提要
在預備打仗之前，還有兩件事待完成：行割禮和守逾越節。以色列人在曠野的飄流是他們受審判的時期；割禮是約的記號，由於他們破壞了與上帝所立的約，似乎因而被禁止在他們的兒子身上施行這項禮儀。現在以色列人既已恢復了與上帝的關係，他們就要披戴約的記號，提醒他們要保持聖潔，分別為聖歸給上帝，並要作以色列之真神上帝的子民。行割禮是參與聖戰和能否守逾越節的先決條件（出12：48）。
當所有男丁都行割禮後，上帝就宣佈，現在埃及的羞辱已從他們身上遠遠的滾開了。這象徵他們從為奴的羞恥中得自由，也從他們拜偶像和貪婪的罪中得釋放。現在他們與上帝有約，並且終於在應許之地得享自由。
在上帝的帶領下，以色列及時於正月十日（4：19）過約旦河，選好逾越節的羊羔，並於十四日正式過節。這乃是要提醒他們，他們的國家全賴上帝才得以存在。經過四十年的鍛鍊，以色列人的心靈終於預備好可以來慶祝上帝的逾越節了。他們現在得以享用應許之地的食物，所以節期的第一日過後，四十年來供養他們的嗎哪突然奇妙的停止了（5：12），正如它從前突然之間開始降下一般。
我們每人都有些時候必須單獨與上帝相交，特別在做重要決定的時候。約書亞也是這麼做，他向上帝禱告，並且可能試著要想出一個戰略來征服高大、堅固的耶利哥城。上帝已擬定了一個計畫，並且派祂軍隊的元帥來鼓勵約書亞。這位元帥一定就是主耶穌基督的先顯，因為約書亞一看見祂就立刻俯伏敬拜。約書亞一定知道這位元帥不僅是從上帝來的，更是上帝自己。正如摩西在上帝面前要脫鞋（出3：5），約書亞也不能免（5：15）。藉著祂拔出來的刀，上帝清楚的表示，這場仗是屬祂的，祂必要審判迦南地上惡貫滿盈的邪惡之民（創15：16；申9：5）。上帝是三軍統帥，而約書亞要聽祂的命令。
如果由約書亞來策畫，方法一定大不相同，他可能會用一般的軍事戰略，但以色列所用的這種不尋常的方式，很明顯的對所有人表明，是上帝一手策畫的。耶利哥的居民也會明顯看出，是以色列的上帝奇蹟式的使高大的雙層城牆崩塌。上帝要使祂的百姓得勝，但他們首先必須要順服上帝，即使有些人會認為那是一種很蠢的方式。按上帝的方式所做的工作必蒙上帝祝福，也必成功。
約書亞沒有遲延，他通知祭司和士兵照上帝的計畫行動。他們完全聽命行事。繞城之舉不只是一項軍事行動，從約櫃在隊伍中的顯著地位（表示上帝在以色列人中，也說明這是上帝之仗）可以明顯的看出，這也是一項宗教上的行動。七位祭司扮演了重要的角色，每位都帶了羊角，用來發出上帝同在及祂展現威嚴大能的信號。
當耶利哥的城牆倒塌下來，上帝不僅審判、擊敗了迦南地邪惡的居民，也審判了他們的神，特別是月神（耶利哥即月神之名）。如同約書亞早先對士兵的指示，耶利哥全城都被咒詛，將遭到完全毀滅的噩運。只有喇合和她家人得到上帝的救恩。雖然她家建在崩塌的城牆上，但她全家人都毫髮無傷。
約書亞警告以色列人，為了防止他們自己也受到咒詛，他們不能奪取任何戰利品，但一些珍貴的金屬除外，那是要分別為聖歸會幕之用（6：17~19）。約書亞還警告說，重修耶利哥城牆者必受咒詛（在王上16：34應驗），因為倒塌的耶利哥城是要作為上帝審判罪惡的記號。對耶和華上帝的畏懼之情一定也如約書亞的名聲一樣，傳揚遍地（6：27）。
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Overview
In preparation for war, there were yet two things to accomplish: circumcision and the observance of the Passover. During the wilderness wanderings, Israel was in a time of judgment, and since circumcision was a sign of the covenant, which they had broken, it seems they were forbidden to perform this rite upon their sons. Now that they were back in a covenant, a reminder that they were to remain pure, holy, and consecrated to Him and that they were the people of the true God of Israel. Circumcision was also a prerequisite for both the holy war and the Passover (Ex.12:48).
When all the men were circumcised, the Lord pronounced that now the reproach of Egypt had been rolled away. This signified their final freedom from the shame and ridicule of enslavement and from the disgrace brought upon them for their sins of idolatry and lustfulness. Now they were in covenant with God and free at last in the Promised Land.
In the providence of God, Israel crossed over just in time to choose the Passover lamb on the fist month (4:19) and celebrate the Feast on the fourteenth day. This was to remind them that they owed their national existence to God. Finally, after forty years of divine discipline Israel was spiritually prepared to celebrate the Lord’s Passover. They were now eating food from the Promised Land, so the day after the feast, the manna, which had sutained, them for forty years miraculously stopped (5:12), just as suddenly as it had begun.
There are times when each of us must get alone with God, especially when making an important decision. This is what Joshua was doing: praying and possibly trying to figure out a strategic way to conquer the strongly fortified city of Jericho. God already had a plan and sent the Captain of His host to reveal it and to encourage Joshua. This must have been none other than our Lord Jesus Christ in a reincarnate from, for Joshua immediately fell down and worshipped Him. He must have known that the Captain was not only from God, but God Himself. Just as Moses in the presence the Lord was to remove his shoes (Ex.3:5), so it was with Joshua (5:15). By His drawn would bring judgment upon the wicked inhabitants whose iniquity was now full (Gen.15:16; Deut.9:5). He was the Commander-in-chief and Joshua was to follow His orders.
If Joshua had planned the attack, it would have been very different, probably using military strategy, but it was clearly evident to all that God had planned it, because of the unusual method. It was God of Israel who supernaturally caused the high, double-thick walls to collapse. God gave victory to His people, but first they had to be obedient to Him even though some may have thought it foolishness. God’s work, done in His way, will always be blessed by Him and succeed.
Without delay, Joshua informed the priests and soldiers of their God-given plan of action. They did just as he commanded. The march around the city was not just a military march but also a religious one, as was evident from the prominent position given to the Ark of the Covenant (indication God’s presence among Israel and that it was His battle). An important role was played by the seven priests, each having a ram’s horn to be used for signaling the presence of the Lord and His awesome display of power.
When the walls fell down (Heb.11:30), God not only brought judgment and defeat upon the wicked people but also upon their gods, especially the moon god, after whom the city had been named.. As Joshua had previously instructed the soldiers, the whole city was under the ban, accursed, and doomed to total destruction. Only Rahab and her household experienced the miraculous salvation of the Lord. Although her home was built on the crumbled wall, none within it came to any harm.
Under the waning of becoming accursed themselves, Israel was strictly commanded not to take any spoil, with exception of certain precious metals to be consecrated for the sanctuary (6:17-19). Joshua gave yet another warning with a curse upon the one who would try to rebuild walls of fortification around Jericho (6:26, fulfilled in 1 Kings 16:34) for it was to be a sign forever of God’s judgment on the wicked. The fear of the Lord must have spread throughout the whole region just as did Joshua’s fame (6:27).
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