Joshua 6:15

The seventh day. The wording of the narrative has led some to believe that this expression refers to the Sabbath day. Such a conclusion is by no means indicated. We do not know what day of the week the proceedings began. But inasmuch as the Israelites employed seven days in making the circuits of the city, it seems that one of these days must have been the Sabbath. This observation raises the question as to whether the act of marching around the city was in harmony with the spirit of true Sabbath worship. We may observe that the Sabbath is a day devoted to God, and that whatever He may see fit to command upon that day is certainly in harmony with the spirit of its observance. According to the divine command, the Sabbath is not to be devoted to “doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure” (Isa. 58:13). But we may safely devote its sacred hours to doing that which God enjoins to be done upon that day (see Matt. 12:5).