Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Joshua 6
Joshua 6:2And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
God declares the victory is already won before the battle even begins, framing the entire event as an act of receiving what He has already given.Joshua 6:20So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
This is the climax of the story, where the people's shout of faith and obedience is met by God's power, causing the walls to fall instantly.Joshua 6:25But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Amidst the destruction, Joshua's act of saving Rahab shows that God's covenant faithfulness and mercy are extended to anyone who turns to Him.
Historical & Cultural Context
The First Obstacle in the Promised Land
After forty years in the wilderness, the people of Israel have finally crossed the Jordan River into the land God promised them. They have renewed their covenant with God and are now camped near Jericho, a powerful and heavily fortified city. The inhabitants of Jericho are terrified, having heard how God parted the Jordan, and they have sealed their gates, preparing for a siege. This city represents the first and most significant military challenge in their conquest of Canaan.
An Unconventional Battle Plan
Instead of a conventional military strategy, God gives Joshua a set of ritualistic instructions. The plan involves the army, priests, and the Ark of the Covenant - the symbol of God's presence - circling the city for seven days. For six days, they are to march in complete silence, a significant test of discipline and faith. The tension builds toward the seventh day, when the silent marches give way to a climactic shout that will unleash God's power.
The Battle for Jericho
The chapter opens with the city of Jericho on high alert, completely locked down in fear of the Israelites. In Joshua 6:2-5, God speaks directly to Joshua, laying out a strategy that relies not on military might, but on divine intervention. The scene is set for a dramatic test of Israel's faith as they are asked to follow these strange and specific commands.
God's Strange Instructions (Joshua 6:1-5)
1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel.
2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.
4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. And on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
Commentary:
God gives Joshua a seemingly illogical battle plan of marching and shouting, promising victory through obedience.
Related Verse Analysis
Six Days of Silent Obedience (Joshua 6:6-14)
6 So 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 ark of the Lord."
7 And he said to the people, “Proceed, and march around the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”
8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them.
9 And the armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”
11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night 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 walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually.
14 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
Commentary:
The Israelites follow God's instructions precisely, marching in silence around Jericho for six days.
Related Verse Analysis
The Walls Fall Down (Joshua 6:15-21)
15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.
17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.
19 But all the silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”
20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.
Commentary:
On the seventh day, the Israelites march seven times, shout on command, and the walls of Jericho miraculously collapse.
Mercy Amidst Judgment (Joshua 6:22-27)
22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.”
23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.
24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.
25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.”
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.
Commentary:
Joshua honors the promise to Rahab, saving her and her family, before placing a curse on the city's ruins.
Related Verse Analysis
Core Truths from the Fall of Jericho
Obedience Unlocks God's Power
The story of Jericho is a masterclass in obedience. The Israelite victory was not tied to their military skill but to their willingness to follow God's strange and specific instructions. It teaches that our role is to trust and obey, while God's role is to deliver the victory.
God's Ways Are Not Our Ways
No military strategist would ever suggest marching silently around a city to conquer it. God's plan was designed to bypass human strength and wisdom entirely, ensuring that He alone would receive the glory for the victory. It reminds us that God's perspective and methods are often far beyond our own understanding.
Judgment and Mercy Coexist
The destruction of Jericho is a sobering picture of God's judgment against persistent sin and rebellion. Yet, in the middle of it, Rahab's story shines as a beacon of hope. It shows that God's mercy is available to anyone, regardless of their background, who turns to Him in faith.
Applying Jericho's Lessons Today
The fall of Jericho shows that God's power is most evident when our own strategies are set aside. It challenges you to ask if you are trying to solve problems with your own strength or if you are listening for God's unconventional instructions. True victory comes from trusting His plan, especially when it doesn't make sense to you (Joshua 6:3-5).
We all face fortified 'walls' - whether they are relational conflicts, financial struggles, addictions, or deep-seated fears. This chapter encourages you to stop trying to break them down yourself. Instead, you can 'march' in faithful, patient obedience through prayer and trust, believing that God is the one who will ultimately make the walls fall flat (Joshua 6:20).
Rahab's past did not define her future with God. Her story in Joshua 6:25 is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. It shows that faith, not perfection, is what God looks for, and He can rescue and use anyone who trusts in Him.
God's Victory, Our Obedience
Joshua 6 declares that God fights for His people, but He does so on His own terms. The victory at Jericho was not a reward for military might but a result of radical, trusting obedience. The message is both powerful and personal: the seemingly solid walls in our lives are no match for God's power. Our part is not to figure it all out, but to faithfully follow the steps He lays before us.
What This Means for Us Today
The battle for Jericho was won through a divine invitation to trust and participate in a miracle. God invites us to face our own impossible situations not with fear or our own flawed strategies, but with the same courageous faith. He asks us to march in obedience, trusting that He will bring the walls down.
- In what area of your life is God asking for silent, patient obedience?
- How can you actively trust God's power over your own strength this week?
- Who can you share the story of Rahab with as an example of God's incredible grace?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details Israel's spiritual preparation right before the battle, including circumcision and celebrating the Passover, setting the stage for a holy war.
This chapter provides a stark contrast, showing how one man's disobedience leads to a humiliating defeat at Ai, highlighting the importance of complete obedience.
Connections Across Scripture
This passage in the New Testament explicitly cites the fall of Jericho and the salvation of Rahab as powerful examples of faith in action.
Paul speaks of spiritual warfare, explaining that our weapons have 'divine power to demolish strongholds,' echoing the supernatural victory at Jericho.
James highlights Rahab as an example of how genuine faith is demonstrated through actions, as she welcomed the spies and sent them out in safety.
Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the brutal nature of warfare and siege tactics in this era helps emphasize just how bizarre and faith-dependent God's plan for Jericho was.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God commanded the Israelites to be silent for the first six days? What spiritual discipline was He teaching them?
- The battle for Jericho was both an act of judgment and an act of mercy (for Rahab). How do you reconcile these two aspects of God's character?
- What are some modern-day 'Jerichos' that seem impossible to overcome, and how does this chapter change the way we should approach them?
Glossary
figures
theological concepts
Herem (The Ban)
The practice of devoting a conquered enemy's city, people, and possessions to God for complete destruction, as both an act of judgment and consecration.
Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing the very presence and throne of God among His people.