The walls of Jericho are a real historical fact. The walls could not have just fallen down because they were made to stand. It is quite evident that they were knocked down with the miraculous intervention of God who wanted to impress the Israelites with his divine power.
The walls of Jericho were a part of the ancient city of Jericho and were destroyed by Joshua, as told in the Bible.
The walls were described as being about 30 feet high and 18 feet wide, with a 6-foot thick foundation made from stone, clay and lime mortar. They were built on an “old city” which had been established before Joshua’s conquest of Canaan.
The Walls Of Jericho In The Bible
According to Joshua 6:1–27, the walls of Jericho fell after the Israelites marched around the city walls once a day for six days, seven times on the seventh day, and then blew their trumpets.
According to the Bible, God instructed Joshua to march around the city once per day for six days while blowing horns and carrying seven priests with seven trumpets (one for each day). On the seventh day they marched around it seven times and then blew their horns loudly. The walls fell down flat just like God said they would.
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How Big Was The Wall Of Jericho
The story of the walls of Jericho falling down, recorded in Joshua 6:1–27, is one that vividly demonstrates the miraculous power of God. But more than that, the utter destruction of Jericho teaches us several grand truths regarding God’s grace and our salvation.
The people of Israel had just crossed over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan (Joshua 3:14–17). This was the land of milk and honey God had promised to Abraham over 500 years earlier (Deuteronomy 6:3, 32:49). After spending forty difficult years wandering in the desert of Sinai, the people of Israel were now on the eastern banks of the Jordan. Their challenge: take the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. However, their first obstacle was the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:1), an unconquerable, walled city. Excavations there reveal that its fortifications featured a stone wall 11 feet high and 14 feet wide. At its top was a smooth stone slope, angling upward at 35 degrees for 35 feet, where it joined massive stone walls that towered even higher. It was virtually impregnable.
In ancient warfare such cities were either taken by assault or surrounded and the people starved into submission. Its invaders might try to weaken the stone walls with fire or by tunneling, or they might simply heap up a mountain of earth to serve as a ramp. Each of these methods of assault took weeks or months, and the attacking force usually suffered heavy losses. However, the strategy to conquer the city of Jericho was unique in two ways. First, the strategy was laid out by God Himself, and, second, the strategy was a seemingly foolish plan. God simply told Joshua to have the people to march silently around Jericho for six days, and then, after seven circuits on the seventh day, to shout.
Though it seemed foolish, Joshua followed God’s instructions to the letter. When the people did finally shout, the massive walls collapsed instantly, and Israel won an easy victory. In fact, God had given the city of Jericho to them before they even began to march around its walls (Joshua 6:2, 16). It was when the people of God, by faith, followed the commands of God that the walls of Jericho fell down (Joshua 6:20).
The apostle Paul assures us, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). The description of the complete obliteration of Jericho was recorded in Scripture in order to teach us several lessons. Most important is that obedience, even when God’s commands seem foolish, brings victory. When we are faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, we must learn that our Jericho victories are won only when our faithful obedience to God is complete (Hebrews 5:9; 1 John 2:3; 5:3).
There are other key lessons we should learn from this story. First, there is a vast difference between God’s way and the way of man (Isaiah 55:8–9). Though militarily it was irrational to assault Jericho in the manner it was done, we must never question God’s purpose or instructions. We must have faith that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do (Hebrews 10:23; 11:1).
Second, the power of God is supernatural, beyond our comprehension (Psalm 18:13–15; Daniel 4:35; Job 38:4–6). The walls of Jericho fell, and they fell instantly. The walls collapsed by the sheer power of God.
Third, there is an uncompromising relationship between the grace of God and our faith and obedience to Him. Scripture says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days” (Hebrews 11:30). Although their faith had frequently failed in the past, in this instance the children of Israel believed and trusted God and His promises. As they were saved by faith, so we are today saved by faith (Romans 5:1; John 3:16–18). Yet faith must be evidenced by obedience. The children of Israel had faith, they obeyed, and the walls of Jericho fell “by faith” after they were circled for seven straight days. Saving faith impels us to obey God (Matthew 7:24–29; Hebrews 5:8–9; 1 John 2:3–5).
In addition, the story tells us that God keeps His promises (Joshua 6:2, 20). The walls of Jericho fell because God said they would. God’s promises to us today are just as certain. They are just as unswerving. They are exceedingly great and wonderfully precious (Hebrews 6:11–18; 10:36; Colossians 3:24).
