Joshua 6:20
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Jericho was the first Canaanite city Israel conquered in Canaan proper, serving as the strategic gateway to the land's interior. Archaeological excavations at Tell es-Sultan (ancient Jericho) reveal a heavily fortified city with massive defensive walls. The city dates to approximately 8000 BCE, making it one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. During the Late Bronze Age (Joshua's era), Jericho controlled vital resources including the Jordan River crossing, nearby springs providing water, and trade routes connecting the Transjordan to Canaan's hill country. The city's conquest fulfilled God's promise that He would give Israel the land and fight for them. The seven-day march around Jericho's walls involved the entire nation—armed men, priests carrying the ark, seven priests blowing ram's horns (shophar), and the people following in procession. The number seven (days of marching, priests with trumpets, circuits on day seven) symbolizes completeness and covenant in Scripture. The ram's horn trumpets (shophar) recalled Abraham's sacrifice of the ram instead of Isaac (Genesis 22:13) and announced significant events (Leviticus 25:9, Joshua 6:4-5). The miraculous destruction demonstrated that conquest was divine judgment on Canaanite wickedness rather than Israelite military superiority. The devoted destruction (herem) that followed—everything destroyed except Rahab's family and items dedicated to God's treasury—emphasized the holy war nature of conquest.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'Jericho walls' in your life seem impossible to overcome, and how might God be calling you to trust His unusual strategies rather than conventional human wisdom?
- How does the requirement for silent obedience during the march challenge your tendency to question or debate God's instructions before obeying?
- In what ways does the corporate faith required for Jericho's conquest inform your understanding of the church's unified witness and mission?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The fall of Jericho's walls stands as one of Scripture's most dramatic miracles, demonstrating God's power to accomplish the impossible through faith and obedience. The Hebrew verb nafal (נָפַל, "fell down") indicates sudden, complete collapse. The phrase "the wall fell down flat" (vatipol hachoma tachteyha, וַתִּפֹּל הַחוֹמָה תַּחְתֶּיהָ) literally means "fell in its place" or "fell beneath itself"—not merely breached but completely collapsed, allowing Israel to charge straight ahead rather than navigating through broken walls. Archaeological debate surrounds Jericho's destruction, with scholars proposing various dates and causes (earthquake, erosion, military assault). Regardless of mechanism, Scripture attributes the collapse to divine intervention in response to Israel's obedient faith. The strategy God commanded—marching silently for six days, then shouting when trumpets blast on day seven—had no military logic. Success depended entirely on obeying God's unusual instructions and trusting His promise. The unified shout represents corporate faith expressing confidence in God's word. Hebrews 11:30 commends this as an example of faith: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." The miracle authenticated Joshua's leadership, terrified Canaan (Joshua 2:9-11, 5:1), and demonstrated that God fights for Israel when they obey His commands.