Burning Bush Blogs
Equipping Men with Biblical Knowledge and Leadership Skills
Category: Group Study
Thread: Significant Battles and their Impact on God’s Plan
Post Topic: The Fall of Jericho
Post in Thread: #2 (divided into 5 parts)
Previous: The Bible’s First Battle
Scripture: Joshua 2-6
When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.
Joshua 6:20
Note – This story is divided into smaller sections in order to keep with the Burning Bush Blog’s pledge to produce less-demanding studies. But there is no right or wrong pace. Use in whatever manner works for you and your group.
Part 1 – The Spies and the Harlot
Passage: Joshua 2:1-24
Key Verses:
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
Joshua 2:8-11
Observations
Context
- The Israelites 40 years of wandering in the wilderness had come to an end. Moses had died, and Joshua had taken command.
- The wandering had been punishment for their lack of faith after the Exodus from Egypt.
- 40 years earlier, Moses had led them to the edge of the promised land, but the spies had brought back stories of giants in the land, and the people had been too frightened to invade.
- Joshua had been one of only two spies who disagreed, saying that God would give them the victory.
- Before his death, Moses led the Israelites in a number of military battles in the Transjordan region, just outside the Promised Land.
- Word of the Israelites successes permeated deep into Canaan.
Geography
The Israelites had camped on the east side of the Jordan River at Shittim, a bit north of the Dead Sea. Just across the river lay the walled fortress of Jericho, the gateway to the Promised Land.
Events
- Joshua sent two spies into Jericho to gather intel before the attack.
- The spies stayed in the house of a prostitute named Rahab.
- They must have been spotted going in. The king was told they’d entered Rahab’s house.
- Rahab lied to protect them.
- She hid them on the roof under stalks of flax.
- She told the king’s men that they’d left just before the city gates were closed at dusk.
- The king’s men believed her, and raced down the road toward the Jordan River after them. One problem. The spies were still in Jericho.
- Rahab lived along the wall of the city, and helped them escape via a rope out the window.
- First, Rahab swore allegiance to them and to their God. In return for her protection, they agreed to spare her and her family when Jericho was attacked.
- They followed her advice and hid in the hills for three days.
- An all-out search by the men of Jericho failed to find them.
- When the men returned to Joshua, the repeated Rahab’s words: “All the people are melting in fear because of us.”
Discussion
- Why do you think the spies chose the house of a prostitute?
- I imagine that Joshua chose some rough and tumble men. Maybe they thought they could have some fun during their mission?
- More likely, they thought it would be a good excuse for strangers entering the city. If so, the natives didn’t buy it.
- How did the people of Jericho know that spies had entered Rahab’s home?
- Could they have had their own spies in Israel’s camp?
- Perhaps they had lookouts watching the main crossing of the Jordan?
- Or was it as simple as observing odd behavior of the strangers in the city?
Interpretation
Setting
Joshua’s forces were stationed east of the Jordan, in the plains of Moab. The city of Jericho was situated along the two main travel routes from the Jordan into the land of Canaan.
Genre/Author
Historical narrative, written by an unknown author. Some scholars attribute the book to Joshua himself, except for the parts after his funeral, but certain phrases have others believing it was written later.
Takeaways
- Word of the Israelites conquests of cities of the Amorites, Moabites, and Midianites spread quickly.
- Rahab knew all the details, and confessed to the spies that everyone was melting with fear.
- Rahab attributed the Israelites successes to Lord. She mentioned the Transjordan victories, but also described how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Red Sea when they came out of Egypt, which would have happened a full generation earlier.
- Rahab’s faith in a God of another people, and her actions to save the spies, ultimately saved her.
Discussion
How easy would it have been for Rahab to turn over the spies that were hiding on her roof? What drove her to protect those men of Israel?
Correlation
- Hebrews 11:31 – Welcoming of spies by the prostitute Rahab was an act of faith. Her life would be spared because of this act of faith.
- James 2:25-26 – Using Rahab as an example, James says that faith is useless without action. Our deeds confirm our faith.
