יהושע, פרק ו׳, פסוק ג׳

The conquest of Jericho unfolds as a highly unusual military operation. Rather than launching a direct assault, God commands a strategy centered on marching around the city walls. This approach is designed to deliver profound psychological and spiritual messages to both the enemy and the Israelites.

The command specifically calls for all the fighting men to participate. This means only the soldiers are to engage in the march, while the rest of the nation, including women, children, and the elderly, remain safely in the camp [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. More specifically, this duty falls to the vanguard, comprised of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, who had previously committed to leading the army [אלשיך, חומת אנך]. On the first day, other Israelites mistakenly joined the formation, prompting Joshua to ensure that only the designated vanguard carried out the task on the second day [חומת אנך].

The instructions require a complete and full circuit around all four sides of the city, rather than just a partial turn [מלבי״ם]. The soldiers must actively walk around the perimeter, rather than simply standing in a stationary circle [אברבנאל]. This precise maneuver is to be performed exactly once a day for six consecutive days [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This tactic serves several purposes directed outward at the besieged city. The silent march is intended to confuse the enemy, presenting them with the sight of an army moving purposefully without engaging in battle. This prevents the inhabitants from thinking the Israelites are afraid of close combat [אברבנאל]. Furthermore, the eventual sounding of the horns is meant to strike deep fear and terror into the hearts of those trapped inside [רד״ק]. Beyond psychological warfare, there is also a spiritual objective to the march, which is to repel and neutralize any witchcraft or harmful forces that the local nations might have placed around the city [חומת אנך].

Internally, the primary goal of this strategy is to prove to the Israelites that God is the true master of war and that victory is achieved through His miracles, not through swords and spears [רד״ק, אלשיך, אברבנאל]. Having the soldiers walk ahead of the Ark of the Covenant is specifically meant to strip away any illusion that their own military might is responsible for the conquest [אלשיך]. The sheer spectacle and the great blast of the horns are designed to wake the people from any spiritual slumber. It compels them to pay attention to God's wonders and revere Him, as it is clear that the mere sound waves of a horn cannot bring down a fortified wall without direct divine intervention [רלב״ג].

While the complete reasoning behind God's specific method for this miracle remains beyond human understanding, the repeated prominence of the number seven during the conquest is highly significant. This recurring number connects to its deep inner meaning found throughout the Bible, running parallel to the concepts of the Sabbath, the sabbatical years, the Jubilee, and the festivals. Through this, the military victory is seamlessly woven into the broader framework of the Torah's laws and holiness [רד״ק, רלב״ג].