The Destruction of Jericho
May 13, 2022
Commentary
The city of Jericho had fortified walls up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. Jericho was a symbol of military power and strength. The Canaanites considered it invincible (v. 1). God told Joshua that Jericho was already defeated and would be delivered into his hands (v. 2). Christians also fight against a defeated enemy. Our enemy Satan has been defeated by Christ (Rom 8:37-39; I John 3:8). We do not have to be paralyzed by the power of a defeated enemy. We can overcome him through Christ’s power.
You may be asking then, why did God give Joshua all these complicated instructions for the battle (vv. 3-5)? Perhaps this strange military maneuver was a test of the Israelites faith and their willingness to follow God completely. It would show them that their victory would only come from the Lord, not their own military might (Num. 10:9).
One morning as the people in Jericho looked out their windows, they saw a group of soldiers just marching around the wall. Behind the soldiers were seven priests blowing on trumpets and more priests carrying the ark of the covenant (vv. 6-8). Behind this came all the people marching without a sound except that of trumpets and marching feet. This required discipline for them to be silent and to wait for God’s appointed time. They completed their march around the city, and then they went back to their camp (vv. 9-11). The following morning the same thing happened, and again they returned to the camp. For six days this went on (vv. 12-14)!! Can’t you imagine what the people of Jericho were thinking? “How foolish these people are. They are not fighting us; in fact, they seem harmless.” However, God had given the instructions to Joshua that He would give Jericho and the king into their hands and how He was going to do it. Joshua carried out God’s command.
Application
Am I obeying God when others may think I am foolish? God’s way is foolishness to the world, but it is the power of God to us that are saved (see I Cor. 1:18). I am kidding myself if I think I can overcome the battles of this life without fighting them with His weapons.
Joshua 6:1– 14 (NET)
1 Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter. 2 The Lord told Joshua, “See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, along with its king and its warriors. 3 Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. 5 When you hear the signal from the ram’s horn, have the whole army give a loud battle cry. Then the city wall will collapse, and the warriors should charge straight ahead.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them, “Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he told the army, “Move ahead and march around the city, with armed troops going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”
8 When Joshua gave the army its orders, the seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns before the Lord moved ahead and blew the horns as the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed behind. 9 Armed troops marched ahead of the priests blowing the horns, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark blowing rams’ horns. 10 Now Joshua had instructed the army, “Do not give a battle cry or raise your voices; say nothing until the day I tell you, ‘Give the battle cry.’ Then give the battle cry!” 11 So Joshua made sure they marched the ark of the Lord around the city one time. Then they went back to the camp and spent the night there.
12 Bright and early the next morning Joshua had the priests pick up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord marched along blowing their horns. Armed troops marched ahead of them, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark of the Lord blowing rams’ horns. 14 They marched around the city one time on the second day, then returned to the camp. They did this six days in all.