Israel: Jericho

Joshua 5-6

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. MOSES. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to Come.

Forty years after God led Israel out of Egypt, he brought them into the promised land. The nation camped on the plains of Jericho and “kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month” (Josh. 5:10). Since leaving Egypt, the people had been eating manna daily. But now, the manna stopped, and they began to enjoy the “fruit of the land of Canaan” (Josh. 5:12). 

The kings of the nearby nations heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites to enter Canaan. These rulers realized they were no match for Israel’s God. Their “hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel” (Josh. 5:1). 

The hearts of the kings were not the only ones that melted. Having entered the promised land with no way to retreat, Israel faced one of the most heavily fortified cities in the world. How would they ever conquer Jericho?

Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world. Some date it back to 7000 BC. The city existed for 5,600 years before Joshua and the Israelites arrived. It is the lowest city on earth, sitting 750 feet below sea level. Located in the Judean Desert, this oasis, filled with abundant palm trees, is sometimes called “The City of Palms.” 

During Joshua’s time, the city was surrounded by a double ring of walls. The outer wall was six feet thick, while the inner one was twelve feet thick. Beams were laid across the tops of the walls, and houses were built on them. Rahab lived in one of these houses. Jericho sat on a hill and could only be captured by climbing a steep slope. 

The typical strategy for capturing a city like Jericho involved surrounding it with a skilled army and laying siege for several months until the inhabitants surrendered due to food and water shortages. During a prolonged siege, the attacking forces would sometimes use equipment such as battering rams, catapults, and movable towers to break down or scale the walls. 

Israel’s weaponry included slings, bows and arrows, and homemade spears, and its only military experience was hand-to-hand combat. They had never attacked a fortified city; however, a lack of training and military strength is not a weakness when God is on your side.

While Joshua was exploring the area around Jericho, he was stopped by what appeared to be a man with a drawn sword. It was probably dark, and Joshua couldn’t clearly see the figure, so he asked, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” (Josh. 5:13). He needed to know whether to prepare for battle or to reprimand one of his own soldiers for being in the wrong place. The figure responded “no” to both questions. He was not a human soldier; instead, he said, “I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come” (Josh. 5:14). Joshua fell facedown and worshiped. “The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Josh. 5:15). 

Joshua realized he was in God’s presence. Bible scholar Donald Campbell offers insight on this encounter: “As with Abraham under the oak at Mamre, Jacob at Peniel, Moses at the burning bush, and the two disciples at Emmaus, there was a flash of revelation, and Joshua knew he was in the presence of God. It seems clear that Joshua was indeed talking to the Angel of the Lord, another appearance in Old Testament times of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.”[1]

What an incredible meeting! What an extraordinary announcement! The Lord told Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor” (Josh. 6:2). The Commander gave Joshua a seven-day battle plan, which he followed precisely.

On the first day, Israel marched exactly as the Lord commanded. Soldiers—the front guard—led the way with seven priests walking behind them. The priests constantly blew trumpets made from ram’s horns, or shofars. These trumpets were “jubilee trumpets” used during Israel’s feasts as a sign of God’s presence (Num. 10:9-10). The continuous blowing of the horns signified that God’s presence was always with them. Behind the priests was the ark of the Lord, carried as God had instructed. The ark was followed by the rear guard. 

As the Lord commanded, Joshua told the people to stay silent while the soldiers and priests circled Jericho. The city covered about eight to nine acres and took roughly thirty minutes to encircle. After finishing the march, Israel quietly went back to their camp. This process was repeated for six days. 

On the seventh day, they “rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times.” (Josh. 6:15). Circling the city seven times would have taken about three and a half hours. For the final round, the priests blew their trumpets, and Joshua told the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city” (Josh. 6:16). When Israel’s battle cry rang out, the “wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city” (Josh. 6:20).

God brought down the walls of Jericho because the Israelites trusted God’s word and his promise. Let’s be honest, the strategy didn’t seem logical, nor did it have any historical basis for success. Walking around the enemy’s walls and blowing a trumpet rarely wins battles… unless that’s what God told you to do. God delivered the victory through Israel’s faithful obedience.

One writer said it like this, “I believe this notable city met its ultimate demise because a group of faithful men and women placed their focus and truth on the greatness of their God rather than the size of their problem.”[2]

What a simple but profound reminder: Focus on the greatness of God rather than the size of your problems. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on Joshua 5-6. How can you shift your focus from the size of your problem to the greatness of God this week?

Talking to God: Ask God to help you keep your focus on him. 

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