Kommentar zu Jehoschua 6:28

Shut and barred. [Lit. closed and closed] Targum translates: ‘Closed with iron gates and reinforced with bars of copper.’

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.

Rams’ horns the horns of rams.

A long blast. When the final blast is sounded, and the blower extends the sound.

In its very place [Lit. under itself] In its place.

And the warriors. These were the men of the tribes of Reuvein and Gad who went before them, because the men of Gad were mighty warriors and they would smite with a strong arm, as it is said, ‘And he rips off the shoulder and the head.’¹Devorim 33:20.

The rearmost. This refers to the tribe of Dan that traveled last and gathered all those who lagged behind.

On the seventh day. This was on the Shabbos.²They were permitted to wage war and to kill on Shabbos by the Divine command, that instructed them to lay siege to the city according to the word of God, as told to Yehoshua. See verses 2-5, this chapter.

And the city shall be consecrated. It shall be sacred, for that day was the holy Shabbos,³See Rashi to verse 15. Radak maintains that Yehoshua issued this edict by Divine ordination, but also mentions that the Sages were of the opinon that Yehoshua issued this edict on his own. and it was therefore fitting that all the booty that was taken be holy.

And bring disturbance. This is an expression of disturbed waters.

And the lads who were the spies went in.⁴In verse 22 they are referred to as men. In verse 17 they are referred to as מַלְאָכִים (Lit angels) and here they are referred to as lads. Rashi seeks to explain why they were described in these terms. This mission required speed, thus they performed like speedy lads. However on the first night⁵This refers to the night they arrived at the house of Rochov at the beginning of their mission. they were like angels, guarding themselves from sinning with Rochov, the harlot, therefore they were referred to as angels. Therefore they were referred to as men, as angels and as lads.

Joshua left alive (hecheyah): As he commanded to keep the oath that the messengers swore to her, as he said (Josh. 6:17), "Only Rachav the harlot, etc." But one can also explain hecheyah [to mean] that he gave them nourishment (micheyah), money or an inheritance from which they could live. And this is [the meaning of] what it states, "and she dwelt among the Israelites." And this is the correct explanation. And there is a homily (drash) that Yehoshua took Rachav as a wife. And this is [the meaning of] hecheyah, as once they saw that Yehoshua took Rachav as a wife, some of the Jewish notables clung to the house of her father (and gave them assistance). And even though it is written about the seven peoples [of Canaan] (Deut. 7:4), "you shall not intermarry with them," they said that Rachav and the house of her father were foreigners and were not from the seven nations. And there is someone who says that went the spies that Yehoshua had sent entered Jericho, she converted - and the Israelites had not yet entered the Land [of Israel]. And all of this [last suggestion] is according to the [position] that holds that when it is written, "you shall not intermarry with them," it is [only] written about when they are in their state of being of the nations (as opposed to having converted).

[The death of] his first born etc. [the death of] his youngest son etc. When he begins laying the foundation upon which he is building it [the city], his first born son will die and he will bury him, and he will continue doing so⁶He will continue burning his sons. until the youngest son dies at the completion of the work which is the setting of its portals.