The Walls of Jericho collapse after the people shout out – Joshua 6:20

The people of Israel stood outside the walls of the city they wanted to capture. The people shouted out in a large noise and, as a result, the walls of the city collapsed.

So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. Joshua 6:20

The Commission

The people of Israel had been released from Egypt and travelled for forty years through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. They were to cross the river Jordan into the land of their inheritance. `God gave them the boundaries of the land they would possess:

Lebanon in the north-east, Euphrates in the north-east and the Mediterranean in the west.

This was the land promised to their forefathers. Joshua was told that he would use his nation of untried warriors to destroy the seven mighty nations of Canaan. He knew that the only way he would succeed if by using the law given to Moses as his guide. If he obeyed the commands of God, then God would be with him.

The people of Israel under the leadership of Joshua finally arrived at the river Jordan and crossed it and camped at Gilgal. Gilgal was eight kilometres beyond the river and three kilometres from the city of Jericho. Gilgal became the permanent camp of the Israelites during their war against the Canaanites. Over the coming period Joshua launched three great campaigns that covered the the centre, the south and the north of the land of Canaan. Joshua and his armies conquered the inhabitants so that each tribe could go in and take their inheritance.

The first city to be conquered

In order for them to move westward into Canaan, they first had to conquer the city of Jericho. The fortress of Jericho guarded the approach to the central highlands. Jericho was a very old city, surrounded by double walls and was strongly fortified. A king ruled over the city.

The exact location of Jericho is known as archaeologists have dug under the debris of many centuries and identified the ruins. They found the walls of Jericho and have been able to work out the exact size of it. Jericho was a small city and was less than one kilometres in circumference. Despite this it was a fortress and a stronghold.

In times of peace the city’s residents would have lived outside the city walls. Their houses would have been built against the walls and some would have been built on top of the walls. One of the occupants known as Rahab lived in this way:

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. Joshua 2:15

A seeming impossible task

The people of Jericho had heard of Israel’s reputation as being victorious in the activities it engaged in. As a result they were extremely fearful. They went inside the walls of the city and closed the gate of the city. They did this as they believed they would be attacked by the Israelites. Therefore, there is a situation where the citizens of this city are seeking shelter behind the walls of this fortress. How would Joshua and his army conquer this city? It seemed like an impossible task.

Joshua was given encouragement when a man with a sword in his hand appeared before him. This person had the appearance of a man but was actually an angel.

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15

By this interaction Joshua knew that God (though unseen) would fight for Israel. God made sure that Joshua knew that Jericho and everyone inside it would be conquered and that victory was certain.

The city of Jericho falls

Joshua was given instructions as to what he must do to conquer the city. He had to follow a procedure. The warriors in his army were to march around the city each day for six days. They were to do this march with seven priests blowing horns and Levites carrying the Ark of the Covenant. As they marched they were not to say anything.

On the seventh day, the army was instructed to walk around the city seven times.

And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Joshua 6:16-17

Therefore, with the noise of the shout, the walls fell down and Israel marched victorious into Jericho.

The aftermath

Joshua said these words to Israel:

And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. Joshua 6:17

Everything in the city was given to God for destruction. As a result, every living being in the city was destroyed except for Rahab and her household. Rahab had protected a couple of Israel spies who had come to the city before the Israel army were sent. She had shown faith in God by doing this. The gold and all metals were devoted to God and placed in the treasury. Israel was not permitted to keep anything for themselves. The reason for this is that God had given them the victory therefore all the spoils of the city belonged to God.

 Faith in God

This great victory and miracle showed Israel that God was with Joshua – their new leader. The faith of Israel had been tested by God’s simple orders. If they had not obeyed the instructions of God then their attack on Jericho would have been a failure as they were not skilled in warfare at that early stage of the conquering of Canaan.

This even was remembered later on by the apostle Paul in Hebrews:

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. Hebrews 11:30

The fortress of Jericho was not taken as a result of brilliant human strategy or amazing physical courage by the people of Israel. Rather it was done by instructions given to them by God which they were required to obey. Faith is capable of achieving great things even those that appear impossible.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Therefore, the episode at Jericho is teaching that faith in God is essential for victory. This is what Paul says in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 6:

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

The only way we can please God is by having faith in him. How do we get that faith? Paul gives the answer in Romans chapter 10 and verse 17:

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We get faith by reading the Bible and also hearing it read and discussed by fellow believers. When we take notice of the Word and learn about what God has done in the past we find that our faith is strengthened. We also are strengthened when we read about the promises related to the future.

We look forward to the time in the future when God will send His son the Lord Jesus Christ to conquer the modern day nation versions of “Jericho”.

Conclusion

This episode in Israel’s history teaches important lessons:

• There is a need for faith.

As discussed above, it is not possible to please God without faith.

• There is a need for strict obedience. Faith needs to be made manifest by works.

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.  James 2:24

• There is a constant need to seek the counsel of God.

There is a continuing need to always seek God’s advice so that proper direction may be obtained. As soon as Joshua knew that the man standing before him was an angel he did seek guidance on what to do next – “What does my lord say to his servant?”

God has always revealed His will through His Word, The study of the Bible along with prayer can govern our actions.