Facing Jericho

Archaeological excavations reveal that Jericho was violently destroyed sometime toward the end of the Bronze Age. The walls seem to have been thrown down by sudden force, as if by an earthquake. Charred wood shows that what was left of the city was burned. Excavators have also found food supplies buried in the

destroyed city, which shows it was not captured by siege.

Joshua 6:1–11 NKJV

1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.” 6 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord.” 8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.” 11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp.

I. An impressive enemy.

Jericho was a city with a total area of around 6 acres. With the total fortifies area of around 10 acres. Typically a ancient city would house around 600 people per acre. This would place the population of Jericho around 3,000 people.

Furthermore, the city of Jericho was known for its great wall, which is a focal point of this story. This wall was made of a two stage wall. The outer wall was near 15’ and was made of stone. But, the city of Jericho was set on a hill. up the embankment from the retaining wall stood a mud-brick wall that stood an additional 10-15 feet.

Next, there was a tower in Jericho that was an impressive feature, especially for the nomadic children of Israel who had not see the grandeur of Egypt.

In fact, this is what Joshua had his mind set on as he prepared to enter the promise land.

Joshua 2:1 NKJV

1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.

This city was a city that caused their ancestors to shutter with fear.

It was a city that appeared indestructible.

Jericho was surrounded by springs and even had springs within the city. Thus, Jericho was a fortress that was prepared to endure a prolonged siege. Furthermore, when archeologist unearthed Jericho they found large containers still filled with grain.

How was a nomadic group to penetrate these magnificent walls and defeat this people?

In fact it is said that Jericho was the first walled fortification in human history.

This makes it easy to see why it struck fear in the heart of Israel.

II. Remember God is fighting for us.

This unusual plan of attack goes against human logic. It required Israel to be willing to follow God.

Israel had feared Jericho. Yet, God had called them to face Jericho on the first day of the conquest of Canaan.

Their biggest fear was faced first. God once again wanted to show His people the power and victory that He offered.

Yet, God did this with an unusual method. He did not call Israel to attack Jericho. Instead, He told them to march around the city once a day for six days.

This march included the men of war and the Priest, with the Ark of the Covenant.

Joshua 6:3–4 NKJV

3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

Lets look at verse one.

Joshua 6:1 NKJV

1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.

Here we see the word shut up. It implies that Jericho had closed the gates and sealed the entrances to the city. The word on Hebrew is Segar and means to shut, close; deliver; surrender, or give up. The context will determine how this word is interpreted.

On one since it is obvious that it means the city was locked down with no one entering or leaving. Yet, this interpretation alone does not tell the entire story. Lets look to verse two.

Joshua 6:2 NKJV

2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

The city was shut down, both physically and mentally. God had defeated Jericho even before the walls come tumbling down.

You may be looking at a wall today. A wall that seems impenetrable. A wall that brings fear to your heart. A wall that has been a generational fear. Yet, God is able to do what man cannot. God is able to defeat an enemy that neither you nor your forefathers were able to or willing to defeat.

You just follow God and keep marching. Don’t give up on God’s method, don’t give up on God’s plan.

Obey, Obey, obey.

Follow God, follow God, follow God.

Even when the way seems strange, even when the method is hard to trust.

As Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said, “Do right till the stars fall, Do Right.”

Archeologist have further discovered that when the walls fell they fell outwards. This is not what you would expect for a city that was attacked. The walls should have fallen inward, yet, that is not the case. They say that the wall fell and created a land bridge that provided easy access to the city for the Israelites.

Once again we see that God was moving in every way doing what only He could do.

III. A little more time

Time for Faith to grow.

Why seven days?

Why a silent March for six days?

From a human perspective there is no logic to this method. What good would marching do and why did God want Israel to follow this plan?

Jericho was the lowest city on Earth. Sitting ten miles north of the dead sea, the city was at an elevation of -846’.

Jericho is known as the oldest city on Earth and the first step of mans change from Hunter Gatherer to civilization. Yet, this advanced city was low spiritually because it rejected God. It is known as the ancient version of Las Vegas. It was a city of great sin and deprivation.

And for six days, God marched Israel around this wicked city, that was set on a hill, and showed them what a civilization without God looks like.

God wanted Israel to march silently for six days.

Listen and observe.

But, what did they see?

They saw insurmountable walls.

They saw a Godless society.

They saw Rahab’s red cord.

They saw, a problem.

They saw a calling.

All the time they were watching, God was preparing them for what He was going to do.

I Believe God wanted them to see what they couldn’t do, so that they would understand what He was about to do.

Time for repentance.

With every day the trumpets would blow, the priest and the ark would lead the way and Israel would silently march. God told them to not make a sound.

I can only imagine the anxiety that this cause din the heart of Jericho.

Here you have a people whose God parted the Jordan river, brought water from a rock. fed them with Manna and Quail, defeated the armies of Egypt, and had defeated every foe in the wilderness. And now, they march in deathly silence around your city.

When it came to Nineveh, God sent a preacher. When it came to me God sent His son.

When it comes to Jericho, God granted six days. Yet, only Rahab turned to God.

The significance of seven days.

The seven days coincide with the seven days of unleavened bread following passover.

We see the number seven has great significance in this passage.

Joshua 6:4 NKJV

4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

In scripture the number seven often signifies completion or perfection.

We see seven priest, seven trumpets, seven days, and seven trips around the city on the seventh day.

God was showing that his destruction of Jericho was complete.

Joshua 6:26 NKJV

26 Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, “Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.”