The conquest of Jericho/ Perek 6 (Teacher copy)

וְסַבֹּתֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעִ֗יר כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה הַקֵּ֥יף אֶת־הָעִ֖יר פַּ֣עַם אֶחָ֑ת כֹּ֥ה תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה שֵׁ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃

Joshua 6:3

Let all your troops march around the city and complete one circuit of the city. Do this six days,

יהושע ו׳:ד׳

וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה כֹהֲנִ֡ים יִשְׂאוּ֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י תָּסֹ֥בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃

Joshua 6:4

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.

רד"ק על יהושע ו׳:ג׳:א׳

הקיף את העיר. נכתב ביו"ד כמו אם היה בחירק ואף על פי שהוא בצר"י וכן ותגד לבני ישראל יגיד דבר:

Radak on Joshua 6:3:1

So you shall do for six days: Don't ask the reason for the decision of the Creator why there was need for this encircling, and the reason for the 7 priests, the 7 shofars, the 7 circles, and the 7 days. The reason for the circle with the teruah-blast is to separate the people that were in the city and the wall will fall under it, "So that all the nations of the land will know that Hashem is fighting for Israel, not with sword or spear..." The number 7 has great meaning in science - like the 7 altars and the 7 sacrificial cows. And 7 is also the chosen number for counting days and for the natural world.

What is the importance of the number 7?
How many times and with which descriptions will we encounter 7 in this פרק?

יהושע ו׳:ו׳

וַיִּקְרָ֞א יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בִּן־נוּן֙ אֶל־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם שְׂא֖וּ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֑ית וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה כֹהֲנִ֗ים יִשְׂאוּ֙ שִׁבְעָ֤ה שֽׁוֹפְרוֹת֙ יֽוֹבְלִ֔ים לִפְנֵ֖י אֲר֥וֹן ה'׃

Joshua 6:6

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 the LORD."

סוטה ל״ג ב:י״ב

תַּנְיָא רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת נָשְׂאוּ כֹּהֲנִים אֶת הָאָרוֹן כְּשֶׁעָבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן וּכְשֶׁהֵסֵיבּוּ אֶת יְרִיחוֹ וּכְשֶׁהֶחְזִירוּהוּ לִמְקוֹמוֹ

Sotah 33b:12

It is taught in a baraita (Tosefta 8:2) that Rabbi Yosei says: In three different places the priests carried the Ark. They carried it when the Jewish people crossed the Jordan, and when they surrounded Jericho (Joshua 6:6), and when they returned it to its proper place in the Holy of Holies during the reign of King Solomon (I Kings 8:6).

What do we learn from this commentary in the Talmud about the special role of the כהנים?
How many times and when did that happen?

יהושע ו׳:ח׳

וַיְהִ֗י כֶּאֱמֹ֣ר יְהוֹשֻׁ֘עַ֮ אֶל־הָעָם֒ וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹשְׂאִים֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י ה' עָבְר֕וּ וְתָֽקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת וַֽאֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית ה' הֹלֵ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃

Joshua 6:8

When Joshua had instructed the people, the seven priests carrying seven ram’s horns advanced before the LORD, blowing their horns; and the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant followed them.

יהושע ו׳:ט׳

וְהֶחָל֣וּץ הֹלֵ֔ךְ לִפְנֵי֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (תקעו) [תֹּקְעֵ֖י] הַשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת וְהַֽמְאַסֵּ֗ף הֹלֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן הָל֖וֹךְ וְתָק֥וֹעַ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃

Joshua 6:9

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.

חזקוני, בראשית מ״ט:ט״ז:א׳

דן ידין עמו לפי שהיה הולך תמיד אחר הדגלים בימי משה גם בימי יהושע כדכתיב והמאסף הולך אחר הארון והיה צריך להלחם עם כל הרודפים אחריהם שהרי גבורים היו, לכך אמר דן ידין עמו פי׳‎ ינקום נקמת עמו כאחד שבטי ישראל, כמו כי ידין ה׳‎ עמו.

Chizkuni, Genesis 49:16:1

דן ידין עמו, “Dan will judge his people.” This tribe had walked loyally in the footsteps of Moses as well as of Joshua as testified to in Joshua 6,9: והמאסף הולך אחרי הארון, “and the rearguard walked behind the Holy Ark.” It was this tribe’s task to ward off any attacks from the rear. They had been assigned this task as they were considered exceptionally brave. The word ידין, may therefore best be translated as: “he will avenge.” Compare Deuteronomy 32,36: כי ידין ה' עמו, “for the Lord will avenge His people.”

