Bible Strands
Joshua 6:8
After Joshua had spoken to the people, seven priests carrying seven rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Joshua addresses the assembled Israelites immediately after delivering the divine marching orders for Jericho. The narrative captures the precise moment the commanded procession begins its execution.
The words — The Hebrew participle נֹשְׂאִים (no.se.'Im) literally means "carrying" or "bearing," describing the priests actively transporting the seven rams' horns. This grammatical form emphasizes the continuous, physical preparation required before the blowing commences.
The thread — The sequence of armed troops preceding the ark and priests blowing horns echoes the battle formation in Numbers 32:20 and the initial marching command in Joshua 6:3. These references establish a consistent pattern of military procession centered on the ark's presence.
Why it lands — The text describes a coordinated procession where priests carry and blow horns while troops and the ark move in sequence. It requires the reader to observe how divine instructions are executed through specific roles and ordered movement rather than individual initiative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.
Cross-references
- Numbers 32:20 Moses replied, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle,
- Joshua 6:3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.