And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.

JOSHUA 6:24KJV
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Joshua 6:24 (KJV)

What does Joshua 6:24 mean?

Joshua 6:24 describes how the Israelites burned the city of Jericho and everything in it, except for the silver, gold, and objects made of bronze and iron, which they placed in the treasury of the LORD’s house. This verse shows that while the city itself was destroyed, valuable metals were set aside for sacred use.

The setting is after the fall of Jericho, with Joshua leading the Israelites as they conquer the city. The people are following God’s specific instructions about what to do with the city’s contents. The verse highlights a clear separation between what was to be destroyed and what was to be dedicated to God, marking a moment of obedience and reverence in the midst of victory.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 6:24

  • The word for “burnt” (שָׂרַף, saraph) means to completely consume with fire, emphasizing the total destruction of Jericho.
  • “Treasury” (אוֹצָר, otsar) refers to a storehouse or collection place, showing that the valuable items were not kept for personal gain but set apart for God’s purposes.
  • “House” (בַּיִת, bayith) here means the house or temple of the LORD, even though the permanent temple was not yet built, pointing to a central place for sacred things.
  • “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of Israel’s God, underlining that these actions were done in dedication to Him.

Why Joshua 6:24 matters

  • Joshua 6:24 clarifies that the Israelites were not allowed to keep the valuable items for themselves, but had to dedicate them to God, preventing personal greed.
  • The verse connects to the earlier command in Joshua 6:17-19, showing the people’s obedience and the seriousness of following God’s instructions.
  • This moment sets a pattern for how Israel was to treat things devoted to God, highlighting the idea of holiness and separation in their worship and community life.

Where else these words appear

“iron” Hebrew H1270 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • 1 Kings 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
  • Psalms 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

“treasury” Hebrew H214 · used in 70 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
  • 2 Chronicles 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.
  • Isaiah 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:

“burnt” Hebrew H8313 · used in 107 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
  • Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

“brass” Hebrew H5178 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Deuteronomy 8:9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.