An Unlikely Battle Plan

Chapter 5 Overview

Circumcision of all the men because of the fact they had not yet followed in obedience

First Passover in Canaan and the ending of manna

The encounter with the commander of the Lord’s Army- similar to Moses's initial encounter with the Lord in the burning bush

Exodus 3:4–5 “When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.””

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:3–5

In the Bible the number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection. There were seven priests, seven trumpets, seven days, seven circuits of the wall on the seventh day.

Deuteronomy 9:1 ““Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven,”

The mound, or “tell” of Jericho was surrounded by a great earthen rampart, or embankment, with a stone retaining wall at its base. The retaining wall was some four to five meters (12–15 feet) high. On top of that was a mudbrick wall two meters (six feet) thick and about six to eight meters (20–26 feet) high.4 At the crest of the embankment was a similar mudbrick wall whose base was roughly 14 meters (46 feet) above the ground level outside the retaining wall (see diagram). This is what loomed high above the Israelites as they marched around the city each day for seven days. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the fortress

In the Bible, Jericho was a small city of about 9 acres that was surrounded by a strong fortification system. The Israelite army was able to march around the city seven times in one day. Size:

The upper city of Jericho was about 6 acres 

The total area of the upper city and fortification system was about 9 acres 

The city was encircled by a stone wall that was over 3.6 meters (12 ft) high 

Population:

The population of the upper city was likely around 1,200 people 

People also lived on the embankment between the upper and lower city walls 

Canaanites living in surrounding villages would have fled to Jericho for safety 

1. Jericho was in a state of fear

2. The instruments of battle were unusual

Jubilee Trumpets

Numbers 10:10 “On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.””

3. The nation of Israel’s obedience put them directly in harms way

4. The task in front of them would be difficult

Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”

5. Upon destruction of the city, they were to devote everything to the Lord for destruction

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:20b–21

The NASB renders those words “shall be under the ban,

6. Rahab’s previous actions spared her family

7. Jericho was never to be rebuilt