רשב"ם על בראשית מ״ט:ט״ז:א׳

דן ידין עמו - המפרש על שמשון לא ידע בעומק פשוטו של מקרא כלל. וכי יעקב בא להתנבאות על אדם שנפל ביד פלשתים וינקרו את עיניו ומת עם פלשתים בענין רע?! חלילה חלילה. אך על שבטו של דן נתנבא שהוא מאסף לכל המחנות. וגם ביהושע כתיב: והמאסף הולך אחר הארון ולפי שהיה הולך כל הימים בין בימי משה בין בימי יהושע אחר כל הדגלים והיה צריך להלחם עם כל האומות הרודפים אחריהם לזנב כל הנחשלים אחריהם בדרך, ולהינקם מן האומות כי גיבורים היו. לכך אמר יעקב: דן ידין עמו - ינקום נקמת עמו

Rashbam on Genesis 49:16:1

דן ידין עמו, Yaakov relates to the tribe of Dan who is described as the rearguard of the Jewish armies in the desert both in Numbers 10,25 and in the Book of Joshua 6,9 where this tribe is described in identical terms. The fact that the rearguard is the most exposed section of the army which has to beat off any attacks from the rear, means that it needs extra protection by G’d. Yaakov says that he will enjoy success in avenging any unprovoked attacks on the Jewish people, i.e. their army.

Which tribe was guarding the rear of the army?
Why were they chosen?
What is the meaning of the word "דן״?
What is the meaning of the word "ידין״?
What was the prediction of יעקוב?
What does this mean for us today?

יהושע ו׳:ט״ו

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַיַּשְׁכִּ֙מוּ֙ כַּעֲל֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔חַר וַיָּסֹ֧בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֛יר כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט הַזֶּ֖ה שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים רַ֚ק בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא סָבְב֥וּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים׃

Joshua 6:15

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.

רש"י על יהושע ו׳:ט״ו:א׳

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת הָיָה.

Rashi on Joshua 6:15:1

On the seventh day. This was on the Shabbat.

What could be the reason that רש״י brings up the idea that the 7th days was on שבת?

יהושע ו׳:ט״ז

וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּפַּ֣עַם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ית תָּקְע֥וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בַּשּׁוֹפָר֑וֹת וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ אֶל־הָעָם֙ הָרִ֔יעוּ כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן ה' לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָעִֽיר׃

Joshua 6:16

On the seventh round, as the priests blew the horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.

יהושע ו׳:י״ז

וְהָיְתָ֨ה הָעִ֥יר חֵ֛רֶם הִ֥יא וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֖הּ לַֽה' רַק֩ רָחָ֨ב הַזּוֹנָ֜ה תִּֽחְיֶ֗ה הִ֚יא וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתָּ֣הּ בַּבַּ֔יִת כִּ֣י הֶחְבְּאַ֔תָה אֶת־הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלָֽחְנוּ׃

Joshua 6:17

The city and everything in it are to be proscribed for the LORD; only Rahab the harlot is to be spared, and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers we sent.

רש"י על יהושע ו׳:י״ז:א׳

וְהָיְתָה הָעִיר חֵרֶם הֶקְדֵּשׁ, כִּי הַיּוֹם שַׁבַּת קֹדֶשׁ, וְרָאוּי לִהְיוֹת קֹדֶשׁ שָׁלָל הַנִּשְׁלָל בּוֹ.

Rashi on Joshua 6:17:1

And the city shall be consecrated. It shall be sacred, for that day was the holy Shabbos, and it was therefore fitting that all the booty that was taken be holy.

יהושע ו׳:י״ט

וְכֹ֣ל ׀ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֗ב וּכְלֵ֤י נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ וּבַרְזֶ֔ל קֹ֥דֶשׁ ה֖וּא לַה' אוֹצַ֥ר ה' יָבֽוֹא׃

Joshua 6:19

All the silver and gold and objects of copper and iron are consecrated to the LORD; they must go into the treasury of the LORD.”

What is the reason that all treasure should go to ה׳, according to רש״י?

יהושע ו׳:כ׳

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׃

Joshua 6:20

So the people shouted when the horns were sounded. When the people heard the sound of the horns, the people raised a mighty shout and the wall collapsed. The people rushed into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they captured the city.

יהושע ו׳:כ״א

וַֽיַּחֲרִ֙ימוּ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּעִ֔יר מֵאִישׁ֙ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה מִנַּ֖עַר וְעַד־זָקֵ֑ן וְעַ֨ד שׁ֥וֹר וָשֶׂ֛ה וַחֲמ֖וֹר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃

Joshua 6:21

They exterminated everything in the city with the sword: man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and ass.

(This will be discussed in class together)

Who was this nation living in Jericho and why did ה׳ command the Jews to destroy all?
"They destroyed all" thereby fulfilling the Biblical command concerning the "7 nations" of Canaan, who were steeped in idolatry and immoral practices.

Which song of victory did יהושע write afterwards which we still use in תפילה today and on ראש השנה?
"You shall not spare a living soul"- in celebration of this victory, Joshua composed the majestic hymn, "Aleinu", which is recited thrice daily, and enjoys, in addition, a prominent position in the liturgy of Rosh Hashana.

This prayer emphasizes the superiority of Israel over the idolatrous nations, and the sublime soncept of monotheism.

Book of Joshua - P42 (pink book)

יהושע ו׳:כ״ז

וַיְהִ֥י ה' אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַיְהִ֥י שׇׁמְע֖וֹ בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Joshua 6:27

The LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.