The Fall of Jericho
Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-27
INTRODUCTION: The conquest of the Promised Land begins with the battle of Joshua. Everything up to now has been preparation. Now real war begins. God begins by assuring Joshua that He is with him and that He has a plan for taking Jericho.
I. THE LORD APPEARS TO JOSHUA (5:13-15)
A. As a Man with a Sword in His Hand (v.13)
1. Joshua sees Him
2. Joshua confronts Him
B. As the Captain of the Host of the Lord (v.14-15)
1. The man identifies Himself (v.14a); certainly, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ
a. He receives worship from Joshua (compare Revelation 19:10)
b. He speaks to Joshua as the LORD (Joshua 6:2)
c. The LORD is a “man of war” (Exodus 15:2)
2. Joshua falls on his face (v.14b)
a. He worships Him
b. He submits to Him
(1) “What saith my lord unto his servant?”
(2) Compare “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6) – Paul
3. The Lord commands Joshua to remove his shoes (v.15)
a. Loose thy shoe
(1) The same command was given to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5)
(2) God is demonstrating that He is with Joshua as He was with Moses (Joshua 1:5)
(3) As in the orient today, shoes were removed when a house was entered. This was a sign of respect (as the removing of a hat used to be in the West). This was certainly done when entering a sanctuary as Joshua was told to do.
b. The place is holy
(1) It was holy because God was there (see Genesis28:16-19)
(2) It was holy because it was the promised land (Genesis 12:1; 13:14-17; 15:7, 18; 17:8; Exodus 6:4; 13:5; Deuteronomy 1:8; Joshua 1:2-4)
II. THE LORD GIVES HIS PLAN OF ATTACK (6:1-5)
A. Jericho Besieged by the Israelites (v.1)
B. Israel to Circle the City Six Days (v.2-3)
C. The City to be Taken the Seventh Day (v.4-5)
1. To be circled seven times the seventh day; for a total of 13 times in seven days
2. The priests to blow seven trumpets
3. The people to shout a great shout
4. The walls of the city to fall flat; Note: This indicates that God pushed the walls down from above
5. The people to take the city
III. THE ISRAELITES CIRCLE THE CITY (6:6-11)
A. Joshua Commands the Priests and the People (v.6-7)
1. The priests (v.6)
a. To bear the ark of the covenant
b. To bring seven trumpets of rams’ horns
2. The people (v.7)
a. To go along with the ark
b. The armed men to go before the ark
B. The Company Circles the City Once (v.8-11)
1. The priests blowing the trumpets (v.8-9)
2. The people keeping silence (v.10)
3. The ark circling the city (v.11)
IV. THEY CIRCLE THE CITY SEVEN DAYS (6:12-15)
A. One Time Each for Six Days (v.12-14)
B. Seven Times on the Seventh Day (v.15)
V. THEY TAKE THE CITY OF JERICHO (6:16-21)
A. The Shout of the People (v.16)
B. A Reminder to Save Rahab (v.17)
C. A Warning of the City’s Curse (v.18-19)
1. Take nothing for yourselves (v.18)
2. Consecrate the precious metals unto God (v.19)
D. The Complete Destruction of the City (v.20-21)
1. The walls fall down flat (v.20)
2. They destroyed every living thing (v.21)
VI. THEY SPARE RAHAB AND HER HOUSEHOLD (6:22-25)
A. The Two Spies Deliver Rahab (v.22-23)
B. The City Burnt with Fire (v.24)
C. Rahab’s Household Delivered from Destruction
VII. JOSHUA CURSES THE MAN WHO REBUILDS JERICHO (6:26-27)
A. The Curse on Rebuilding Jericho (v.26; 1 Kings 16:34)
B. The Lord was with Joshua (v.27)
CONCLUSION: What battles are you facing? Do you know that the Lord is with you? Are you looking to Him for strength? Are you submitting to His will in your life? Are you fighting for the Promised Land?
By David F. Reagan
Copyright © 2002
Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee