They said to the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of Yahweh.
The trumpets the priests blew (Joshua 6:4; Joshua 6:9, et al.) were not the long silver trumpets but rams horns (shophars). The blowing of trumpets in Israel reminded the people of God’s activity for them. The priests used them to call the people to follow God who was going before them in the wilderness. Both functions were applicable on this occasion. The trumpet blasts signaled judgment to the Canaanites but victory to the Israelites (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).