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Joshua 6:21 At the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city--man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/joshua/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/joshua/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed all that <i>was</i> in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed all that <i>was</i> in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And they devoted to destruction everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then they utterly destroyed everything that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They completely destroyed everything in the city with the sword—every man and woman, both young and old, and every ox, sheep, and donkey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They completely destroyed everything in the city with the sword—every man and woman, both young and old, and every ox, sheep, and donkey. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They claimed everything in it for the LORD. With their swords they killed men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />With their swords they killed everyone in the city, men and women, young and old. They also killed the cattle, sheep, and donkeys. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They turned over everyone in the city for destruction and executed them, including both men and women, young and old, and oxen, sheep, and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city?man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They annihilated with the sword everything that breathed in the city, including men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and they devote all that [is] in the city, from man even to woman, from young even to aged, even to ox, and sheep, and donkey, by the mouth of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and they devote all that is in the city, from man even unto woman, from young even unto aged, even unto ox, and sheep, and ass, by the mouth of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they will devote all which in the city, from man and even to woman, and from the youth even to the old man, and ox and sheep and ass, to the mouth of the sword.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And killed all that were in it, man and woman, young and old. The oxen also and the sheep, and the asses, they slew with the edge of the sword. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they put to death all who were in it, from man even to woman, from infant even to elder. Likewise, the oxen and sheep and donkeys, they struck down with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They observed the ban by putting to the sword all living creatures in the city: men and women, young and old, as well as oxen, sheep and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then they devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed all that were in the city, both men and women, young and old and oxen and sheep and asses, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they attacked all that was in it with the sword, from the men and unto the women, and from the boys and unto the old men; they killed by the mouth of the sword unto the bulls, and unto the flocks and the donkeys<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and Joshua devoted it to destruction, and all things that were in the city, man and woman, young man and old, and calf and ass, with the edge of the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/6-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=1259" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/joshua/6.htm">The Walls of Jericho</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">20</span>So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it. <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6310.htm" title="6310: lə·p̄î- (Prep-l:: N-msc) -- Mouth. From pa'ah; the mouth, whether literal or figurative; specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially according to.">At the edge</a> <a href="/hebrew/2719.htm" title="2719: ḥā·reḇ (N-fs) -- A sword. From charab; drought; also a cutting instrument, as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement.">of the sword</a> <a href="/hebrew/2763.htm" title="2763: way·ya·ḥă·rî·mū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to seclude; specifically to devote to religious uses; physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose.">they devoted to destruction</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">everything</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: bā·‘îr (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">in the city—</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: mê·’îš (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">man</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">and woman,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5288.htm" title="5288: min·na·‘ar (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- A boy, lad, youth, retainer. From na'ar; a boy, from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also, a girl.">young</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2205.htm" title="2205: zā·qên (Adj-ms) -- Old. From zaqen; old.">old,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7794.htm" title="7794: šō·wr (N-ms) -- A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.). From shuwr; a bullock.">oxen,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7716.htm" title="7716: wā·śeh (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Or sey; probably from sha'ah through the idea of pushing out to graze; a member of a flock, i.e. A sheep or goat.">sheep,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2543.htm" title="2543: wa·ḥă·mō·wr (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- A male ass. Or chamor; from chamar; a male ass.">and donkeys.</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>Meanwhile, Joshua told the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the house of the prostitute and bring out the woman and all who are with her, just as you promised her.