Joshua 6:1
Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse paints a picture of Jericho as absolutely impenetrable, fortified and closed off by its fearful inhabitants. But what feels like an insurmountable obstacle actually sets the stage for a powerful truth: no matter how tightly we try to "shut ourselves up" with our own defenses or strategies, no human effort can stand against the sovereign plan of God. Jericho’s desperate security was, in fact, an unwitting setup for a divine demonstration of power far beyond any locked gate.
As the Israelites stood poised to conquer the promised land, Jericho, their first formidable obstacle, was completely fortified and shut up tight. Its inhabitants, terrified of the advancing army, had sealed off the city, ensuring no one went out or in. This seemingly impenetrable defense sets the dramatic stage for the Lord's unconventional battle plan. God immediately reveals this plan to Joshua, directly after Joshua's encounter with the divine Commander of the Lord's army.
Imagine standing before a city that has completely locked itself down. No one in, no one out. That was the reality facing Israel at Jericho.
The phrase "shut up inside and outside" paints a vivid picture of absolute closure. Jericho wasn't just "closed for business"; it was fortified to the max. Think strong gates, heavy bars, strict guards working day and night. The people of Jericho were taking every human precaution to protect themselves, believing their city was impenetrable. From a purely military perspective, it was a daunting, almost impossible, challenge for an army that didn't specialize in sieges.
This verse isn't just a simple detail. It's a crucial piece of the puzzle, deliberately placed by the author to highlight something profound about God's ways.
Many biblical scholars see Joshua 6:1 as a parenthetical statement. It breaks the flow between the appearance of the 'Commander of the Lord's army' in Joshua 5 and His direct instructions to Joshua in Joshua 6:2. Why? Because God is meticulously setting the stage. He lets us see the full, humanly insurmountable challenge first. By emphasizing Jericho's absolute impregnability, God is preparing to demonstrate that power, not Israel's military might, will bring victory. He's showcasing that He operates beyond human strategy and strength, making His glory undeniable.
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Jericho's inhabitants put all their trust in stone and iron. They believed their elaborate defenses could protect them from God's chosen people, but they gravely misunderstood who they were truly up against.
The city's desperate actions – 'straitly shut up,' 'none went out, and none came in' – reveal a mindset of human strength and self-reliance. They believed their wisdom, their fortifications, and their vigilance were enough. But as the story unfolds, we see that no human-made wall, no matter how thick or high, can stand against the will and power of God. Their 'impregnable' security was an illusion in the face of the Almighty. This opening verse, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder that while human precautions have their place, ultimate security and victory come only from God.
This verse dramatically highlights the seemingly impenetrable human defenses of Jericho, setting the stage for God to demonstrate that no human fortification can stand against His divine power and chosen strategy.
~1406 BC
Israelites cross the Jordan River
After 40 years of wilderness wandering, the Israelites miraculously crossed the flooded Jordan River, bringing them directly into the Promised Land, just a few miles from Jericho.
~1406 BC
Israel camps at Gilgal
The Israelite army established their first camp in Canaan at Gilgal, performing circumcision and celebrating Passover, firmly planting their presence in the land before Jericho.
~1406 BC
Joshua meets divine commander
Joshua encountered the Commander of the Lord's Army, who revealed himself as holy ground and gave Joshua the specific, unusual battle plan for conquering Jericho.
~1406 BC— this verse
Jericho shuts its gates
Terrified by the approaching Israelites and the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, the people of Jericho sealed their city tightly, hoping to prevent any entry or exit.
~1406 BC
Walls of Jericho fall
Following God's precise and unconventional instructions, the Israelite army marched around Jericho, and on the seventh day, the city's mighty walls collapsed, leading to its capture.
Immediately after describing Jericho's impenetrable defenses, God declares to Joshua, 'See, I have given Jericho into your hand,' highlighting that no human barrier can stand against God's sovereign plan.
Hebrews 11:30This New Testament verse looks back at Jericho's fall, emphasizing that the city's 'shut up' walls came down not by military might, but 'by faith' in God's unusual command.
Proverbs 21:30-31This wisdom passage affirms that 'no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD,' illustrating how Jericho's elaborate human defenses were powerless against God's determined will for Israel's victory.
Isaiah 45:1-3Here, God promises to go before His chosen one, 'to open doors before him that gates may not be shut,' and to 'break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron'—a powerful parallel to how He dealt with Jericho's 'shut up' fortifications.
gillJoshua 6:1: "Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in."
Now Jericho was straitly shut up, because of the children of Israel,.... Or "it shut up", or "was shutting, and was shut up" (u); that is, the king and the inhabitants shut it up within; the Targum says with iron doors, and bars of brass, and it was blocked up without by the children of Israel: none went out and none came in; none of their forces went out to make a sally on the Isr…
clarkeJoshua 6:1: "Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in."
Now Jericho was straitly shut up - The king of Jericho, finding that the spies had escaped, though the city was always kept shut by night, took the most proper precaution to prevent every thing of the kind in future, by keeping the city shut both day and night, having, no doubt, laid in a sufficiency of provisions to stand a siege, being determined to defend himself to the uttermos…
This verse paints a picture of Jericho as absolutely impenetrable, fortified and closed off by its fearful inhabitants. But what feels like an insurmountable obstacle actually sets the stage for a powerful truth: no matter how tightly we try to "shut ourselves up" with our own defenses or strategies, no human effort can stand against the sovereign plan of God. Jericho’s desperate security was, in fact, an unwitting setup for a divine demonstration of power far beyond any locked gate.
As the Israelites stood poised to conquer the promised land, Jericho, their first formidable obstacle, was completely fortified and shut up tight. Its inhabitants, terrified of the advancing army, had sealed off the city, ensuring no one went out or in. This seemingly impenetrable defense sets the dramatic stage for the Lord's unconventional battle plan. God immediately reveals this plan to Joshua, directly after Joshua's encounter with the divine Commander of the Lord's army.
As the Israelites stood poised to conquer the promised land, Jericho, their first formidable obstacle, was completely fortified and shut up tight. Its inhabitants, terrified of the advancing army, had sealed off the city, ensuring no one went out or in. This seemingly impenetrable defense sets the dramatic stage for the Lord's unconventional battle plan. God immediately reveals this plan to Joshua, directly after Joshua's encounter with the divine Commander of the Lord's army.
"Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in." — This verse paints a picture of Jericho as absolutely impenetrable, fortified and closed off by its fearful inhabitants. But what feels like an insurmountable obstacle actually sets the stage for a po…
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