And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
Parallel translations
- WEB They said to the people, “Advance! March around the city, and let the armed men pass on before Yahweh’s ark.”
- BSB And he told the people, “Advance and march around the city, with the armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD.”
- NKJV And he said to the people, “Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord.”
- NASB Then he said to the people, “Go forward and march around the city, and the armed men shall go on ahead of the ark of the Lord.”
- NLT Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the Lord.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The order was given for the army to march and the armed men to go before the ark. The whole nation moved in obedience to God's strange command.
Overview
The people received and acted on the marching orders, with armed men and the ark in formation. There is no debate or hesitation recorded, only obedience. Israel's readiness to follow an unconventional plan displays the faith that God honors with victory.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Josh 4:13About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
- Josh 6:3And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
- Josh 1:14Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 6:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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