The Levites carried the Ark ahead of the Israelite soldiers, as
instructed by the Lord.
instructed by the Lord.
Joshua (3:15) states that the Jordan was at flood stage, and remained as such throughout the harvest. This verse along with (2:15) provides information which seems irrelevant to the invasion, yet becomes increasingly important when examining Archaeology.
As the Ark of the Covenant and the priests who carried it touched the flood high waters, of the River Jordan, God provided a miracle for the Israelites.
Joshua (3:16):
“ That the waters which were flooding down from above rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is besides Zarelhan; and those which were flooding down towards the Sea of Abarlle, the salt sea (Black Sea) were completely cut off, so the Israelites crossed the Jordan directly opposite from Jericho.”
“ That the waters which were flooding down from above rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is besides Zarelhan; and those which were flooding down towards the Sea of Abarlle, the salt sea (Black Sea) were completely cut off, so the Israelites crossed the Jordan directly opposite from Jericho.”
God had demonstrated to the entire nation that he was with Joshua, just as he had been with Moses, when forty years earlier the waters of the Reed Sea had been parted on the way out of Egypt.
After they crossed the River Jordan, Joshua chose twelve men and selected twelve stones which were placed in the middle of the river to memorialize their crossing. These stones stood for many years as a sign of Gods provision.
The Israelites were then circumcised at “Gibeath-Haaraloth” also known as the “Hill of foreskins” God’s people were now in full compliance with his decrees.
This place became known as Gil-gal; on the eastern border of Jericho (4:19). After the circumcision the Israelite s celebrated
Passover (5:10-12).
Passover (5:10-12).
The Bible tells us on the 14th day of the month they celebrated Passover. This celebration must have seemed quite strange from on top of the towering walls of Jericho. On the 15th day they ate from the land of Canaan, on the 16th day, for the first time in forty years the Manna did not appear.
God had cut off the provisions of manna for now they ate “of the produce of the land of Canaan”. God had delivered them out of the land of Egypt, now he was delivering them into Canaan.
Joshua (5:13-15): Now when Joshua was near Jericho he looked up and saw a man, that he didn’t recognize, with a drawn sword in his hand.
Joshua approached him and asked are you for us or our enemy? Neither he replied, I am the Commander of the Army of the Lord.
I have now come! Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence and asked him, what message does the Lord have for his servant?
I have now come! Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence and asked him, what message does the Lord have for his servant?
The commander of the Lords army replied, take off your sandals for you are on holy ground, and Joshua did so.The bible doesn’t tell what Joshua was doing when he met the commander of the Lords Army; we are told he was near Jericho and nothing more.
Perhaps he was in prayer with the Lord? Perhaps he was making rounds in the camp, checking with his officers and the battle preparations.
His actions were extremely important to the victory in the upcoming battle. The appearance of this visitor was sudden. Apparently Joshua didn’t recognize the apparel (uniform) of the visitor, only that he held a sword in his hand.
It is interesting that Joshua didn’t seem to be alarmed as though he was expecting him. He asked the visitor which side he was on. He answered neither…He was commander of the army of the Lord. Could this visitor possibly be an Angel, perhaps Michael the archangel?
In Jude 9 it mentions that the Archangel Michael had disputed with the devil over the body of Moses. Michael is also associated with the second coming of Christ in 1 Theses (4:16) It is also Michael who battles the fallen watchers in the Book of Enoch, again per God’s divine instruction.
Leading the Israelite s in the battle of Jericho would fit nicely with the profile of Michael, Micheal’s sole concern were his orders from God.The battle of Jericho is not man’s fight but Gods fight! The Lord then instructed Joshua on how to structure the invasion.
The “Armed Guard” (6:9) was to march first in line. They were followed by seven priests carrying trumpets of ram horns. (6:4) these trumpets were blown continuously throughout the march around the walls of Jericho.
The priests responsible for the Ark of the Covenant followed behind the trumpets, with the rear guard.
(6:9)
Joshua was very precise in his instructions to the Israelites. Their role in the Battle of Jericho was to march, in procession,
once around the city, once a day!They were to do this for six days, with the trumpets blowing constantly as they marched.
Joshua was very precise in his instructions to the Israelites. Their role in the Battle of Jericho was to march, in procession,
once around the city, once a day!They were to do this for six days, with the trumpets blowing constantly as they marched.
Joshua gave explicit instructions that they were to march in silence without giving shouts or jeers; until on the seventh day when I give the order to shout out your war cry, and shout!
Scriptures record that on the seventh day the Israelites; “arose at daybreak, marched around the city in the same manor, except on that day they circled the city seven times” (6:15)
Once again Joshua had been very clear in his instructions. After the seventh time that they marched around the city walls, with trumpets blaring, Joshua was to give the order and the soldiers were to let loose with their war cry all 8/40,000 of them. God was then to tumble the walls of Jericho and give the city to his people.
The Battle of Jericho was to be Gods battle all the way. All he required was faithful obedience. Joshua issued orders that nothing was to be touched, or taken, except for the things that had been devoted to the Lord.
All the citizens of Jericho, men, women, children, young and old were put to the edge of the sword and slaughtered. The silver, gold, bronze and iron were to go into the Lords treasury; the devastation was to be complete.
Only Rahab and her family, all those under her roof were spared the sword. On the seventh day, on the seventh time around the city walls, Joshua gave the command and the whole army of the Israelite s shouted.
The Bible says the “walls fell down flat”. The Old Testament suggests that the walls fell beneath themselves, as to form a ramp up to the retaining walls of the city.
This is what excavations of the city by archeologists have also found, that stones from the wall were up against the retaining wall forming a ramp.
Joshua’s Israelite army just simply marched into the city and commenced a slaughter. In the Old Testament it states “they went up into the city, every man before himself” (6:20).
The Israelite army destroyed every living thing. The Israelites through forty years of banishment in the desert learned incredible discipline, this discipline and military conformity was very evident during this assault on Jericho.
“And they burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver, gold, bronze and iron were put into the treasury of the House of the Lord”.
To conclude this decisive Battle of Jericho, Joshua cast a curse on the ancient city of Jericho, in the waning verses of chapter six in the Old Testament Joshua (6:24)
“Cursed before the Lord is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho, with the loss of his first born son, he shall lay its foundation, and with his youngest son, he shall set up its gates.”
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