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-2.htm">Deuteronomy 7:2</a></span><br />and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Deuteronomy 20:16-17</a></span><br />However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3</a></span><br />Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/21-2.htm">Numbers 21:2-3</a></span><br />So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.” / And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/20-42.htm">1 Kings 20:42</a></span><br />And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/27-28.htm">Leviticus 27:28-29</a></span><br />Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. / No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/21-11.htm">Judges 21:11</a></span><br />This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-8.htm">1 Samuel 15:8-9</a></span><br />He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. / Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-21.htm">1 Kings 9:21</a></span><br />their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-23.htm">2 Chronicles 20:23</a></span><br />The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/34-2.htm">Isaiah 34:2</a></span><br />The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/9-5.htm">Ezekiel 9:5-6</a></span><br />And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! / Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-4.htm">Matthew 15:4</a></span><br />For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-27.htm">Luke 19:27</a></span><br />And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/3-23.htm">Acts 3:23</a></span><br />Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.</p><p class="hdg">utterly</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/9-24.htm">Joshua 9:24,25</a></b></br> And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/10-28.htm">Joshua 10:28,39</a></b></br> And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that <i>were</i> therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/11-14.htm">Joshua 11:14</a></b></br> And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/28-50.htm">Aged</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-31.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/numbers/31-45.htm">Asses</a> <a href="/joshua/1-14.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/joshua/6-20.htm">City</a> <a href="/joshua/6-18.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/joshua/5-4.htm">Death</a> <a href="/joshua/2-10.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-17.htm">Devote</a> <a href="/joshua/6-18.htm">Devoted</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-31.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/joshua/4-19.htm">Edge</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-50.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/joshua/6-10.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-17.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-18.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-14.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/joshua/5-13.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/joshua/2-10.htm">Utterly</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-25.htm">Women</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-22.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/13-1.htm">Aged</a> <a href="/joshua/15-18.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/joshua/7-24.htm">Asses</a> <a href="/joshua/7-24.htm">Cattle</a> <a href="/joshua/6-24.htm">City</a> <a href="/joshua/7-13.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/joshua/8-25.htm">Death</a> <a href="/joshua/8-26.htm">Destroyed</a> <a href="/judges/1-17.htm">Devote</a> <a href="/joshua/7-1.htm">Devoted</a> <a href="/joshua/15-18.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/joshua/8-24.htm">Edge</a> <a href="/joshua/11-11.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/joshua/9-2.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/judges/3-31.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/joshua/7-24.htm">Oxen</a> <a href="/joshua/7-24.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/joshua/8-24.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/joshua/8-26.htm">Utterly</a> <a href="/joshua/8-25.htm">Women</a> <a href="/joshua/6-23.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/6-1.htm">Jericho is shut up</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/6-2.htm">God instructs Joshua how to beseige it</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/6-12.htm">The city is composed</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/6-17.htm">It is accursed</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/6-20.htm">The walls fall down</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/6-22.htm">Rahab is saved</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/6-26.htm">The builder of Jericho is cursed</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The sword is often a symbol of divine judgment in the Bible, as seen in passages like <a href="/isaiah/34-5.htm">Isaiah 34:5-6</a>. The use of the sword here signifies the fulfillment of God's command to Joshua and the Israelites to conquer the land of Canaan, as previously instructed in <a href="/deuteronomy/7-2.htm">Deuteronomy 7:2</a>.<p><b>they devoted to destruction</b><br>The term "devoted to destruction" translates the Hebrew word "herem," which means to consecrate or set apart for God, often through complete destruction. This concept is rooted in the idea of purging evil and ensuring the purity of the Israelites, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Deuteronomy 20:16-18</a>. It reflects the seriousness of God's command to eliminate idolatry and sin from the land.<p><b>everything in the city</b><br>This phrase underscores the totality of the destruction, leaving nothing behind that could lead the Israelites into idolatry or sin. The comprehensive nature of the destruction is a reminder of the holiness required by God and the need to remove all influences that could corrupt the covenant community.<p><b>man and woman, young and old</b><br>The inclusion of all people, regardless of age or gender, highlights the severity of the judgment against Jericho. This reflects the collective responsibility and the pervasive sin of the Canaanite culture, which had reached its full measure of iniquity, as mentioned in <a href="/genesis/15-16.htm">Genesis 15:16</a>. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin.<p><b>oxen, sheep, and donkeys</b><br>The destruction of livestock indicates the complete eradication of the city's resources and economic life. This act ensured that nothing from Jericho would be used by the Israelites, maintaining the purity of their worship and reliance on God. It also symbolizes the totality of God's judgment, as seen in other instances of herem, such as in <a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. He was responsible for the military campaign against Jericho.