Explore Joshua 6 and the fall of Jericho. Learn how obedient faith brings down walls and how God's grace extends to all who believe.
The city of Jericho stood as the first major obstacle in the conquest of Canaan. Its walls were massive and imposing, designed to withstand any siege. The inhabitants had heard of Israel's God and feared His power. Yet they placed their trust in their walls and their military strength. The city seemed impregnable, a fortress that could not be conquered by human means.
God gave Joshua a strategy that defied all human logic. The people were to march around the city for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march seven times, blow trumpets, and shout. The walls would fall flat. This plan required complete faith and obedience. The people had to trust that God's unusual command would bring victory. The conquest of Jericho would not come through military might but through faithful obedience to God's word.
The fall of Jericho stands as one of the greatest demonstrations of the power of obedient faith. The walls did not fall because of battering rams or siege towers. They fell because God's people obeyed His command. The account of Joshua 6 continues to teach that God's ways are not man's ways. Victory comes through trusting and obeying God, even when His instructions seem illogical. The lesson from Jericho resonates through the ages, calling believers to faith that acts on God's word.
The Divine Strategy
The Command from the Lord
The Lord appeared to Joshua with specific instructions for capturing Jericho. Joshua 6:2 records the promise: "And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour." The victory was already assured. God had already given the city into Joshua's hand. The strategy that followed was simply the means by which Israel would receive what God had already promised.
The instructions were detailed and unusual. Joshua 6:3-5 outlines the plan: "And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him."
The March Around the City
The people of Israel obeyed the command with precision. For six days, the armed men marched around Jericho once each day. The priests carried the Ark of the Covenant and blew trumpets. The people remained silent, not speaking a word. This daily march was a public testimony of faith to the inhabitants of Jericho.
The silence of the people was significant. They were not to shout or speak until the appointed day. Joshua 6:10 commands: "And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout." This silence required discipline and trust. The people had to hold back their voices while marching around a hostile city.
The Priests and the Ark
The priests played a central role in the march. They carried the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's presence among His people. The Ark went before the people, showing that God was leading them. The priests also blew trumpets of rams' horns, sounding a call that signified both warning and victory.
The trumpet blasts had deep significance. In Numbers 10:9, God commanded the blowing of trumpets for war: "And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies." The trumpets at Jericho sounded an alarm that called heaven's attention to the battle below.
The Seventh Day
The Seven Marches
The seventh day was the culmination of the divine strategy. The people marched around Jericho seven times. This number represents completeness and perfection throughout scripture. The seven marches signified that God's work was complete and His judgment was full.
The priests blew the trumpets during the seventh day's march. The long blast signaled the moment of action. Joshua 6:16 records: "And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city." The shout of the people accompanied the trumpet blast, creating a great noise that signaled the beginning of the miracle.
The Great Shout
The people shouted with a great shout at Joshua's command. This shout was not a battle cry directed at the enemy. It was an act of faith, declaring what God had promised. The people shouted before the walls fell, trusting that God would keep His word.
The shout of faith is a recurring theme in scripture. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:13: "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak." The shout at Jericho was a declaration of faith that preceded the visible manifestation of victory.
The Walls Fall Down
The moment of the shout brought the miracle. Joshua 6:20 describes the event: "So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city." The walls collapsed instantly, allowing Israel to enter and conquer the city.
The fall of the walls was a supernatural event. No human force could have caused the walls to fall in this way. The collapse was the work of God, responding to the obedient faith of His people. The victory at Jericho was not won by military skill but by divine intervention.
The Devotion of Jericho
The Ban on Spoils
The Lord commanded that the city of Jericho be devoted to destruction. All the silver, gold, and vessels of brass and iron were to be placed in the treasury of the Lord. The people were not to take any of the spoils for themselves. This prohibition taught the people that the victory was God's, not their own.
Joshua 6:17 states: "And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." The city and everything in it was consecrated to God. Taking any of the spoils was an act of disobedience and theft.
