Introduction

Joshua 6 records one of the Bible's most famous military victories—achieved without any conventional fighting. God's battle plan for Jericho involves priests, trumpets, and marching in silence for seven days. When the walls collapse at Israel's shout, it becomes unmistakably clear that this conquest belongs to God, not human strategy. Rahab's salvation amid Jericho's destruction demonstrates that faith distinguishes those who perish from those who are saved.

Jericho Sealed Tight (Verses 1-2)

[1] "Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in." The city is under siege mentality, doors barred against the approaching Israelite threat.

[2] The LORD speaks to Joshua: "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men." The victory is already assured in God's declaration—past tense for what will happen. Joshua's job is to obey, not to conquer.

God's Unconventional Battle Plan (Verses 3-5)

[3-4] The instructions are unusual: march around the city once a day for six days. Seven priests carrying rams' horn trumpets precede the ark. On the seventh day, march around seven times with the priests blowing trumpets.

[5] "When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in." No battering rams, no siege towers, no military strategy—just obedient marching and supernatural demolition.

The March Begins (Verses 6-14)

[6-7] Joshua organizes the procession: armed guard in front, then seven priests with trumpets, then the ark carried by priests, then the rear guard. He commands the people: "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!"

[8-11] The ark of the LORD circles the city once while the priests blow trumpets continuously. The armed men march in front and behind. After one circuit, they return to camp and spend the night there.

[12-14] Early the next morning, they repeat the process. This continues for six days—one circuit each day. The silent marching must have seemed absurd to Jericho's defenders watching from the walls. Yet Israel obeys without modification.

The Seventh Day (Verses 15-21)

[15-16] On the seventh day, they rise at dawn and march around the city seven times. On the seventh circuit, when the priests blow the trumpets, Joshua commands: "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!"

[17-19] Joshua gives specific instructions: the city and everything in it are to be "devoted to the LORD." Only Rahab and those in her house shall live because she hid the spies. Israel must not take anything devoted to destruction, or they will bring destruction on Israel's camp. All silver, gold, bronze, and iron are sacred and must go into the LORD's treasury.

[20-21] The trumpets sound, the people shout, and the wall collapses. Israel charges straight in, taking the city. They devote the city to the LORD, destroying "with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys."

Rahab Saved (Verses 22-25)

[22-23] Joshua sends the two spies who had visited Rahab: "Go into the prostitute's house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her." They bring out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all who belong to her—her entire extended family. They place them outside Israel's camp.

[24-25] The city is burned with everything in it, except the precious metals, which go into the LORD's treasury. "But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day."

Rahab's scarlet cord worked. Her faith saved her household (Hebrews 11:31">Hebrews 11:31).

The Curse on Rebuilding (Verse 26)

[26] Joshua pronounces a curse: "Cursed before the LORD is anyone who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates." This curse was fulfilled when Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho during Ahab's reign (1 Kings 16:34">1 Kings 16:34).

Joshua's Fame Spreads (Verse 27)

[27] "So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land." The victory accomplished its purpose—demonstrating God's power and establishing Joshua's leadership.

Key Takeaways

• God's ways are not our ways: The battle plan made no military sense but achieved total victory.
• Obedience precedes victory: Israel had to march in faith before seeing walls fall.
• God keeps His promises: Rahab was saved exactly as promised.
• Everything belongs to God: The devoted city and its treasures acknowledged divine ownership.
• Faith distinguishes destinies: Jericho's people perished; Rahab's household was saved through faith.

Reflection Questions

1. What does the unconventional battle plan teach about trusting God's methods even when they seem foolish?
2. How did Israel's silent obedience for six days demonstrate faith?
3. What parallels exist between Rahab's salvation and the message of the gospel?
4. Why was everything in Jericho "devoted to the LORD," and what does this mean?