What is the main message of the fall of Jericho story?

The fall of Jericho shows that God wins the battle, not human strength. Jericho was shut tight and could not be taken by normal means, yet God told Joshua that the city was already given into Israel’s hand. The strange command to march, blow trumpets, and then shout showed that victory would come through faith and obedience, not clever military plans. It also shows that God judges long-standing sin, claims the first fruits for Himself, and at the same time shows mercy to those, like Rahab, who trust Him.

Why did God tell Israel to march around Jericho instead of fighting?

God chose a very unusual plan so that no one could say, “We did this by our own power.” Walking around the city with the ark and trumpets for days looked weak and foolish to human eyes. But this slow, repeated march trained Israel to trust God’s word, to wait on His timing, and to obey even when the command did not make sense. When the walls fell at the exact moment God promised, everyone could see the victory came from Him alone, not from Israel’s weapons or skill.

What is the significance of the ark and trumpets at Jericho?

The ark of the covenant went at the center of the procession to show that God Himself was present and leading His people. It was a sign of His covenant and His promise to be with them. The seven priests blowing rams’ horns signaled that this “battle” was really God’s work and an act of worship. The sound warned the people of Jericho and reminded Israel that God fights for them. Using simple rams’ horns instead of fine instruments underlined that the power was God’s, not in human tools.

Why were the people told to be silent until the final shout?

The command to stay silent for six days, and only shout when Joshua gave the word, taught Israel patience and respect for God. They were not to work themselves up with war cries or arguments, but to wait quietly for God to act. The silence kept all the attention on God’s promise, not on their own noise. When they finally shouted together after the long blast of the trumpet, it was an act of united faith and obedience. The timing showed they were following God’s exact instruction, not their own ideas.

Why was Jericho called accursed, and its goods devoted to God?

Jericho was set apart to God as the first city in the land, so it was not to be treated as normal plunder. The city and its people were under God’s judgment after many years of sin. Everything living in the city was to be destroyed, and the valuable metals were to go into the Lord’s treasury. This showed that the first fruits of Israel’s victories belonged fully to God, not to their greed. It also taught Israel that entering the land was an act of obedience under God’s rule, not just a chance to enrich themselves.

Why was Rahab and her family spared when Jericho was destroyed?

Rahab was spared because she believed that Israel’s God was the true God and acted on that faith. Earlier she had hidden the Israelite spies and tied a scarlet cord in her window as a sign. Joshua kept the promise made to her, sending the same men to bring her and her family out before the city was burned. Her rescue shows that even in a scene of judgment, God is ready to save those who trust Him. She was brought into Israel’s community and lived among them, a picture of mercy in the middle of destruction.

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

This passage shows God as powerful, faithful, just, and merciful. He brings down strong walls with a word, so no obstacle is too hard for Him. He keeps His promise to Joshua and Israel to give them the land. He judges a city that has long resisted Him, showing He does not ignore evil forever. At the same time, He kindly saves Rahab and her family because she trusted Him. God’s plans may look strange to us, but this story shows He can be trusted to do what is right and to care for those who believe Him.

Why is the destruction of everyone in Jericho so hard to understand?

Many people find this part of the story painful, because it describes men, women, young and old being put to the sword. The passage presents this not as random violence, but as God’s judgment on a people who had long resisted Him. Israel is carrying out what God commanded, not acting on their own rage. At the same time, the saving of Rahab shows that anyone who turns to God in faith can be spared. While the details are hard, the passage calls readers to see both God’s justice and His mercy together.

How can the story of Jericho encourage my faith today?

This story can steady your faith when you face problems that feel like high walls. It shows that God is not limited by what looks impossible. Israel’s part was to listen, walk, wait, and then shout when told. In the same way, your part is to trust God’s word and obey, even when His ways feel slow or strange. The fall of Jericho reminds you that God’s timing is perfect, that He sees both your battles and your obedience, and that He is able to bring down obstacles in His own way.

Josh.6.1

Joshua 6:1

KJV

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

The Walls of Jericho

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

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

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

4 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.

5 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.

6 ¶ 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.

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.

8 ¶ 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.

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.

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.

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

12 ¶ And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

13 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.

14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

15 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.

16 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.

17 ¶ 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.

18 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.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

22 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.

23 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.

24 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.

25 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.

26 ¶ 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.

27 So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

Cross References

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