יהושע, פרק ו׳, פסוק ט״ז

The climax of circling Jericho arrives on the seventh day. The long, quiet siege is finally broken not by a military charge, but by a combination of sounds declaring a miraculous victory. The priests blow their horns, an action understood in different ways. Some view this as a long, continuous blast [מצודת דוד]. Others maintain that the priests simply blew a standard blast, exactly as they had on the previous days, and had not yet reached the final, great blast [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. Immediately following this, Joshua commands the people and his officers to shout [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This shout serves as a clear sign of victory and a recognition that God has already handed the city over to them, which is exactly why they refrained from making any noise during the previous six days [אברבנאל].

The timing of Joshua's command to shout is highly calculated. He pauses the procession to deliver his instructions because he understands human nature in battle. The moment the walls collapse, every soldier will instinctively charge forward into the city. Once that happens, it will be impossible to gather the people and communicate orders. Therefore, right before the final blast that will serve as the ultimate signal, he prepares them for what is about to happen [מלבי״ם].

During this brief pause, before the actual shout rings out, Joshua issues a severe warning. He declares the city and all its spoils entirely devoted to God and strictly forbidden from being looted. There are several reasons for this restriction. Because Jericho is the first city conquered in the Land of Israel, it is fitting to set it apart as an offering to God, similar to separating the first portion of dough. Additionally, the conquest occurs on the Sabbath, meaning everything captured within the city takes on the holiness of that day [אברבנאל].

A fundamental principle regarding the nature of this war also stands behind the ban. Since God is the one bringing down the walls through an open miracle, completely devoid of human involvement, it is inappropriate for the people to take the spoils for themselves. Looting is only permitted when victory is achieved through the physical bravery of soldiers. Because of the gravity of this ban, Joshua warns the people sharply and clearly. He knows that if even a single individual violates the restriction and takes from the devoted property, it could bring severe punishment and disaster upon the entire Israelite camp [אברבנאל].