1
Meanwhile Jericho had shut its gates; the city was shut up because of the Israelites; no one went out or came in.
2
And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and its mighty warriors.
3
You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus you shall do for six days,
4
and seven priests shall carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets before the ark. But on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets.
5
And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and 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, every man straight ahead.”
6
Then Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets before the ark of the LORD.”
7
And he said to the people, “Advance, march around the city, and let the armed men go before the ark of the LORD.”
8
And as soon as Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven ram’s-horn trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
9
And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark, while the trumpets were continually blown.
10
But Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or let your voice be heard; not a word shall come out of your mouth until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”
11
So the ark of the LORD went around the city, circling it once. Then they returned to the camp and spent the night in the camp.
12
The next day Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13
And the seven priests bearing the seven ram’s-horn trumpets before the ark of the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets as they went, while the armed men went before them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets were continually blown.
14
So on the second day they marched around the city once, and then returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15
But on the seventh day they rose early, at daybreak, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner; only on that day they marched around the city seven times.
16
Then on the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!
17
And the city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction; only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18
But as for you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and so bring destruction upon the camp of Israel and trouble it.
19
All the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.”
20
So the people shouted, while the trumpets were blown; and as soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout. Then the wall fell down, and the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they captured the city.
21
They devoted to destruction with the sword everything in the city, both men and women, both old and young, as well as oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
22
But to the two men who had spied out the land Joshua said, “Go into the house of the prostitute and bring out the woman and all who are with her, as you swore to her.”
23
So the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who were with her; indeed, they brought out all her clan, and they set them outside the camp of Israel.
24
But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire; only the gold and the silver, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
25
Thus Rahab the prostitute and her family and all who were with her were spared by Joshua. And she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26
At that time Joshua swore, saying, “Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up to rebuild this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates!”
27
And the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the land.
🧱📯💥 Summary of Joshua 6 – The Fall of Jericho’s Walls
Joshua 6 records an extraordinary event when the walls of the city of Jericho fell not by military strength, but by the people’s obedience to the LORD’s command. This was Israel’s first victory in the Promised Land — beginning not with physical warfare, but with faith and spiritual obedience.
📌 1. God’s Strange but Holy Strategy (verses 1–7)
- Jericho was shut up tightly because of fear of Israel.
- The LORD said to Joshua:
“See, I have given Jericho into your hand…” (verse 2)
- The LORD’s instructions:
For 6 days: one circuit around the city each day, in silence.
On the 7th day: 7 circuits, then the priests blow the trumpets, and all the people shout.
After that, the wall will fall down.
🎯 God’s plan often does not make sense by human logic, but it carries power when carried out in faith.
📌 2. The People Carry Out the LORD’s Command (verses 8–21)
- The people did as they were commanded:
They kept silent; only the sound of the trumpets was heard.
- On the 7th day, after circling 7 times and shouting:
“The wall fell flat to the ground.” (verse 20)
- Jericho was taken, and all that was in the city was destroyed, except Rahab and her family.
🎯 Complete obedience, even without understanding the outcome, brings forth a great miracle.
📌 3. Rahab Saved, the City Cursed (verses 22–27)
- As promised, Rahab and all her family were saved.
- Joshua gave a warning:
“Cursed be the man who rebuilds this Jericho.”
(This prophecy was fulfilled in 1 Kings 16:34)
- The Lord was with Joshua, and his name became well known.
🎯 The Lord does not forget His promise, and salvation comes to those who believe, even when their past is dark.
📖 Main Lessons
- Obedience is more important than strategy — God’s plan is far greater than human plans.
- Patience in following God’s commands opens the way for miracles.
- God is able to bring down walls that are impossible for people to breach.
- Salvation is the result of faith and covenant, as seen in Rahab’s experience.
- The glory of God at work will exalt the name of the obedient leader.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the city had been encircled for seven days.”
“Our weapons… are able to pull down strongholds.”
- James 2:25
→ Rahab was saved because of faith shown in practical action.
🎯 The walls of Jericho picture spiritual barriers that can be brought down only by faith and obedience to Christ.
“The wall fell flat to the ground…” – Joshua 6:20
“But Rahab… lived among the people of Israel…” – Joshua 6:25
“The LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.” – Joshua 6:27
