World English Bible
- Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Israel. No one went out, and no one came in.
- The LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty men of valor.
- All of your men of war shall march around the city, going around the city once. You shall do this six days.
- Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day, you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
- It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the city wall will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight in front of him.”
- Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD’s ark.”
- They said to the people, “Advance! March around the city, and let the armed men pass on before the LORD’s ark.”
- It was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them.
- The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the ark went after them. The trumpets sounded as they went.
- Joshua commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”
- So he caused the LORD’s ark to go around the city, circling it once. Then they came into the camp, and stayed in the camp.
- Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the LORD’s ark.
- The seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the LORD’s ark went on continually, and blew the trumpets. The armed men went in front of them. The rear guard came after the LORD’s ark. The trumpets sounded as they went.
- The second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. They did this six days.
- On the seventh day, they rose early at the dawning of the day, and marched around the city in the same way seven times. On this day only they marched around the city seven times.
- At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!
- The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is in it, to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
- But as for you, only keep yourselves from what is devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so you would make the camp of Israel accursed and trouble it.
- But all the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD. They shall come into the LORD’s treasury.”
- So the people shouted and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they took the city.
- They utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
- Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman and all that she has out from there, as you swore to her.”
- The young men who were spies went in, and brought out Rahab with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. They also brought out all of her relatives, and they set them outside of the camp of Israel.
- They burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only they put the silver, the gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house.
- But Rahab the prostitute, her father’s household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lives in the middle of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
- Joshua commanded them with an oath at that time, saying, “Cursed is the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho. With the loss of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he will set up its gates.”
- So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.
“See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.” — Joshua 6:2 (New International Version)
In the narrative of the conquest of Jericho, we encounter one of the most extraordinary military strategies recorded—one that defies logic but exemplifies deep trust in God. Joshua, as the ordained leader of God’s people, was given specific instructions: march the Israelites around the city once each day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day, followed by a mighty shout and trumpet blast (Joshua 6:3-5, NIV). From a purely human perspective, such directions seemed improbable, even absurd. A heavily fortified city like Jericho would not naturally fall by mere marching and loud shouting. Yet, Israel followed the orders meticulously, displaying complete obedience to the word of their covenant-keeping God.
God’s ways can often appear strange to human wisdom. The Apostle Paul echoes this truth, reminding us that “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:25, NIV). Theologically, the theme of obedience beyond understanding resonates profoundly here. Earlier, Israel’s preparation had involved spiritual circumcision at Gilgal (Joshua 5). Now they were enacting obedience in tangible action, circling Jericho—their commitment to God’s Word translating to physical, intentional, repeated faithfulness. For us today, obedience might not entail circling walls, yet it frequently involves trusting God’s instructions, even when they do not immediately fit our personal reasoning or strategies. True faith means obeying God even when the path He sets appears unconventional.
Jericho’s fall is often highlighted in discussions of God’s judgment and sovereignty in the Old Testament. For modern western readers, the intense warfare and subsequent total destruction of Jericho might provoke questions about God’s mercy and justice. This practice, known as “herem” (חרם) in Hebrew—translated “devoted to destruction”—indicated complete consecration of spoils to God (Joshua 6:17). Historically, this signified the absolute authority of God over life and existence, marking the beginning of Israel’s possession of the Promised Land as sacred rather than merely political conquest.
Jericho’s archaeology has drawn significant interest. Excavations of Tell es-Sultan (ancient Jericho) remain debated among scholars, yet archaeological data indicate an ancient city with walls that collapsed outward under destruction consistent with a violent event in the Late Bronze Age, broadly matching the biblical period. Importantly, Rahab’s home built against the wall (Joshua 2 & 6:22-25) finds cultural corroboration, as homes were indeed built into city walls in ancient urban settings.
Theologically, major Christian thinkers—from Augustine to Calvin—have viewed these texts not only historically but spiritually: the conquest symbolically represents God’s judgment upon sin and spiritual strongholds. This historic episode illustrates both the seriousness with which God views human rebellion (as exemplified in Jericho’s pagan practices) and the triumph of believers who align their lives obediently under His sovereign hand (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:12, NIV).
Amid judgment, God’s remarkable preservation of Rahab shines as a stunning grace note. As discussed in our previous devotional reflections (Joshua 2), Rahab’s courageous faith in Israel’s God brought redemption not only for her household but also marked her inclusion in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5, NIV). In this divine drama full of destruction, Rahab’s narrative underscores God’s gracious and merciful intent, always open to those who respond in faith.
In the original Hebrew text, the key verb “shout,” (רוּעַ, ru’a), implies not simply yelling but often signifies battle cries, alarms, or a cry of joy and victory. This reminds readers that it was ultimately not Israel’s shout, but God’s own power and faithfulness behind that shout, which granted total victory. Our obedience unleashes God’s sovereign, gracious might.
Joshua 6 holds vital keys to understanding biblical theology. First, God alone achieves salvation and victories—Israel participated through obedience, not force or ingenuity alone (Psalm 20:7, NIV; Zechariah 4:6). Second, the narrative foreshadows spiritual challenges believers face today, symbolizing walls—inner struggles or external trials—that seem insurmountable without divine intervention. By obedience and trust, believers witness breakthroughs enabled by God’s power and will.
An appropriate hymn for reflection could be “Lead On, O King Eternal” (lyrics by Ernest W. Shurtleff), which beautifully captures themes of obedience, spiritual warfare, and confidence in divine guidance:
“Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears.
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears…”
Heavenly Father, grant us the humility and patience to trust fully in Your ways, even when Your purposes seem unclear or unconventional. Remind us that our battles belong ultimately to You, and that true victory is found in Your sovereign, faithful hand. Like Rahab, help us recognize Your grace amid judgment, and respond in courageous faith. May our obedience to Your Word be complete and unwavering, Lord, that we might see every “wall” in our lives fall under Your mighty power. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.