The people of Jericho were afraid of the Israelites, so the gates to the city were tightly shut and no one was allowed in or out. In this chapter, the Lord informs Joshua that with a mighty shout the walls of Jericho will collapse, and as a result, Joshua will become famous for destroying Jericho.
Though Jericho was a great fortified city, the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its mighty warriors. Your entire army is to march around the city once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the horns, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the walls of the city will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the city.” (Joshua 6:2-5) Wow! God is no joke!
Joshua did as the Lord commanded. He spoke to the people and gave the orders to march around the city. “...the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns as they marched. And the priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s covenant followed behind them. Armed guards marched both in front of the priests and behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” So the Ark of the Lord was carried around the city once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.” (Joshua 6:8-11)
The next morning, Joshua, the priests, and the armed guards marched around the city once, as the priests sounded their horns, and then returned to their camp. They followed this pattern for six days.
“On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the city as they had done before. But this time they went around the city seven times. The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies. Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on all Israel. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the lord and must be brought into his treasury.
When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and captured it. They completely destroyed everything in it -- men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, donkeys -- everything. (Joshua 6:15-21)
Wow! No catapults; no boulders...just shouting unto the Lord!!! “If God is for us, who can be against us.” (Romans 8:31) “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Lord, you are amazing!
Joshua told the two spies to keep their promise and go get Rahab and all of her family. They took them to a safe place near the camp of Israel, and then burned the city. Rahab and her family live among the Israelites to this day.
The chapter ends with Joshua invoking this curse:
“May the curse of the Lord fall on anyone who tries to rebuild the city of Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay its foundation. At the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates.”
"So the Lord was with Joshua, and his name became famous throughout the land." (Joshua 6:26-27)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! With you on our side, no walls can remain erect; no doors or gates can remain closed; nothing can stop us, except for our own lack of faith. Lord, help us remain faithful in you! We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Comments