~ God
come in the flesh.

The meaning of the name of the month is Splendor / Radiance / Healing.

Between the figurative language of the ordinal’s ~ 7 (the sign number ~ and the
ordinal of completeness) and 2 (the month number ~ the ordinal of witness), along with
the meaning of the name of the month, is the figurative expression of the complete
witness of the Splendor / Radiance and Healing of the power of the “Ram” (the
Consecrated Righteous One) in the kingdom both to the people and the land promised.

The constellation Aries in modern star chart drawings usually is a male lamb with
horns ~ a ram, lying down in repose. This thought of repose when connected to the
pictorial of the kingdom of God as established on earth carries with it the idea ~ it is
finished! God is resting because it is finished. God has accomplished that which He has
purposed. Man in His image, after His likeness, a kingdom of sons, a kingdom of
priests.

The horns of the ram are his strength ~ his power. In many of the oldest star
chart drawings, the lamb wears a circular crown or a triangle over the head and the
name “The Exalted” or “The Chief” identifies him.

The circular crown depicts the Ram as King. The symbolic triangle above the
“crowned” head in the oldest star chart drawings was recognized in ancient times as the
symbol of the Eternal.

Three lines are necessary to form a plane figure; and three dimensions of length,
breadth, and height are necessary to form a solid figure.

Hence, the three sides symbolize the simplest form of a solid figure ~ figuratively
speaking of the One Who is, Who was and Who is to come. What is figured in the
triangle is the Unyielding, Unbroken and Unadulterated “Solid” Eternal, Consecrated,
Righteous, Appointed Substitute. The more you look at the Covenant in the luminaries
and lay it alongside the Word of God, the more understanding God gives you to look at
the beauty of holiness.

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Thus, this figure depicted in the luminaries of the ram with its figurative message
is confirmed in the Scripture with the take Me offering of Genesis 15 ~ the purchase
(with a ram) of the promised land and in Genesis 22 with the offering of Abraham’s only
son Isaac (with a ram). The ram is caught in a thicket of thorns by his horns and is
offered in the stead of Isaac as the Appointed Substitute.

The Rams Horns and the Long Blast

The ‘Shofar’ ~ the ram's horn trumpet, (also spelled Shophar, plural Shofroth,
Shophroth, or Shofrot), is a musical instrument of God’s own design and making,
constructed not from the forging of metal (a man-made instrument) but from the horn of
God’s creation ~ a ram.

It was blown on the Sabbath; it announced the New Moon; and was used to proclaim
the crowning of a new king (a ceremony still used today at the swearing in of a new
Israeli President); as well as a herald of victory in warfare. Blowing it was indicative of a
call for Divine assistance ~ A blowing of Victory ~ and when did the priest blow the
horn? ~ before the wall fell.

The word Shofar comes from a Hebrew root word meaning beauty. The word is
also literally translated as a “sense of incising”. Strong’s confirms this understanding
with his definition: #7782 showphar, sho-far’; or shophar, sho-far’; from #8231 in the
original sense of incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn: cornet,
shofar.

Definition: # 8231 shaphar, shaw-far’; a prim. root; to glisten, i.e. (fig.) be (caus.
make) fair: goodly.

Incising means to cut or burn into. Figuratively the sound of the ram’s horn made by
the breath of the priests for the call of Divine assistance represents the Spirit of God ~
He is the Divine assistance.

He is the Spokesmen of the Almighty God ~ who declares the beauty of holiness ~
God’s Truth. Obviously, the “incising” sound of the shofar ~ was more than a mere horn
blast. The intended sound signified a cutting or burning into the heart and soul of all the
people who heard it.

The long blast given on the last day along with the shout of the voice of Israel
signified the end for those enemies of God and His Christ and the beginning of the
victory for the nation. As mentioned in chapter 6:6-9 the reader is given the details of
the order of the march, the vanguard, the priest, the Ark and the rearguard.

Order of the March

Joshua 6:6-9

The order of the march was as follows:


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YT 18 Joshua part 13 chapter 5:13-15; 6:1-17

1. The armed men ~ the vanguard went before the priest that blew the trumpets.

The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an
advancing military formation. The main body of the vanguard, typically was announced
with trumpeters and carried messages of the summons of surrender.

The vanguard also had the functions of seeking out the enemy and securing ground
in advance of the main force. However depicted in the text, the enemy is hiding behind
the fortified wall and the gate of the city; and has no plans of coming out and giving
surrender.

