Joshua 6:17

“And the city shall be accursed, etc.] Or, be a “cherem”, devoted to the Lord, as it follows: [even] it and all that [are] therein, to the Lord; the city and the inhabitants of it should be devoted to destruction, and the riches and spoil of it dedicated to sacred uses, and not become the property of the Israelites; for as this was the first city in the had of Canaan that was conquered, it was fit the firstfruits of the conquest should be the Lord’s, as an acknowledgment of his gift of the land unto them, and that the conquest of it was owing to him; though it might be some mortification to the Israelites, and a trial of their faith and obedience, that the first and so fine a city should not…”

“And the city shall be accursed--(See on Lev 27:28). The cherem, or "anathema," was a devotion to utter destruction (Deu 7:2; Deu 20:17; Sa1 15:3). When such a ban was pronounced against a hostile city, the men and animals were killed--no booty was allowed to be taken. The idols and all the precious ornaments on them were to be burned (Deu 7:25; compare Ch1 14:12). Everything was either to be destroyed or consecrated to the sanctuary. Joshua pronounced this ban on Jericho, a great and wealthy city, evidently by divine direction. The severity of the doom, accordant with the requirements of a law which was holy, just, and good, was justified, not only by the fact of its inhabitants being part…”

“Accursed - Better as in margin, (“devoted” (Leviticus 27:28 note). In other cases the inhabitants only of the towns were slain; their cattle and property became the booty of the victors. But Jericho, as the first Canaanite city that was captured, was devoted by Israel as first-fruits to God, as a token that Israel received all the land from Him. Every living thing was put to death (Rahab and her household excepted) as a sacrifice to God, and the indestructible goods were Joshua 6:19 brought into the treasury of the sanctuary. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Accursed - That is, devoted to utter destruction. This he speaks by direction from God, as is evident from Kg1 16:34. To the Lord - Partly because the first - fruits were appropriated to God; partly lest the soldiers being glutted with the spoil of the rich city, should grow sluggish in their work; and partly to strike the greater terror into the rest of their enemies. Joshua 6:18”

“6:17 completely destroyed: Joshua reminded his troops that the town and everything in it belonged to God as the firstfruits of their inheritance in the land of Canaan. See Lev 27:28-29; 1 Sam 15:3. • Rahab: See Josh 2:12-21.”

“accursed: or, devoted, Jos 7:1; Lev 27:28, Lev 27:29; Num 21:2, Num 21:3; Co1 2:7; Ezr 10:8 \*marg. Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10; Eze 39:17; Mic 4:13; Co1 16:22; Gal 3:10, Gal 3:12 only Rahab: Jos 2:1 because: Jos 6:22, Jos 6:23, Jos 2:4-6, Jos 2:22; Gen 12:3; Sa1 15:6; Mat 10:41, Mat 10:42, Mat 25:40; Heb 6:10; Heb 11:31; Jam 2:25 Joshua 6:18”