The Walls Came Down

The Story

Jericho was locked down. No one went out, and no one came in. Its walls were thick and high.

Before the battle even started, God spoke to Joshua in the past tense: “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho.” Then He gave the strangest battle plan in history.

For six days, the army would march around the city once a day. Seven priests would carry trumpets made of rams’ horns ahead of the ark. No one was to shout or even speak. On the seventh day, they would march around seven times. Then the priests would blow a long blast, the people would shout, and the walls would fall.

So they did it. Day after day, Israel walked silently around Jericho while the people on the walls watched. It must have looked ridiculous.

On the seventh day, they rose early and circled the city seven times. On the seventh lap, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said, “Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.”

The people shouted, and the wall fell down flat. Israel went straight up into the city.

Reflection