Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

How can the story of Jericho encourage my faith today?

Accepted Answer

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.

Joshua 6:1

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

The Walls of Jericho

The Walls of Jericho

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Joshua 6:1

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

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The Walls of Jericho

The Walls of Jericho

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