Interesting Note – Rahab became the great-great-grandmother of King David (Matthew 1:5-6), in the line of Jesus.
Application
Generic Applications
- We can live in the most sinful of places, like Rahab in Jericho, and still trust in the Lord.
- When the Lord asks us to act, like he did with Rahab, will we be ready?
Group Discussion
- James says that faith without deeds is dead. But Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved by grace because of our faith, and not works. How can both be true?
- Are you surprised that a harlot is one of the heroes of the Bible?
Part 2 – Parting the Waters
Passage: Joshua 3:1 – 5:1
Key Verses:
23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God
Joshua 4:23-24
Observations
Context
- The Israelites, hardened by years of wandering in the wilderness and skirmishes with opposing forces in the Transjordan region, could see the Promised Land.
- The only thing standing in the way was the Jordan River.
- They remembered how Moses had brought their ancestors out of Egypt to the brink of the Red Sea.
Events
- The Jordan River was at flood stage. A crossing for an entire nation would be beyond difficult.
- God told Joshua that he wanted to exalt him in the people’s eyes. God wanted them to know that Joshua was hand-picked to be Moses’ successor.
- The priests went ahead of the people, carrying the ark of the covenant.
- As soon as their feet touched the water, the river stopped flowing.
- The entire nation crossed over on dry land, into the Promised Land at last.
- The fighting force of 40,000 armed men led the way across first.
- Joshua directed the men to take stones from the riverbed, one for each tribe, and to build an alter to the Lord to remember the event.
- Word of the miraculous event reached the Amorite and Canaanite kings, who melted in fear.
Discussion
- Can you imagine what it must have been like as a soldier, armed for battle, to cross over on dry land ahead of your loved ones? You pass the priests with their feet in the mud, hoisting the ark proudly. You recall stories your parents told about crossing the red sea as Moses held out his staff. And now it’s happening to you under the leadership of Joshua.
- The waters of the Jordan were at flood stage. Was God showing off? 😄
Interpretation
Setting
The eastern banks of the Jordan River, in the Plains of Moab.
Takeaways
- God wanted to leave no doubt that Joshua was his hand-picked successor to Moses.
- The parallels to the Red Sea moment are obvious. Except this time, the Israelites are on the offensive, rather than running away from the enemy.
- Joshua took time to build a reminder of what God had done for them. The altar of 12 stones from the middle of the dry riverbed was meant to be a reminder and an encouragement to future generations.
Discussion
- How did 40 years of wandering in the wilderness harden the Israelites for this moment?
- Do you think there were politics involved? Other potential leaders, vying for Moses’ old position? This event certainly would have squelched any such notions. God told Joshua: “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.”
Correlation
I Corinthians 11:23-26 – The first communion took place at the last supper before Jesus death. Paul tells us to take communion regularly to remember Jesus’ death on the cross.
God wants us to remember and memorialize what he has done for us. Joshua’s altar was a physical memorial of the crossing of the Jordan. Communion is a ceremonial memorial of Jesus broken body and shed blood for our sins.
Application
Generic Applications
- The men crossing the river that day would never forget that moment. Not so for future generations. So Joshua had them build an altar as a memorial.
- Like Joshua, we should be passing the stories of what God has done for us to future generations.
Group Discussion
- Is there a Red Sea story in your family’s background that has been passed down to you that you’d like to share with the group?
- Do you know anyone who has created a physical reminder of something God has done?
- When we have our own Jordan River moments, how can we commemorate them?
Part 3 – Covenant Renewed
Passage: Joshua 5:2-12
Key Verses:
11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan
Joshua 5:11-12
Observations
Context
While wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, there wasn’t much food around. God sent a bread-like substance (manna) to the ground every day except the Sabbath to be collected and eaten.
Events
- God’s first commandment after crossing the Jordan was to re-circumcise the people.
- All the people who left Egypt had been circumcised.
- Those born during the period of wandering in the wilderness had not.
- Circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s descendants.
- While camped on the Canaan side of the Jordan, Passover arrived.
- The Israelites celebrated the feast while camped on the plains of Jericho.
