Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 6:26

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 first-born, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it .

Or, made them to swear; caused the people, or some in the name of all, to swear for the present and succeeding Generations, and to confirm their Oath by a Curse.

i. e. From Gods presence, and by his sentence, as they are said to cast lots before the Lord, Josh. 18. 8, 10. i. e. expecting the Decision from God. He intimates, that he doth not utter this in a Passion, or upon a particular dislike of that place, but by divine Inspiration, as appears from 1 King. 16. 34. God would have the Ruines of this City remain as a standing Monument of Gods Justice against this wicked and idolatrous People, and of his Almighty Power in destroying so great and strong a City by such contemptible means.

i. e. That shall attempt or endeavour to build it. So this Curse is restrained to the Builder, but no way belongs to those who should inhabit it after it was built, as is evident from 2 King. 4. 18. Luke 19. 1, 5.

i. e He shall lose all his Children in the work, the first at the beginning, others in the progress of it by degrees, and the youngest in the close of it, when the Gates use to be set up. This was fulfilled, 1 King. 16. 34.

Marginal references: 1 King. 16. 34.