The Destruction of the City
The city of Jericho was burned with fire. Everything in it was destroyed. The city was not to be rebuilt. Joshua 6:26 records a curse: "Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it." This curse prevented Israel from rebuilding the city and turning it into a place of idolatry.
The complete destruction of Jericho was an act of judgment. The city represented the corruption and idolatry of Canaan. Its destruction was necessary for Israel to establish itself in the Promised Land. The judgment on Jericho was also a warning to the other nations of Canaan.
The Preservation of Rahab
Rahab the harlot and her family were spared because of her faith. She had hidden the spies and trusted in the God of Israel. Joshua 6:25 records: "And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho."
The preservation of Rahab demonstrates that faith is more important than background or status. Rahab was a Canaanite and a harlot, yet she was saved because she believed in God. Her story is included in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:5), showing that God's grace extends to all who believe.
The Role of Rahab
Her Act of Faith
Rahab's story is woven into the account of Jericho. She had heard of Israel's God and the miracles He had performed. She believed that Israel's God was the true God and that He would give Israel the victory. Her faith led her to hide the spies and protect them from the king's men.
Hebrews 11:31 commends Rahab: "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." Her faith was not merely intellectual belief but active trust that led to action. She risked her life to protect the spies, demonstrating the reality of her faith.
Her Confession of Faith
Rahab made a clear confession of faith to the spies. Joshua 2:9 records her words: "And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you." Her confession acknowledged God's power and His purposes for Israel.
Rahab's faith was based on what she had heard about God. She had heard of the Exodus and the victories of Israel. This knowledge led her to trust in God. Her example shows that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).
Her Inclusion in Israel
Rahab was included in the covenant community of Israel. She left her old life behind and became part of God's people. She married Salmon and became the mother of Boaz, who was the ancestor of David and ultimately of Christ.
The inclusion of Rahab in Israel demonstrates the universal scope of God's salvation. God's grace is not limited to one nation or people. Anyone who believes in God can be saved and included in His covenant family.
Lessons from Jericho
Obedience Brings Victory
The fall of Jericho teaches that obedience brings victory. Israel did not conquer Jericho through military strategy or strength. They conquered it through faithful obedience to God's command. The march around the city required discipline, patience, and trust. The victory came when the people obeyed completely.
The Apostle John writes in 1 John 5:3: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." Obedience to God is not a burden but a pathway to blessing. The victory at Jericho demonstrates that God honors the faith of those who obey Him.
Faith Precedes the Miracle
The people shouted before the walls fell. Their shout was an act of faith, declaring what God had promised. They did not wait to see the walls fall before they shouted. They shouted in faith, trusting that God would keep His word.
Hebrews 11:30 summarizes this faith: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." The writer of Hebrews connects the fall of the walls to the faith of the people. Their faith preceded the miracle and made it possible.
God's Ways Are Not Man's Ways
The strategy for conquering Jericho was unconventional. Marching around a city and blowing trumpets seemed foolish from a military perspective. Yet God's ways are not man's ways. Isaiah 55:8 declares: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."
God often uses unusual means to accomplish His purposes. He chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). The fall of Jericho reminds believers that God's power is made perfect in weakness and that His strategies are higher than human wisdom.
The Danger of Disobedience
The account of Jericho includes a warning about disobedience. Achan later took some of the accursed things, and his disobedience brought judgment on Israel (Joshua 7). The command to devote all of Jericho to destruction was serious. Disobedience had consequences.
The danger of disobedience is a recurring theme in scripture. Galatians 6:7 warns: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The victory at Jericho came through obedience, but future defeat came through disobedience. The example of Achan serves as a warning to all who follow God.
Connections to Scripture
The Walls of Jericho in the New Testament
The fall of Jericho is referenced in the New Testament as an example of faith. Hebrews 11:30 includes Jericho in the hall of faith: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." The author of Hebrews presents the fall of Jericho as a demonstration of the power of faith.