- The very next day, they ate grains and fruits from the land promised to Abraham.
- God’s manna from heaven stopped the next day.
Discussion
How happy were the Israelites to eat something other than manna and quail?
Interpretation
Setting
The Israelites had crossed the Jordan and were camped on the plains of Jericho, finally inside the Promised Land.
Takeaways
- Circumcision
- If God was about to keep his end of the covenant with Abraham’s descendants, and give them the Promised Land at long last, then they needed to keep their end of the covenant before going into battle.
- After the circumcision ceremony, God told Joshua, “Today, I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.”
- The covenant had been renewed.
- Passover
- God’s timing is something. He timed the crossing of the Jordan with the feast of the Passover.
- Under Moses, the Israelites experienced the Passover first, then the crossing of the Red Sea on dry land.
- Under Joshua, the events happened in reverse order. First they crossed the Jordan on dry land, then they celebrated the Passover.
- No More Manna
- The people were now in the land of milk and honey.
- No longer would they depend on God’s provision from heaven, but instead would depend on his provision from the land.
Discussion
Picture the scenes for two Passover meals in your head:
- The first Passover in Egypt, where the angel of death was going take the firstborn son of any family in the land that did not mark their doors with the blood of the Passover lamb; families were hunkered down in their homes ready to race out of Egypt once Pharaoh finally let them go.
- This Passover feast in the plains of Jericho
What were some differences in the moods and thoughts of the people eating those meals, a generation apart? Similarities?
Correlation
- Genesis 17:9-16 – God establishes the covenant of circumcision with Abraham and his descendants. He promises that great nations will descend from Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Sarah, an old lady, laughed at this, but God kept his promise anyway.
Application
Generic Applications
- God keeps his promises. He may delay them when we are disobedient, but ultimately he keeps his word.
- God seems to enjoy things like symbolism and irony. It’s fun to look for parallels in God’s plan like the crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan. To use a secular term, they’re like hidden Easter eggs sprinkled throughout Scripture.
Group Discussion
- Sometimes it can take generations for God’s plan to play out. We don’t always see the fruit of it during our lifetime. Think of Moses who never stepped foot into the Promised Land. How do we stay faithful during our periods of wandering in our own wildernesses?
- What promises has God made to us?
Part 4 – The Commander
Passage: Joshua 5:13-15
Key Verses:
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:13-15
Observations
Events
- Joshua was near Jericho, seemingly alone.
- Out of nowhere, a man with a sword appeared.
- Joshua asks if he is friend or foe.
- The answer is mysterious – neither.
- The man identifies himself as the commander of the army of the Lord.
- The man commands Joshua to remove his shoes.
- Joshua obeys.
Discussion
What was Joshua doing before he saw the man? Scouting Jericho, trying to figure out how to invade it? Praying?
Interpretation
Setting
Somewhere within view of the walled city of Jericho.
Takeaways
- This reminds me of Moses’ experience with the burning bush:
- Both Moses and Joshua were told they were on holy ground, and ordered to remove their shoes.
- In both cases, God picked a unique way to speak to the leaders.
- Both may have had their doubts. Moses certainly did – he gave excuse after excuse. Joshua likely did not doubt, but I’m sure he was wondering how exactly they were going to attack the massive walls of Jericho.
- Both came away determined to obey God.
- Both were sent forth to confront an imposing enemy.
- The encounter had to be highly encouraging to Joshua – even more proof that he had been chosen to replace Moses.
- Some commentaries believe this was Jesus, the Son of God, in pre-incarnate form.
- The parallels to Moses would back this up, because in the burning bush account, it was clearly God speaking to Moses, even though the passage first uses the term the angel of the Lord.
- Most translations say that Joshua fell on his face and worshipped the commander. Would an angel have allowed him to worship?
- This view says that a pre-incarnate Jesus appeared at other times in the Old Testament – to Abraham and in the fiery furnace story, for example.
- In the next chapter, the Lord instructs Joshua how to attack Jericho. This implies that the commander is the Lord.
- Other commentaries believe it was an angelic being.
- The commander doesn’t specifically identify himself as God.