Finally, we should learn that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). It is not enough to say, “I believe God,” and then live in an ungodly manner. If we truly believe God, our desire is to obey God. Our faith is put to work. We make every effort to do exactly what God says and keep His commandments. Joshua and the Israelites carried out the commands of God and conquered Jericho. God gave them victory over an enemy that was trying to keep them out of the Promised Land. So it is with us today: if we have true faith, we are compelled to obey God, and God gives us victory over the enemies that we face throughout life. Obedience is the clear evidence of faith. Our faith is the evidence to others that we truly believe in Him. We can conquer and be victorious through life by faith, a faith that obeys the God who gives us that faith as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8–9).
how big was the wall of jericho
Walls of Jericho, massive stone walls surrounding an ancient Neolithic settlement in Jericho, built about 8000 bce. These walls, at least 13 feet (4 metres) in height and backed by a watchtower or redoubt some 28 feet tall, were intended to protect the settlement and its water supply from human intruders.
5 Lessons from the Story of Joshua and the Walls of Jericho
Most children’s Bible will tell the story of the Battle Jericho. Having assumed the mantle of leadership, Joshua now leads the Israelites across the Jordon and into the Promised Land. That which Israel had awaited the past 40 years is now under their feet. Yet their journey is not complete. Standing in their way is the city of Jericho, a large and impressive city surrounded by a towering wall. Like many times before, Israel responds to this obstacle with fear and trembling. Only Joshua remains faithful, rallying the people to remain responsive to God’s leading.
The battle for Jericho centers around the strange command for the people to begin marching around the city. For six days, the people silently march around the city. How this must have looked to the sentries atop the Jericho wall! On the seventh day, Israel marches around Jericho seven times, shouting out at the completion of the seventh trip. Miraculously, the walls of Jericho crumble, and Israel captures the city.
This event is significant for Israel. With the defeat of Jericho, their exodus is officially over. The Battle of Jericho means that God had brought Israel to the place of life and promise. Indeed, the battle also declares that, even within the boundaries of the Promised Land, God would continue to fight for them. The divine promise that “I will be your God, and you will be my people” (Exodus 6:7) remained true.
What might this story lend to our Christian walk? What lessons are we to glean from this story?
Here are 5 Lessons from this story, through which we can be encouraged in our lives of faith:
What Can We Learn from the Walls of Jericho?
1. Faith involves following the Lord.
When we think of the Battle of Jericho, we often skip the account of Joshua’s vision of an angel. We focus more on the march around the walls and the battle cry at the end. Yet it is an angel that provides instructions on how Israel will overtake the city. We read about this in Joshua 5. This interaction between Joshua and the commander of the Lord’s army is unique and instructive. Scripture records that Joshua asks, “are you for us or for our enemies.” Curiously, the angel responds “Neither.” (5:14)
This is an important scene because it can be far too easy for us to assume that the Lord is on our side, as opposed to the side of others. If we believe that the Lord thinks about everything (and everyone!) exactly as we do, we can too easily see the world in an ‘us vs them’ mentality. We may even begin to believe that God’s role in our lives is to justify our causes and concerns. We lead, God follows.
When the angel responds “neither” a deep truth is communicated about Israel’s position before the Lord. The Lord was not present to serve the wishes of Israel. Rather, Israel is called to follow the way of the Lord. To overtake Jericho, Israel had to acknowledge that God fought for them. There was simply no possible way that the odd-ball strategy could ever provide the victory otherwise.
There are times in our lives where God’s interaction with us may appear random or nonsensical. God continually pushes us past our logical schemes and machinations to move us to a place of humble trust. This is done so that we can learn the art of dependence on God. It is within this place of faithful dependence that we experience the victory that is wrought, not by our management, but by his own hand upon our lives. The likes of victory, freedom, and redemption are found not through our own leading, but by following the way of the Lord. God leads. We follow. This is the way of faith.
What Do the Walls of Jericho Teach Us about Worship?
2. The power of worship.
The daily march around the city must have looked odd for the inhabitants of Jericho. More to the point, it must have felt odd for the warriors of Israel! The point of marching around the city was not to show the strength or might of the nation. The whole point of marching around the walls of Jericho was to show Israel’s faithfulness to God through an act of worship. Scripture records that “seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them” (Joshua 6:8). The procession around the walls of Jericho was a procession of worship more than a procession of military might.
