The Fall of Jericho

The Fall of Jericho

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. Jos. 6:1

Now Jericho was... All the inhabitants of Jericho were kept within the walls and no traffic in and out of the city was permitted. They were waiting for the attack by Israel, being fearful of their impending doom (Jos. 2:10-11; 5:1). As Rahab had disclosed to the spies the residents of Jericho were filled with terror because of the advancing Israelites.

And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. Jos. 6:2

the Lord said... The 6th prophecy in Joshua (Jos. 6:2-5, fulfilled, Jos. 6:8-26). Next, Jos. 6:26. The Lord here was the man that had appeared to Joshua in Jos_5:13-15. Two predictions to Joshua:

1. I have given you the city of Jericho with its king and his army.

2. When the priests make a long blast on the rams’ horns and when all the people shout with a great shout, the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go straight forward and take the city (Jos. 6:4-5).

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. Jos. 6:3

ye shall compass... Five commands—conquest of Jericho:

1. Circle the city with the men of war once each day for six days (Jos. 6:2).

2. Seven priests with seven rams’ horns shall go before the ark each day around the city (Jos. 6:4).

3. On the seventh day, circle the city seven times.

4. At the end of the seventh time the priests shall blow a long blast on the rams’ horns and the people shall shout with a great shout (Jos. 6:5).

5. Every man shall go straight forward to take the city.

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. Jos. 6:4

And seven priests... There is no spiritual significance to the number seven here or elsewhere.

shall blow with... The priests, God’s ministers, were to lead the army in war and take a very prominent part in all affairs of Israel (Jos. 6:4-6; 3:3, 3:8, 3:13-17; 4:3; etc.).

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. Jos. 6:5

wall of the city... The Septuagint reads: "the walls of the city will fall of their own accord." On the seventh day they were to circle Jericho seven times and then the wall of Jericho would collapse and the city would be taken.

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD. Jos. 6:6

called the priests... Joshua passed on the commands of the Lord to Israel, so they would know exactly what to do in the conquest of Jericho (Jos. 6:6-7).

And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. Jos. 6:7

that is armed... Only the armed men of Israel, and even only a part of them, were to go around the city (Jos. 6:3, 6:7).

And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. Jos. 6:8

passed on before... Passing on before the Lord means before the ark, the visible representation of God among Israel (Jos. 6:4, 6:6, 6:8-9, 6:11).

followed them... The order of the march is clear: The ark and the priests went between two parts of the army, the first part being led by Joshua, no doubt (Jos. 6:8-9).

And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. Jos. 6:9

blowing with the... It seems from this that the priests blew on their trumpets in all the marches (Jos. 6:5, 6:13). This was all the noise that was to be made. The armed men were to be perfectly silent until the end of the seventh march around the city on the seventh day when the priests made the long blast with the horns (Jos. 6:5, 6:10).

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. Jos. 6:10

Preserving absolute silence (except for the seven priests blowing their trumpets) this strange parade made its way toward Jericho and then around the city like a serpent. Jericho then covered about eight or nine acres and required less than 30 minutes to march around.

So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. Jos. 6:11

When the circuit was completed, to the amazement of the Canaanites who probably anticipated an immediate attack, the Israelites returned quietly to camp.

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. Jos. 6:12, 13, 14

Joshua rose early... Joshua made all thirteen marches around the city, though he was at least 80 years old. He was 110 when he died, and it is estimated that he served Israel about 30 years (Jos. 24:29). Probably the Israelites received their orders on a daily basis so that their obedience was not a once-for-all matter but a new challenge every morning. That is the way God often deals with His children. They are required to do their “daily march” with little or no knowledge of tomorrow (Pro. 27:1; Jas. 4:14; cf. Mat. 6:34).

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. Jos. 6:15

on the seventh... Jews hold that this was the sabbath, and that the walls fell in the evening so the actual taking of the city was at the close of the sabbath. There had to be a sabbath sometime during the seven days, so there was at least one march on a sabbath which did not break the command of God.

the same manner... All thirteen marches had to be completely around the city. Even if Jericho was only five miles around, the seven marches on the last day and taking of the city afterward would make a hard day’s work.

city seven times... The Canaanites must have laughed at the sight of armed men marching day after day in silence except for blowing trumpets. There was no effort to scale the wall, no weapons were used, no siege engines were brought up, and no other ordinary means of warfare were used. They had never seen or heard of such a foolish thing. Neither had the Israelites, but they obeyed the One who takes the "foolish" things to confound the wise and the weak things to destroy the mighty (1Co. 1:18-31).

