Fall of Jericho

Illustration of Fall of Jericho

The Israelites' arrival at the fortified city of Jericho marked their first major obstacle after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, following their exodus from Egypt and wilderness wanderings. As described in the Book of Joshua, they obeyed God's command by marching around the city once daily for six days with the Ark of the Covenant and priests blowing trumpets, then seven times on the seventh day before shouting, at which point the walls collapsed flat, allowing conquest of the city. This event demonstrated the power of faith and strict obedience to divine instructions over military might. In Scripture, it underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and serves as a foundational example of victory through reliance on Him during the conquest of Canaan.

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Details

Era
Exodus & Conquest
Category
Conquest
Participants
Israel vs. Jericho
Outcome
Walls collapse, city taken
Divine Intervention
Yes

Key Passages

The Battle

Joshua 6:12-21

A12nd Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of ramsโ€™ 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.

Rahab Saved

Joshua 6:22-25

B22ut Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlotโ€™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 fatherโ€™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.

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Did You Know?

1

The Israelites marched around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day.

2

The walls fell after they shouted and the priests blew the trumpets. No battering rams or siege equipment were used.

3

Rahab and her family were the only ones spared because of her faith in the God of Israel.