The Fall of Jericho

This lesson is taken from Joshua 6:1-16 and 20

 

The gates of the city, Jericho, were tightly shut. Because the people of Jericho were afraid of God's people, the Israelite. Jericho king wouldn't let anyone go in or out of the city.

Now, God told Joshua, the leader of the Israelite people, “I have given you the city of Jericho, its king, and all its mighty warriors.” Then God told Joshua what he had to do in order to win the battle. This is what God told Joshua to do:

1. Your entire army is to march around the city once a day for six days.
2. Seven priests will walk ahead of the ark of the covenant. Each priest will carry a ram's horn.
3. On the seventh day you and your army are to march around the city seven times, with the priest blowing the horns. When you hear the priest give one long blast on the horns, have all the people give a mighty shout.
4. Then the walls of the city will fall down, and you and your army can go straight into the city.

So Joshua called the priests together and said, “Pick-up the Ark of the Covenant and have seven priests to walk in front of the Ark, each one is to carry a ram's horn.” Then Joshua gave orders to the people, “March around the city, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the ark. Don't shout, don't even talk. Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!”

After Joshua finished speaking to the people, the seven priests who had the ram's horns started marching, blowing the horns as they marched. The priests who was carrying the ark, followed behind them carrying the ark. There were also armed guards that marched in front of the priests and behind the Ark. The seven priests who carried the horns, kept blowing them.

The Ark of the Covenant was carried around Jericho once that day, and then everyone returned to camp for the night. Joshua did this for six days.

On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and they marched around the city as they had done before. But this time the Israelites marched around Jericho seven times. On the seventh time around the city the priests sounded a long blast on their horns. Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!”

When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho fell down. The Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and they captured the city.