Main Idea
God delivers Jericho into Israel’s hands through a miraculous strategy that highlights His power, calls for obedience, and demands faith over human strength.
Key Verse
“When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:20)
Commentary
Joshua 6 records one of the most famous events in Israel’s history: the fall of Jericho. Jericho was a fortified city with strong walls, representing the formidable obstacles standing between Israel and their inheritance. Humanly speaking, capturing it required siege engines, battering rams, or prolonged warfare. But God’s strategy was entirely different.
The Lord instructs Joshua that the people are to march around the city once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying trumpets before the ark of the covenant (vv. 3–4). On the seventh day, they are to march around seven times, then give a great shout when the priests blow the trumpets. At that moment, God promises the walls will collapse (vv. 5, 16, 20). The plan is not military but liturgical: it centers on God’s presence (the ark), God’s Word, and God’s timing.
The number seven is significant in biblical symbolism, representing completion and divine perfection. The seven priests, seven trumpets, and seven days highlight that this victory is God’s doing from beginning to end. The ark, representing God’s throne, leads the procession, showing that the battle belongs to the Lord, not Israel’s might.
Israel obeys this unusual command precisely. The silence of the people during the marches heightens the focus on God’s Word and presence, not human effort. When the seventh day comes and the people shout, the walls collapse—not by earthquake, siege, or human engineering, but by divine intervention. Hebrews 11:30 affirms that “by faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.”
The destruction of Jericho also reflects God’s holiness and judgment. The city and everything in it are placed under the ban (herem), meaning it was devoted to the Lord either for destruction or sacred use (vv. 17–19). Only Rahab and her household are spared, fulfilling the promise made to her in chapter 2. Her deliverance highlights that God’s mercy is available to all who trust Him, even within a city under judgment.
Joshua’s fame spreads after this event, confirming his leadership as God’s appointed servant (v. 27). The fall of Jericho sets the tone for the conquest: victories will come not by Israel’s strength but by obedience to God’s commands and dependence on His power.
Life Application
Joshua 6 teaches us that God’s ways often defy human logic. The strategy for Jericho was not rational from a military standpoint, but it was designed to show that victory belongs to the Lord. In our lives, God often calls us to obedience that may not make sense to the world but demonstrates faith in His Word. The question is not whether His commands are practical, but whether we will trust and obey.
The role of faith is central. The walls did not fall because of noise or ritual but because the people trusted God enough to obey His unusual instructions. Faith often looks like obedience before results are visible. Just as Israel marched in silence for six days without evidence of progress, we may be called to persevere in faith even when God’s promises seem delayed.
Jericho also reminds us of God’s holiness. The ban placed on the city underscores that God’s judgment is real and serious. At the same time, Rahab’s deliverance shows His mercy to those who trust Him. Both judgment and grace meet at Jericho, foreshadowing the cross, where God’s wrath against sin and His mercy for sinners come together in Christ.
Finally, this chapter calls us to remember that the battles we face are ultimately spiritual. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:4 that “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” The fall of Jericho illustrates that the Lord Himself fights for His people, and victory comes through His power, not ours.
What Can I Do?
Identify a “wall” in your life—a barrier that feels impenetrable—and commit it to God in prayer, asking Him to bring it down in His timing and by His power.
Practice obedience in small things this week, even when they do not seem significant. Faithfulness in obedience prepares us to see God work in bigger battles.
Ask Yourself
What obstacles in my life feel as impenetrable as Jericho’s walls?
How does God’s unusual strategy for Jericho challenge my assumptions about strength and success?
In what ways am I tempted to rely on human wisdom instead of simple obedience to God’s Word?
How does Rahab’s deliverance encourage me about God’s mercy in the midst of judgment?
What would it look like to approach my current battles as spiritual struggles fought with God’s power, not just human effort?
Guided Prayer
Thanksgiving: Thank God for the times He has brought down walls in your life, delivering you from obstacles you could not overcome on your own.
Intercession: Pray for those facing daunting challenges, asking God to strengthen their faith and bring victory through His power.
Petition: Ask God to help you trust His Word even when it seems illogical, to obey faithfully in the small things, and to persevere in faith until His promises are fulfilled.
Confession: Confess any reliance on your own strength or wisdom instead of trusting God’s power and obeying His commands.
Praise: Praise God as the Lord of Hosts who brings down strongholds, extends mercy to all who trust Him, and wins victories that bring glory to His name.
