And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
The people had religiously observed the orders given them concerning the besieging of Jericho, and now at length Joshua had told them (Jos 6:16), "The Lord hath given you the city, enter and take possession." Accordingly in these verses we have, I. The rules they were to observe in taking possession.
Commenting on Joshua 6:17-27
And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein,.... As Babylon the great, of which this city was an emblem, as has been observed; see Gill on Jos 6:20; will be burnt with fire also, Rev 18:8, only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of brass and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord; See Gill on Jos 6:19.
RAHAB IS SAVED. (Jos 6:22-25) Joshua had said . . . Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath--It is evident that the town walls were not demolished universally, at least all at once, for Rahab's house was allowed to stand until her relatives were rescued according to promise.
Commenting on Joshua 6:22-25