Circling Jericho Seven Days and the Laws of Sacred War

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 15:17

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"You shall circle the city seven times" (Joshua 6:4). One does not lay siege to gentile cities less than three days before Shabbat. This that you say applies to an optional war; but in an obligatory war one may besiege even on Shabbat, for so we find that Jericho was captured only on Shabbat, as it is said, "And on the seventh day you shall circle the city seven times" (Joshua 6:4), and it is written "until it falls" (Deuteronomy 20:20), meaning even on Shabbat.

Themes

ShabbatWarHoly Land

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