about the archaeology of Jericho, and also issues relating to the historicity of the Israelite conquest in general, as mentioned in the Introduction and throughout this book). The Israelites are to circle the town every day, and seven times on the seventh day. Later verses (e.g. 6–7) note the role of the ark in this. What is happening here is that Yahweh himself is circling the town, as he is present at the ark according to the Old Testament (see Excursus 3; and cf. comments on 5:13–15). The priests