Joshua 6:26

Joshua 6:26

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

a. NLT: At that time Joshua invoked this curse: “May the curse of the LORD fall on anyone
who tries to rebuild the town of Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay its foundation. At the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates.”

b. NIV: At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”

c. YLT: And Joshua adjureth them at that time, saying, 'Cursed is the man before Jehovah who raiseth up and hath built this city, even Jericho; in his first-born he doth lay its foundation, and in his youngest he doth set up its doors;'

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Then Joshua laid this oath on them, Cursed is the man before the Lord who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. With the loss of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.

e. Septuagint: And Joshua adjured [them] on that day before the Lord, saying, Cursed [be] the man who shall build that city: he shall lay the foundation of it in his first-born, and he shall set up the gates of it in his youngest son. And so did Hozan of Baethel; he laid the foundation in Abiron his first-born, and set up the gates of it in his youngest surviving son.

1). The Septuagint adds the passage that speaks of the fulfillment of Joshua’s inspired curse, (1 Kings 16:34).

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Joshua adjured [the people] at that time saying, “Cursed before HASHEM be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; with his oldest [child] hje will lay its foundation and with his youngest he will set up its gates.” 

1. “And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying…”

a. Joshua [Strong: 3091 * Yhowshuwa` yeh-ho-shoo'-ah or Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo'-ah}; from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader:--Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua.]

b. adjured them [Strong: 7650 * shaba` shaw-bah' a primitive root; propr. to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times):--adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for 7646), take an oath, X straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.]

c. at that time [Strong: 6256 * `eth ayth from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, + evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.]

d. saying [Strong: 559 * 'amar aw-mar' a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

2. “…Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho…”

a. Cursed [Strong: 779 * 'arar aw-rar' a primitive root; to execrate:--X bitterly curse.]

b. be the man [Strong: 376 * 'iysh eesh contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

c. before [Strong: 6440 * paniym paw-neem' plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

d. the LORD [Strong: 3068 * Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

e. that [Strong: 834 * 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

j. riseth up [Strong: 6965 * quwm koom a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, - rising).]

k. and buildeth [Strong: 1129 * banah baw-naw' a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), X surely.]

l. this [Strong: 2063 * zo'th zothe' irregular feminine of 2089; this (often used adverb):-- hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she, so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing), thus.]

m. city [Strong: 5892 * `iyr eer or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4) {aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.]

n. Jericho [Strong: 3405 * Yriychow yer-ee-kho' or Yrechow {yer-ay-kho'}; or variation (1Kings 16:34) Yriychoh {yer-ee-kho'}; perhaps from 3394; its month; or else from 7306; fragrant; Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine:--Jericho.]

3. “…he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.”

a. he shall lay the foundation [Strong: 3245 * yacad yaw-sad' a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult:--appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.]

b. thereof in his firstborn [Strong: 1060 * bkowr bek-ore' from 1069; firstborn; hence, chief:--eldest (son), firstborn(-ling).]

c. and in his youngest [Strong: 6810 * tsa`iyr tsaw-eer' or tsanowr {tsaw-ore'}; from 6919; little; (in number) few; (in age) young, (in value) ignoble:--least, little (one), small (one), + young(-er, -est).]

d. shall he set up [Strong: 5324 * natsab naw-tsab' a prim root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively):--appointed, deputy, erect, establish, X Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state.]

e. the gates [Strong: 1817 * natsab naw-tsab' a prim root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively):--appointed, deputy, erect, establish, X Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state.]

1). It is because of Joshua’s curse there are two Jericho’s. Some unbelievers have imagined they found contradiction in the Scripture when in Matthew Jesus is departing Jericho when he heals the blind men and in Luke Jesus is approaching Jericho. Well folks, there are two Jericho’s, the old city that was destroyed during Joshua’s day and the newer one that had been built afterward.

a). Luke 18:35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

b). Matthew 20:29, 30 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

 2). This curse has been interpreted to mean that the individual who rebuilds Jericho will lose his firstborn in death while he is restoring the foundation and his youngest son will die when he sets up the gates. This pronouncement was fulfilled during the days of Ahab, up to that point, the most wicked king of Israel.

a). 1 Kings 16:34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

3). There is an interesting Jewish tradition mentioned by Alfred Edersheim in his book, Bible History Old Testament, p.670, Note 6. “Both he [Elijah] and King Ahab are supposed to have come on a visit of condolence to Heil, after the death of his children (I Kings 16:34). Elijah explains that this terrible calamity was the consequence of the neglect of Joshua’s warning, to which Ahab objects that it was incredible the disciple’s word should become true, if the master’s were not. But since the threatening of Moses in regard to idolatry had not been fulfilled, he could not believe in the warning of Joshua. Upon this Elijah bursts into the words mentioned in the text.” [1 Kings 17:1] 

4). “Elijah’s first appearance in the Bible is as a messenger to Ahab, considered up to this point, the most sinful of Israel’s kings. He proclaims “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, for whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17: 1).  In the Midrash version, we see that Elijah initially objects to meeting Ahab.  The Midrash version states, “Elijah at first refused to seek out the sinner who had violated the Divine Injunction against rebuilding Jericho, for he said that the blasphemous talk of such evil-doers always called for his rage” (Ginzberg 4).  The Midrash also claims that Ahab mocked Elijah, saying “Was not Moses greater than Joshua, and did he not say that God would let no rain descend upon the earth, if Israel served and worshipped idols? There is not an idol to which I do not pay homage, and yet we enjoy all that is goodly and desirable” (Ginzberg 4).  Elijah agrees and states “there shall be no dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (Ginzberg 4)

http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/widow-of-zarephath-midrash-and-aggadah