2. Behind the vanguard were the seven priests with seven trumpets of ram’s horns.
3. Then followed the Ark of the Covenant.
4. And then came the troops in the rear of the march, the rearguard or rereward
following the ark.

The rearguard is that part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear,
either during an advance or withdrawal.

Seeing it is highly unlikely that Israel is going to be attacked from the rear, the
question comes ~ why go through all this protocol? Notwithstanding, this is the plan of
the Captain; but why the presentation of Israel in such a manner? If the enemy is not
advancing and there is no need to secure ground why a vanguard? And if there is no
potential threat of an attack from the rear, why a rearguard? What is the purpose of this
set up?

Change of Command Ceremony

The purpose is for the exaltation of the top brass ~ the Captain of the LORD’S host.
In military terms this processional is known as the change of command ceremony.

Joshua 6:8:

The change of command represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility


for a unit from one commanding officer (Joshua) to another (the Captain). Why is the
Captain present? Because He is going to lead Israel.

The ceremony is an inspection and review of the soldiers, with their armory, as well
as a military band. In this case, the priests with the rams’ horns are the band.

All passed before the LORD ~ the “top brass” ~ militarily acknowledging that the
Commander in charge ~ am I now come ~ the Captain of the LORD’S host was the
leader (Joshua 5:14).

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Hence, the nation passing before the pre-incarnate Covenant Son, in the silence of
holiness is declaring that the army and the battle belong to the Captain of the LORD’s
Host.

With the sound of the “incising” shofar burning into the heart and soul of all the
people who heard it is the praise of the proclamation that the King has come ~ it is
finished! Praise to the King of kings and LORD of lords!

So it was that first day there was the herald of holiness with the Divine assistance on
the ram’s horns sounding the praise of the victory of the warfare. “Through God we shall
do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies” Psalm 108:13.

Israel returns to the camp to repeat the march but not the ceremony. The march is
repeated the next five days with a change in the pattern on the seventh day.

Was the Man of War, the Pre~incarnate Christ (the Son) actually present for the
ceremonial change of command as Israel marched pass? Probably. Also seen in figure
is the presence of the Holy Spirit (priest) and God (Ark). Figuratively all are present for
the setting up of the Kingdom.

The Seventh Day

Joshua 6:15-18:

As we have already discussed, the figurative symbolism of the seven times on


the day is the figurative pictorial of the “double” of the perfection of that which is to be
7th
accomplished in the true beginning of all concerning the establishment of the Kingdom.

For Joshua’s generation, it is the beginning of the gaining of the land promised
that which was purchased by the LORD for the seed of Abraham. To be accomplished
on “that day only” in the future will be the possession of the land as their inheritance.
The inheritance of the Covenant Son will be bestowed as a betrothal gift at the 2nd
coming of the Covenant Son ~ as King ~ to marry His people Israel. The nation will
receive their land as an everlasting possession and there will be the “shout” of joy.

The City is Accursed

Joshua tells Israel exactly what to do ~ how to do it ~ go get Rahab ~ don’t take
any of the accursed things.

The city is accursed ~ and all that are therein. The Hebrew word ~ “cherem” ~
accursed, has the meaning of being devoted or devoted thing. There are various
renderings of the word due to the fact that the word sometimes means the act of
devoting or banning on the condition or state resulting therefrom, and sometimes it is
the object that has been devoted that is banned.

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The Hebrew word also suggested "separating" or "devoting to God." Therefore, in


light of the text of that which is accursed ~ the city and its people to destruction is the
understanding that they have devoted themselves ~ to the worship of the Moon.

Likewise, Israel is commanded to keep themselves from the accursed thing.


Why does God say for them to keep themselves? Because He Loves, and Love is a
relationship. Man’s part is to respond to Love. If God says not to do something (keep
yourself) ~ it is not because God is trying to be mean ~ it’s because of Love. There are
objects within the city connected to the worship of the Moon that they are not to take ~
lest the one taking of it makes himself accursed ~ devoted to destruction and makes the
camp of Israel a curse and trouble it.

The only things that are to be removed from the city and brought back to the
camp is the treasure ~ the booty of the silver, gold and vessels of brass and iron. These
would be consecrated unto the LORD and come into His treasury.

This concludes the lesson. If you’d like to prepare for the next lesson please read the
remainder of Joshua chapter 6, Joshua 7:1 and 1st Kings 16.

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