(א) וִֽירִיחוֹ֙ סֹגֶ֣רֶת וּמְסֻגֶּ֔רֶת מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֥ין יוֹצֵ֖א וְאֵ֥ין בָּֽא׃ {ס}
(ב) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ רְאֵה֙ נָתַ֣תִּי בְיָֽדְךָ֔ אֶת־יְרִיח֖וֹ וְאֶת־מַלְכָּ֑הּ גִּבּוֹרֵ֖י הֶחָֽיִל׃ (ג) וְסַבֹּתֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעִ֗יר כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה הַקֵּ֥יף אֶת־הָעִ֖יר פַּ֣עַם אֶחָ֑ת כֹּ֥ה תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה שֵׁ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃ (ד) וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה כֹהֲנִ֡ים יִשְׂאוּ֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י תָּסֹ֥בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃ (ה) וְהָיָ֞ה בִּמְשֹׁ֣ךְ ׀ בְּקֶ֣רֶן הַיּוֹבֵ֗ל (בשמעכם) [כְּשׇׁמְעֲכֶם֙] אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר יָרִ֥יעוּ כׇל־הָעָ֖ם תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וְנָ֨פְלָ֜ה חוֹמַ֤ת
הָעִיר֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יהָ וְעָל֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ נֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
(1) Jericho [in the land of Canaan] was locked up tight because of the Israelites [approaching them]; no one could leave or enter. (2) Adonai said to Joshua, “See, I am delivering into your hand Jericho and her king and soldiers. (3) Have all your troops march around the city--encircle the city one time. Do this for six days. (4) And seven
cohanim should carry seven shofarot, made from a ram, ahead of the Ark. And on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the shofarot. (5) And when the ram's horn blasts for a long time—while you still hear the sound of the shofar—all the people shall shout with a mighty teru'ah, and then the city wall will collapse and the people should advance, every man straight ahead.”
Study Questions on Josh 6
**Background: The book of Joshua describes the entry of the Israelites into the land of Canaan. They plan to conquer the inhabitants there and take the territory which God promised to their ancestors. The city of Jericho is the first site of battle they face.**
1. How many "sevens" are listed in this passage? What are they?
2. Do verses 4-5 help to define what a shofar is? How so?
3. What do you think is the point of the people shouting? How is it connected to the use of the shofarot here?
4. If one important meaning of the shofar is based on this story, then what are we trying to express when we blow the shofar? What could the idea or message be? Write whatever makes sense to you.