13 JOSHUA
He Followed Unusual Instructions
JOSHUA faced Jericho, the city that God directed him to attack and destroy. He remembered what Jehovah had told him when Moses was about to die: “Be courageous and strong.” (Deut. 31:23) More recently, Jehovah had told Joshua something similar: “Be courageous and very strong.” (Josh. 1:7) Now, Joshua would need every bit of courage he could muster. Why?
Jericho was not an especially large city, but it was a strong and important one. It was here that Israel would begin its conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land, and the city was fortified, surrounded by a great wall. Behind that wall, its people were steeped in wickedness. Centuries earlier, Jehovah had told Abraham of “the error of the Amorites,” referring to all the people in this region of Canaan. He said that their wicked course would one day reach “its full measure,” and then Jehovah would finally execute judgment on them. (Gen. 15:16) That day had now come. The people practiced idolatry, temple prostitution, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, and even the sacrifice of children to vile gods. The Canaanites had become so bad that it was as if the very land needed to vomit them out! (Lev. 18:3, 6, 21-27) How would that happen?
Jehovah told Joshua to attack a walled city in a way that made no sense from a military standpoint
God would use Joshua and his faithful men. Those soldiers were ready to follow Jehovah’s directions. This battle would be Jehovah’s first step in ridding the land of those wicked people. Still, the instructions Jehovah gave Joshua were so unusual! Jehovah told him, not to launch an immediate attack nor to prepare for a long siege, but to march. Simply march around the city for six days, once each day. The priests were to march as well, carrying the ark of the covenant and blowing horns. On the seventh day, they were all to march around the city seven times—and then shout.
Joshua had some experience as a soldier. From a human, military standpoint, this strategy made no sense. And what if Israel were to lose this battle? Might not all the other Canaanite cities grow bolder, even more aggressive?
On the other hand, Jehovah had already given Joshua reason to trust him. When Joshua sent two spies into Jericho, they learned that the men of Jericho were weak with fear of the Israelites. Then, Jehovah had miraculously stopped up the waters of the Jordan River, allowing the Israelites to pass through.
Joshua surely pondered those reasons for putting faith in his God. He found the courage to obey. So he led his army in a march around Jericho. The priests blew their horns. However, the city was quiet, “tightly shut up” against attack. The next day, Joshua led another march, again doing exactly as Jehovah had commanded. Day after day they did the same, for six days. Then the seventh day came.
Seven times in that one day, Joshua’s army marched around Jericho. Finally, at the end of the seventh march, they did something different. Joshua called out: “Shout, for Jehovah has given you the city!” They did not have long to wait. We read: “As soon as the people . . . shouted a great war cry, the wall fell down flat.”
Joshua and his men marched right into the city and destroyed every living thing, just as Jehovah had commanded. When Jehovah was with them, Joshua and his army defeated city after city, nation after nation. At last, Jehovah was cleansing the land of the wicked “error of the Amorites”!
Still, there was a very small part of Jericho’s wall that did not fall. Why not? The answer has to do with the faith and courage of one remarkable woman, as we will see in the following chapter.
Read the Bible account:
For discussion:
In what ways did Joshua show courage?
Dig Deeper
1. What inspired writings were likely available to Joshua? (w09 12/1 17 ¶4, ftn.) A
Picture A
2. Before the Israelites marched around Jericho, what did Jehovah tell Joshua to do? Why may His instructions not have appeared to be a good strategy? (Josh. 5:2-8; w18.10 23 ¶5-7)
3. What evidence is there that Jericho was conquered after only a brief siege? (w15 11/15 13) B
Kennedy, Titus (2023). The Bronze Age Destruction of Jericho, Archaeology, and the Book of Joshua. Accessed via researchgate.net. Licensed under CC BY 4.0
Picture B: Jars of burnt grain discovered at the site of ancient Jericho
4. How was the prophecy about Jericho found at Joshua 6:26 fulfilled? (w98 9/15 21 ¶8)
Reflect on the Lessons
What helped Joshua to have confidence in Jehovah’s promises? (Josh. 23:14) How can we have similar confidence today?
How does Joshua’s example help us to follow the instructions we receive from God’s organization? C
Picture C
How might you imitate Joshua’s courage?
Meditate on the Bigger Picture
What does this account teach me about Jehovah?
How does this account tie in with Jehovah’s purposes?
What would I like to ask Joshua in the resurrection?
Learn More
How does Joshua’s example help us to learn from older ones, to trust God’s promises, and to remain faithful even when we are hurt by fellow Christians?
Help your children to learn about key events in Joshua’s life.