Israel Conquers Jericho

5:13 When Joshua was near21 Jericho,22 he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him holding a drawn sword.23 Joshua approached him and asked him, “Are you on our side or allied with our enemies?”24 5:14 He answered,25 “Truly I am the commander of the Lord’s army.26 Now I have arrived!”27 Joshua bowed down with his face to the ground28 and asked, “What does my master want to say to his servant?” 5:15 The commander of the Lord’s army answered Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.

6:1 Now Jericho1 was shut tightly2 because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter.3 6:2 The Lord told Joshua, “See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you,4 along with its king and its warriors. 6:3 Have all the warriors march around the city one time;5 do this for six days. 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns6 in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. 6:5 When you hear the signal from the ram’s horn,7 have the whole army give a loud battle cry.8 Then the city wall will collapse9 and the warriors should charge straight ahead.”10

6:6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them, “Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the Lord.” 6:7 And he told11 the army,12 “Move ahead13 and march around the city, with armed troops going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

6:8 When Joshua gave the army its orders,14 the seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns before the Lord moved ahead and blew the horns as the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed behind. 6:9 Armed troops marched ahead of the priests blowing the horns, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark blowing rams’ horns. 6:10 Now Joshua had instructed the army,15 “Do not give a battle cry16 or raise your voices; say nothing17 until the day I tell you, ‘Give the battle cry.’18 Then give the battle cry!”19 6:11 So Joshua made sure they marched the ark of the Lord around the city one time.20 Then they went back to the camp and spent the night there.21

6:12 Bright and early the next morning Joshua had the priests pick up the ark of the Lord.22 6:13 The seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord marched along blowing their horns. Armed troops marched ahead of them, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark of the Lord blowing rams’ horns. 6:14 They marched around the city one time on the second day, then returned to the camp. They did this six days in all.

6:15 On the seventh day they were up at the crack of dawn23 and marched around the city as before—only this time they marched around it seven times.24 6:16 The seventh time around, the priests blew the rams’ horns and Joshua told the army,25 “Give the battle cry,26 for the Lord is handing the city over to you!27 6:17 The city and all that is in it must be set apart for the Lord,28 except for Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house, because she hid the spies29 we sent. 6:18 But be careful when you are setting apart the riches for the Lord. If you take any of it, you will make the Israelite camp subject to annihilation and cause a disaster.30 6:19 All the silver and gold, as well as bronze and iron items, belong to the Lord.31 They must go into the Lord’s treasury.”

6:20 The rams’ horns sounded32 and when the army33 heard the signal,34 they gave a loud battle cry.35 The wall collapsed36 and the warriors charged straight ahead into the city and captured it.37 6:21 They annihilated with the sword everything that breathed in the city,38 including men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys. 6:22 Joshua told the two men who had spied on the land, “Enter the prostitute’s house39 and bring out the woman and all who belong to her as you promised her.”40 6:23 So the young spies went and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and took them to a place outside41 the Israelite camp. 6:24 But they burned42 the city and all that was in it, except for the silver, gold, and bronze and iron items they put in the treasury of the Lord’s house.43 6:25 Yet Joshua spared44 Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family,45 and all who belonged to her. She lives in Israel46 to this very day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy on Jericho.47 6:26 At that time Joshua made this solemn declaration:48 “The man who attempts to rebuild49 this city of Jericho50 will stand condemned before the Lord.51 He will lose his firstborn son when he lays its foundations and his youngest son when he erects its gates!”52 6:27 The Lord was with Joshua and he became famous throughout the land.53