- Exodus tells us that no man can see the face of God and live.
- We know that there is an unseen warfare in the heavenly realm. He could have been the commander of this army of angels, sent to encourage Joshua.
Discussion
- Do you believe that this was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus himself?
- When Joshua asks if the commander is for the Israelites or their enemies, why does the commander answer with the word “neither?”
Correlation
- Exodus 3:1-6 – God appears to Moses through the burning bush.
- Daniel 3:24-25 – King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon sees four men walking around unharmed in the fiery furnace. He’d only commanded three men to be thrown in. He exclaims “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Was this fourth man the commander of the army of the Lord; a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son of God?
Application
Generic Applications
- God seeks us out and encourages us when we seek him.
- Even if Joshua was scouting Jericho’s walls for weaknesses, I’m sure he was also praying; beseeching God for wisdom and a plan. His head was down.
- God sent the commander to both guide and encourage Joshua.
- Abraham Lincoln once said: ““My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
- Lincoln would have understood the commander’s “Neither” response to Joshua’s question.
- Let’s make sure we are on God’s side. We are not in charge of his armies.
Group Discussion
- Can anyone share a time God has encouraged you during a time of uncertainty?
Part 5 – Victory
Passage: Joshua 6:1-27
Key Verse:
When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.
Joshua 6:20
Observations
- The Lord provided instructions on how to take the city, probably through the commander of the army of the Lord, who appeared in chapter 5.
- The ark of the covenant, protected by an armed guard, led the procession to Jericho.
- For six days, the army marched one time around the city.
- The men were silent. No war cry. However, the priests surrounding the ark blew their trumpets.
- On day seven, the men marched around the city seven times instead of once.
- On the seventh circuit, Joshua instructed them to shout at the top of their lungs.
- They obeyed, and the walls tumbled to the ground.
- The Israelites charged in, utterly destroying the enemy, and eventually burning the city to the ground.
- Only Rahab and her family were spared.
Discussion
For six days, we have this surreal scene. The Israelites marched around Jericho each day, silent except for the trumpets. Then they returned to their encampment. What in the world was going through the minds of the inhabitants of the city?
Interpretation
Setting
The seemingly impregnable walled city of Jericho.
Takeaways
- God left no doubt that the victory was his.
- Joshua and his warriors had to follow God’s seemingly strange instructions to the letter.
- They were rewarded for the obedience and their faith.
- God still used their bravery and fighting skills after the walls fell. It wasn’t just wave a magic wand and God does everything for you.
- Joshua and the spies kept their word, rescuing Rahab and her family from the carnage.
Discussion
- To ponder: For six days, the city was not attacked. Do you think a citizen of Jericho could have run out to the marching army and surrendered? What if they were truly repentant of their sins, wanting to follow the true God?
- Why didn’t God simply send an earthquake on day 1 to knock down the walls?
- The laws of Moses had strict laws about observing the Sabbath. For example, back when God was sending manna, none was sent to be collected on the Sabbath. So if the Israelites marched for seven days, one of those days would have been the Sabbath? Likely, it was the same day the walls fell. Why did God permit this exception?
Correlation
- Hebrews 11:30 – The writer commends the people for their faith in marching around Jericho for seven days.
Application
Generic Applications
- We need to be obedient even when we don’t understand God’s instructions.
Group Discussion
- Do you think it was easier for the Israelites to show faith and obedience than it is for us today? After all, they’d just crossed the Jordan on dry land.
- Are their Jericho walls that are impeding you today? What are the keys to knocking down those walls?
Historical Significance
The stronghold of Jericho was the gateway to the Promised Land. Roads converged here from Jerusalem to the south and Bethel to the north. Jericho served as a prime spot to cross the Jordan River. It served as a refreshing oasis that controlled major migration routes on the plains below Jerusalem and the highlands of Judea.
This victory paved the way for the Israelites to return to the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Without taking this city, the military takeover of Canaan by Joshua and his forces could not have happened. Israel’s settlements in the land could not have happened. God’s story of redemption through Jesus could not have happened.
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.