The faith of Rahab is also commended in the New Testament. James 2:25 declares: "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" Her faith was demonstrated by her works, showing that true faith is active and obedient.
The Trumpets and the Shout
The trumpets and the shout at Jericho have symbolic meaning. The trumpet blasts signaled the presence of God and the call to battle. The shout of the people declared their faith in God's promise. These elements point to the worship of God and the declaration of His victory.
The book of Revelation describes trumpets and shouts in the context of God's judgment. Revelation 8-9 describes seven trumpets that announce God's judgments on the earth. The pattern of trumpets and shouts at Jericho foreshadows the final victory of God at the end of the age.
The City of Jericho in Later Scripture
Jericho appears in other parts of scripture as a place of significance. In 2 Kings 2, Elijah and Elisha pass through Jericho. The men of the city come to Elisha and ask for help with the water. Elisha heals the water, showing that God's power can reverse the curse on the city.
In the New Testament, Jericho is the setting for the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30) and the healing of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46). These events show that Jericho continued to be a place where God's power was displayed.
The Principle of Firstfruits
The conquest of Jericho represented the firstfruits of the conquest of Canaan. The city was to be devoted entirely to God as a sign that all of Canaan belonged to Him. This principle of firstfruits is seen throughout scripture. Proverbs 3:9 commands: "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase."
The complete devotion of Jericho taught Israel that God owned the land and its spoils. They were not taking possession of the land by their own power. God was giving it to them, and they were to honor Him with the firstfruits of the conquest.
Conclusion
The fall of Jericho stands as a monument to the power of obedient faith. The walls that seemed impregnable collapsed at the shout of the people. The victory was complete and undeniable. The account of Jericho continues to inspire and challenge believers who face their own impossible obstacles.
The lesson from Joshua 6 is that obedience to God brings victory. Israel did not conquer Jericho through military might but through faithful submission to God's command. The march around the city required patience, discipline, and trust. The shout of faith preceded the miracle. This truth offers hope to those who face walls in their own lives. The same God who brought down the walls of Jericho is able to overcome any obstacle. Faith that acts on God's word moves mountains and brings down strongholds.
The preservation of Rahab reminds believers that God's grace extends to all who trust Him. Her faith was not based on her background or her works but on her trust in the God of Israel. This example of faith encourages all who come to God, regardless of their past. The fall of Jericho and the salvation of Rahab together proclaim the power of faith and the grace of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did God command Israel to march around Jericho for seven days?
God commanded the march to test Israel's faith and obedience. The unusual strategy demonstrated that the victory was God's work, not human effort. The seven days represented completeness and allowed the people to prepare spiritually for the conquest. The daily march also served as a testimony to the inhabitants of Jericho.
2. What does the fall of Jericho teach about faith?
The fall of Jericho teaches that faith precedes the miracle. The people shouted before the walls fell, demonstrating their trust in God's promise. Hebrews 11:30 commends their faith, showing that faith is essential for receiving God's promises. The account also teaches that faith is demonstrated through obedience to God's commands.
3. Why was Rahab spared when Jericho was destroyed?
Rahab was spared because of her faith in the God of Israel. She hid the spies and trusted that Israel's God would give them victory. Her faith was active and demonstrated by her works. The spies promised to spare her and her family because of her kindness and faith.
4. What is the significance of the ban on spoils from Jericho?
The ban on spoils taught Israel that the victory was God's. All the silver, gold, and precious items were to be placed in the treasury of the Lord. Taking any of the spoils was an act of disobedience that would bring judgment. The ban emphasized that God owned the land and its wealth.
5. How does the fall of Jericho point to Jesus Christ?
The fall of Jericho points to the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death. The walls that fell represent the barriers that separate people from God. The shout of faith at Jericho foreshadows the proclamation of the gospel that brings down spiritual strongholds. Rahab's inclusion in the genealogy of Christ shows that God's salvation extends to all who believe.
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