Journey Through The Scriptures
Ladders, Miracles and Enemies
Lesson 4: Walls of Jericho Come Tumbling Down
(Scripture to Read: Joshua 2:1–24; 6:1–27)
Jericho is the oldest city in the world, occupied by many different people for thousands of years. We pass by modern-day Jericho, about seventeen miles east of Jerusalem, on our “Journey Home” tour of Israel, but we are not yet allowed to enter as the city is under Palestinian control. Once a Canaanite stronghold, Jericho first gained real significance in biblical history when the two Israeli spies met Rahab and warned her of the city’s imminent fall at the hands of the Israelites. Forty years after Kadesh, God’s people were now ready to inherit the Promised Land.
Even though Rahab had lived an immoral life, she was blessed for honoring God. She and her family were spared by Joshua after his famous battle in which the Israelites conquered Jericho with trumpets—the shofar, or ram’s horn. Jericho was destroyed, and not rebuilt until four hundred years later, during the reign of the wicked king, Ahab. Jesus visited Jericho during his ministry, healing blind Bartimaeus and eating dinner with the tax collector Zacchaeus (Luke 18:35–19:10).
Study Questions
- How did Rahab know that God had already given Jericho and the Promised Land into the hand of the Jews (see Joshua 2:10-11)?
- Despite Rahab's lifestyle, why were she and her family spared in the defeat of Jericho?
- How did Jericho fall to Joshua, who used nothing but trumpets and marched around the city?
Something to Think About
Do you suppose Joshua had second thoughts as he marched around Jericho for six days blowing ram’s horn trumpets? The inhabitants of Jericho even made fun of Israel, but on the seventh day God honored His word! Many times we must be like Joshua and keep on marching even when it does not seem to make sense, or when others are casting doubts on our faith, because we will also be victorious in the end if we go with God.
