The Battle of Jericho

Joshua 5:10-6:27

     After Joshua led the people of Israel into the promised land of Canaan, they celebrated Passover, because it was now springtime. The day after they arrived, they picked grain where it was growing, and made the flat Passover bread. And from that day on, the manna stopped falling. Instead the people ate what grew in their new country.

     When Joshua came close to the city of Jericho, he suddenly saw a man with a sword standing in front of him.

     "Are you for us or for our enemies?" Joshua asked.

     "I am the captain of the Lord's army," said the man.

     Joshua knelt down on the ground and bowed his head and worshiped.

     "What do you want me to do?" he asked.

     The captain of the Lord's army said, "Take off your shoes. You are on holy ground." And Joshua did.

     Now the gates of Jericho were shut tight, and all the houses inside the walls were locked, because the people had heard that Joshua and his army were coming.

     God told Joshua, "I will give you the city of Jericho, even though it is a strong city. Here is what you must do. You and your men and seven priests blowing seven rams; horns will take the ark and march around outside the walls of the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day all of you must march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing their trumpets.

     When they blow a seventh long blast on their trumpets, all of you will shout a great shout. Then the walls of Jericho will tumble down."

     Joshua told his people what to do. "For the six days that we march, you must not make a sound. Don't even speak, until I tell you to shout."

     Every day for six days, Joshua and his army marched once around the walls of the city, and then went back to their camp for the night. On the seventh day they marched around it seven times, with the priests blowing their trumpets. When the trumpets were blown for the seventh time, Joshua said, "Now shout, and the walls of Jericho fell down.