There is something profound about responding to the challenges of our lives, not with an act of vehement defiance or shaking of the fist, but with an act of worship. Worship places us in the appropriate disposition before our Lord. We look to the Lord’s strength not our own. In worship, we recognize that the Lord alone provides the way forward. In the end, our life with God is paved not through the execution of our battle-plans, but through the bowing of our knees in humble adoration to the one who created us, redeems us, and constantly sustains us.
3. The power of silence.
Joshua instructs the people to make no battle cry as they travel around the city. From the viewpoint of military strategy, this would have appeared odd. Battle cries were understood to be an important element in obtaining victory over one’s enemies. The more fearsome your cry the more intimidating you appeared to your opponent. Conversely, silence in the face of an upcoming battle would only show weakness and fright.
So why did the Lord instruct silence? Obviously, a deeper meaning is being conveyed. Silence does two things. Silence allows us to listen to the voice of the Lord who goes before us. Israel marched in silence to acknowledge the Lord who went before them. In silence, Israel marched in an attitude of faith. The battle would not be won by their shouts but by listening to the voice of the Lord.
Silence is also an indication that one is in the presence of someone greater. It is a position of humility. Silence is the internal act of bowing our spirit before the Lord in service and adoration. In silence, we offer the Lord the fullness of our attention and our lives. Thus, Israel marched in silence, to show that their life in the Promised Land was rooted in an acknowledgment of the Lord.
We live in a world of a myriad of voices, all of which vie for our attention and allegiance. When we fill our lives with too much noise, we essentially rob ourselves of the opportunity to experience God’s power and presence. Thus, it is important that we cultivate the habit of silence through which we allow God’s voice to direct us.
Walls of Jericho Bible Story & Its Lessons on Faith
4. Faith means perseverance.
The Battle of Jericho was not a one-day affair. Israel was instructed to march around the city for seven days. Furthermore, on the seventh day, Israel had to walk around the city seven times. Again, and again, and again, Israel journeyed around the city trusting that, eventually, God would bring the walls down. Israel had to persevere.
Too easily today, faith gets set aside in favor of that which is quick or convenient. After all, we live in a world of instant gratification. Yet Jericho was not taken in a day. We see the call to perseverance throughout all of scripture. God’s work often occurs over a span of time.
There is no opportunity to grow if God’s plan was always revealed at the snap of a finger. More importantly, nor would there be any opportunity to join in what God is doing. Israel’s march around the walls of Jericho gave Israel the time they needed to exercise the fullness of their faith. The marches also gave Israel the ability to anticipate their involvement in God’s victory over Jericho.
The same is true in our lives. Our life with God is one of trust and perseverance. When we are in the position of waiting, we must remember that this gives us the ability to grow in our faith. Furthermore, perseverance opens the door to our participation in what the Lord will do in our midst.
5. Recognizing the larger story of redemption.
Prior to the battle at Jericho, we read that Joshua sends spies to sus out the city’s military capability. On this trip, the spies meet Rahab the prostitute, who, in a seemingly strange act of faithfulness to Yahweh, aids the spies in the promise that she will be spared. Indeed, this is what occurs. After the defeat of Jericho, Joshua commands the spies to return to Rahab’s house and rescue her and her family. This is the last we read about Rahab.
This is not, however, the last time Rahab is mentioned in Scripture. Scripture makes abundantly clear that Rahab becomes the mother of Boaz, who later marries Ruth. This makes Rahab the great, great, great grandmother of King David and an important figure in the lineage of Jesus. In fact, Matthew takes particular care to mention Rahab within the lineage of Jesus’ ancestry (Matthew 1:5).
What does this tell us? Our individual battles are part of the larger story of redemption. God weaves together that which is beyond the scope of accomplishment and merit to fully establish God’s glorious kingdom on earth. God’s ways are not based on merit or deserving, strength, or prowess. God’s kingdom is established through the way of grace, and in grace, we participate in the larger arc of God’s redemptive work. Rahab’s place in the lineage of Jesus shows us that our individual lives are important elements in God’s salvation plan.
Like every story in Scripture, the Battle of Jericho lends itself to multiple lessons. We can never exhaust the truths that God reveals through the pages of Scripture. So, I invite you to take the time needed and read the opening chapters of the book of Joshua. Read through the story of Jericho and see what other truths Lord has for you.