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. Jos. 6:16

At the end of the seventh circuit the clear voice of Joshua rang out, Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! Also he told them to spare Rahab and her family (cf. Jos. 2:8-13).

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. Jos. 6:17

shall be accursed... Hebrew: cherem, "devoted to destruction" (Lev. 27:28).

It was the devotion of any idolatrous object—person, city, or thing—to utter destruction. When such a curse was pronounced on a city, it meant that all the people, animals, and treasures that would ordinarily be taken were to be completely burned in the fire or consecrated to the sanctuary (Jos. 6:19, Jos. 6:24). Joshua pronounced this ban on Jericho, a great and wealthy city, evidently by divine decree, and the severity of the doom that came to all violaters is illustrated in the punishment of Achan in Jos. 7:1-26. This curse was justified, not only because its inhabitants were part of a people who had filled up their cup of iniquity (Gen. 15:16), but by the fact that fighting men from many surrounding peoples were in Jericho helping to defend it against Israel (Jos. 24:11). Its destruction would serve to paralyze further resistance to Israel on the part of other Canaanite cities when they saw the mighty power of God in the miracle of the walls falling down flat.

only Rahab the... Joshua was faithful even to Gentiles, so he commanded his army to spare Rahab and all her house as agreed in Jos. 2:1-24 (Jos. 6:17, 6:22-23).

And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. Jos. 6:18, 19

and ye... Two commands—accursed things:

1. Keep yourselves from the accursed thing.

2. All the silver, gold, and vessels of brass and iron shall come into the treasury of the Lord (Jos. 6:19).

lest ye make... Anyone who broke the law of accursed things would not only be punished, he would bring a curse upon Israel (Jos. 7:1-26).

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. Jos. 6:20

came to pass... So when the priests blasted on the trumpets… the people gave a loud shout. That shout reverberated through the hills around, startling wild animals and terrorizing the dwellers of Jericho in their homes. At that moment the wall of Jericho, obeying the summons of God, collapsed (lit., “fell in its place”).

the wall fell... This must be taken literally, as stated here and in Jos. 6:5.

And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. Jos. 6:21

they utterly destroyed... Such total destruction was unique, as firstfruits to God. It was also an example of His wrath on the depravity of Canaanites. In all other places the laws of conquest were carried out, meaning that the stock and the spoils (including virgin women) belonged to Israel (Jos. 11:11-14; Num. 31:9-35; Deut. 20:14).

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. Jos. 6:22

had said unto... Instructions had already been given the two spies to rush to Rahab’s house and save all who were with her, according to their promise in Jos. 2:1-24. Even this was an act of faith, for under normal circumstances both of these men would have been killed before reaching the house; but since God was fighting for Israel, not one man lost his life.

And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. Jos. 6:23

the young men... What joy there must have been at the saving of Rahab and her family. She and her people became a part of Israel, and she herself married a prominent man of Judah who was in the very lineage of the coming Messiah (Mat. 1:5).

without the camp... Rahab’s family was left outside the camp temporarily, being considered unclean until the males were circumcised and the whole group became clean and made a part of Israel (Jos. 6:23-25; cp. Lev. 13:46; Num. 12:14).

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. Jos. 6:24

And they burnt... As the story of this great Old Testament event moves quickly to its end, two matters are briefly mentioned: the rescue of Rahab and the burning, sacking, and curse on the city.

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. Jos. 6:25

unto this day... A proof that the Book of Joshua was written not long after the related events (cp. Jos. 4:9; 5:9; 6:25; 7:26; 8:28-29; 9:27; 13:13; 15:63; 22:2, 22:17; 23:8-9; Deut. 34:6).

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, 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. Jos. 6:26

Joshua adjured them... The 7th prophecy in Joshua (Jos. 6:26, fulfilled over 600 years later, 1Ki. 16:28). Next, Jos. 8:1. Two predictions of Joshua:

1. The man who rebuilds Jericho shall lose his firstborn when the foundation is laid.

2. He shall lose his younger son when he sets up the gates.

adjured... Hebrew: shaba‛, to be complete; to "seven" oneself (that is, swear by repeating a declaration seven times); adjure; charge by an oath; take an oath (Jos. 6:26; 1Ki. 22:16; 2Ch. 18:15). Joshua imposed a solemn oath—binding to both his people and their posterity—that they would never rebuild Jericho. It was to be an eternal monument of God’s abhorrence of idolatry. He then cursed the man that would dare to rebuild Jericho and fortify it.

So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country. Jos. 6:27

his fame was... Not only was Joshua magnified in the eyes of Israel (Jos. 3:7; 4:14), but he became famous among all nations of that day.