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jericho.htm">Jericho</a></b><br>A fortified city in the Promised Land, known for its strong walls. It was the first city conquered by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were commanded to conquer the land of Canaan.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_canaanites.htm">The Canaanites</a></b><br>The inhabitants of Jericho, who were living in the land promised to the Israelites. They were subject to God's judgment due to their idolatry and wickedness.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ban.htm">The Ban (Herem)</a></b><br>A divine command to destroy everything in the city as an act of judgment and consecration to God. This was a common practice in ancient warfare, but in this context, it was a specific command from God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>The Israelites' actions in Jericho demonstrate the importance of complete obedience to God's instructions, even when they are difficult or challenging.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/j/judgment_and_mercy.htm">Judgment and Mercy</a></b><br>The destruction of Jericho serves as a reminder of God's judgment against sin, but also His mercy in providing a way of salvation, as seen in the account of Rahab.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>The fall of Jericho illustrates the power of faith in action. The Israelites' faith was demonstrated through their obedience and trust in God's plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consecration_and_holiness.htm">Consecration and Holiness</a></b><br>The concept of the ban (herem) underscores the need for holiness and separation from sin. Believers are called to live consecrated lives, set apart for God's purposes.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 6</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_joshua_6_21_with_mercy.htm">How do we reconcile the mass killing commanded in this chapter with the Bible’s teachings on mercy (Joshua 6:21)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_doesn't_jericho's_archaeology_match_the_bible.htm">Why does Jericho’s archaeology not match the biblical account of its destruction by Joshua?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_god_not_enjoy_the_wicked's_death.htm">Ezekiel 33:11 – How can God claim He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked while other Old Testament passages describe mass destruction commanded by God? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_god_order_killings_in_the_ot.htm">Did God command killings in the Old Testament?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joshua/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21) <span class= "bld">And ox, and sheep, and ass.</span>--Even the animals must be destroyed, that Israel might not seem to be slaughtering the Canaanites for the sake of plunder. Everything was ordered in such a way as to mark the vengeance of God.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city.</span> For a discussion of the difficulties arising from this fulfilment of a stern decree, see Introduction. <p> CHAPTER 6:22-27. RAHAB'S DELIVERANCE. THE CURSE ON JERICHO. - <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/6-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">At the edge</span><br /><span class="heb">לְפִי־</span> <span class="translit">(lə·p̄î-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6310.htm">Strong's 6310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the sword</span><br /><span class="heb">חָֽרֶב׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·reḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2719.htm">Strong's 2719: </a> </span><span class="str2">Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they utterly destroyed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיַּחֲרִ֙ימוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·ḥă·rî·mū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2763.htm">Strong's 2763: </a> </span><span class="str2">To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose</span><br /><br /><span class="word">everything</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the city—</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּעִ֔יר</span> <span class="translit">(bā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">man</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵאִישׁ֙</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and woman,</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשָּׁ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">young</span><br /><span class="heb">מִנַּ֖עַר</span> <span class="translit">(min·na·‘ar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5288.htm">Strong's 5288: </a> </span><span class="str2">A boy, lad, youth, retainer</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַד־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘aḏ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> </span><span class="str2">As far as, even to, up to, until, while</span><br /><br /><span class="word">old,</span><br /><span class="heb">זָקֵ֑ן</span> <span class="translit">(zā·qên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2205.htm">Strong's 2205: </a> </span><span class="str2">Old</span><br /><br /><span class="word">oxen,</span><br /><span class="heb">שׁ֥וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(šō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7794.htm">Strong's 7794: </a> </span><span class="str2">A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sheep,</span><br /><span class="heb">וָשֶׂ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(wā·śeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7716.htm">Strong's 7716: </a> </span><span class="str2">A member of a, flock, a sheep, goat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and donkeys.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַחֲמ֖וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(wa·ḥă·mō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2543.htm">Strong's 2543: </a> </span><span class="str2">A male ass</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/6-21.htm">OT History: Joshua 6:21 They utterly destroyed all that was (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/6-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 6:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 6:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/6-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 6:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 6:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>