What role did the priests play in the procession around Jericho in Joshua 6:9? The scene at Jericho – Joshua 6:9 “ And the armed troops went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark, while the trumpets kept sounding.” Where the priests stood in the line • Seven priests with seven ram’s-horn trumpets marched immediately in front of the Ark of the Covenant. • Combat troops led the column; a rear guard trailed behind the Ark. • The priests thus formed the worshipful center of the procession, literally surrounding the presence of God. What the priests actually did • Carried the trumpets (shofars) God had specified (Joshua 6:4). • Blew those trumpets continually—no pauses, no silences—each of the six days and through all seven circuits on day seven (Joshua 6:8, 13). • Signaled obedience to God’s unusual battle plan; the sound announced His imminent judgment on Jericho and His salvation of Israel. • Protected and honored the Ark, the earthly throne of the LORD, by preceding it and keeping it central. Why God chose priests for this assignment • Priests were already commissioned to blow sacred trumpets (Numbers 10:8). • Their calling was to mediate God’s presence; carrying the Ark (Joshua 3:6) and sounding trumpets fit that role perfectly. • The continuous blast emphasized that victory would come by divine power, not military might (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:15). • By placing ordained ministers at the heart of the march, God made the conquest an act of worship, not merely war. Patterns echoed elsewhere in Scripture • Priests circling the camp to announce God’s move (Numbers 10:33-36). • Trumpets preceding divine intervention at Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19). • Priestly trumpets signaling festivals and Jubilee (Leviticus 25:9), foreshadowing ultimate deliverance in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:52). Key takeaways • Victory flows from reverent obedience—Jericho fell when worship led the way. • God keeps His ministers at the center of His redemptive acts, underscoring the holiness of His presence. • The priests’ role anticipates our Great High Priest, whose once-for-all work brings down the walls of sin (Hebrews 4:14-16). |
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