Joshua 6

Jericho on Lockdown

1 Jericho was on full lockdown. The gates were shut tight - nobody getting’ in or out - because they were scared of Israel.

God’s Game Plan

2 Then God told Joshua, “Look, I have already handed Jericho over to you - king, soldiers, and all.”

3 “March around the city once a day for six days. All your soldiers in formation.”

4 “Seven priests carry trumpets made from rams’ horns. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times - Then let the priests blow the horns.”

5 “When you hear the long blast from the rams’ horns, The whole squad shouts loud - and the walls going to fall flat. Then you all charge straight in.”

Joshua Breaks It Down to the People

6 Joshua called the priests and said, “Grab the Ark of the Covenant. Seven of you all carry trumpets and walk in front of it.”

7 He told the people, “March around the city. Armed men go ahead of the Ark of the Lord.”

The March Begins

8 So they did what God said. Priests blew the trumpets and walked ahead of the Ark. Soldiers rolled up front, and the rear guard had the back.

9 Trumpets were blasting as they marched.

10 But Joshua told the people, “Do not shout. Do not talk. Not a word till I say go. Then shout loud.”

11 They took the Ark around the city one time, Then came back to camp and spent the night there.

Day Two to Six

12 Early the next morning, Joshua got up, And the priests grabbed the Ark again.

13 The priests with the horns marched ahead, blowing as they went, while the Ark followed. Front guard and rear guard held it down.

14 They marched once around the city each day for six days - Same routine.

Day Seven - Time to Move

15 On the seventh day, they got up at dawn. This time they marched around the city seven times - no skips.

16 On the seventh lap, the priests blew the trumpets, And Joshua told the people, “SHOUT! Because the Lord just gave us this city!”

God’s Rules About the City

17 “The city belongs to God - it is under His ban. Only Rahab and her people going to live, because she hid the spies.”

18 “But do not touch any of the banned stuff - If you do, you will bring curses down on all of us.”

19 “All the silver, gold, bronze, and iron go to the Lord - That stuff is holy. Put it in His treasury.”

Walls Fall Down

20 So the people shouted. Trumpets blasted. And the walls collapsed flat - like they got folded by God Himself. Everybody charged straight in and took the city.

Rahab Gets Rescued

21 They destroyed everything in the city - Men, women, young, old, animals - all gone.

22 Joshua told the two spies, “Go get Rahab and her people - just like you all promised her.”

23 So the spies brought Rahab out - her fam too - And set them outside the camp for safety.

24 They burned the whole city down - But saved the gold, silver, bronze, and iron for God’s house.

25 Rahab and her fam stayed safe - And her people still part of Israel to this day, because she had God’s back.

Joshua’s Curse on Jericho

26 Joshua said, “Cursed is anybody who tries to rebuild this city. When he lays the foundation, he will lose his oldest son. When he sets the gates, he will lose his youngest.”

God Had Joshua’s Back

27 God was with Joshua. And his name was ringing out everywhere in the land.