Jericho: Walls That Fell to Trumpets and a Shout
Joshua 6
The Story
Jericho was a heavily fortified city — the first obstacle in Canaan. God gave Joshua an unusual strategy: for six days, armed men and seven priests carrying trumpets were to march around the city once in silence. On the seventh day, they marched around seven times. When the priests gave a long trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the whole army to shout. The walls collapsed. The army advanced straight in and took the city.
Did You Know
Archaeologists have discovered that ancient Jericho had a double wall system — an outer wall and an inner wall — with houses built between them. Rahab, the woman who hid the Israelite spies, lived in one of those houses in the outer wall (Joshua 2:15). The only section of wall that remained standing, according to the text, was where she had hung the scarlet cord.
Takeaway
The battle of Jericho teaches that God's methods of victory often look foolish to the strategic mind. Six days of silent marching accomplished nothing visible — yet something invisible was happening. Obedience that doesn't yet see results is not wasted obedience. The walls were already falling before anyone shouted.
Context
Rahab — a Canaanite prostitute who hid the Israelite spies and trusted Israel's God — was spared with her family. She later married an Israelite named Salmon. Their son was Boaz, who married Ruth. Their great-grandson was King David. Rahab, the woman who hung a scarlet thread from a window in a condemned city, is in the direct bloodline of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).