Joshua 6:17 (DRB)

Passage

And let this city be an anathema, and all things that are in it, to the Lord. Let only Rahab, the harlot, live, with all that are with her in the house: for she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Nearby Context

Joshua 6:15 But the seventh day, rising up early, they went about the city, as it was ordered, seven times.

Joshua 6:16 And when in the seventh going about the priests sounded with the trumpets, Joshua said to all Israel: Shout: for the Lord hath delivered the city to you:

Joshua 6:17 And let this city be an anathema, and all things that are in it, to the Lord. Let only Rahab, the harlot, live, with all that are with her in the house: for she hid the messengers whom we sent.

Joshua 6:18 But beware ye lest you touch ought of those things that are forbidden, and you be guilty of transgression, and all the camp of Israel be under sin, and be troubled.

Joshua 6:19 But whatsoever gold or silver there shall be, or vessels of brass and iron, let it be consecrated to the Lord, laid up in his treasures.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "all things", "city", "anathema", "lord", "only", "rahab", "harlot", and "live". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "all things" and "city", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "And when in the seventh going about..." into verse 18's "But beware ye lest you touch ought...", so "all things" and "city" belong inside that flow. In Joshua context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "all things" and "city" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.