Joshua 6
Jericho was a large city with great, strong walls, and no doubt, watch towers and guards. It must also have been a beautiful city, being spoken of as “the city of palm trees” (Deut. 34:3).
We know from what the woman, Rahab, said, that its people had heard of God’s great wonders to Israel, and were very frightened at their coming to Canaan. They should have gladly welcomed them and God would have forgiven all, as He did Rahab. But, instead, they shut their gates that none should eater.
God told Joshua to have his soldiers march around the city, followed by seven men blowing trumpets; the men with the ark following and a guard. They did this early in the morning and then returned to camp.
Each morning for six days they marched the same, making no noise only the blowing of the trumpets. We do not know what the people of Jericho thought, to have that army march around their city; any way, they did not open the gates, although the trumpets were really warnings to them.
Early on the seventh day the men of Israel again started their march around Jericho. That day they went around, not just once, but seven times—the last time Joshua told all the men to shout, and there must have been a very loud shout from all that army of men. God then made the walls of Jericho fall flat and the men of Israel went in, destroying all there, because they would not trust in God, or honor Him.
But before the walls fell, Joshua sent the young men to bring away Rahab and all her family and all that were in her house, and they took them to the camp of Israel.
God’s Word to us now says:
“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6.
ML 03/27/1938