Joshua 6:24
And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that while the city and its inhabitants were utterly destroyed as a sacrifice to God, precious metals and essential metal goods were not wasted but dedicated to the Lord's treasury. This demonstrates a profound act of obedience where even valuable plunder was surrendered, underscoring that nothing was to be kept for personal gain.
After the miraculous collapse of Jericho's walls due to God's power and Israel's obedience, the city and everything in it was devoted to destruction as a holy offering. The only exceptions were the precious metals and vessels, which were set aside for the Lord's treasury. Rahab and her family were rescued, as promised, and the entire city was then burned, serving as a stark warning against defiance of God.
Imagine a whole city reduced to ashes. Joshua 6:24 describes a terrifying scene, but why was it so absolute?
Jericho was not just conquered; it was utterly destroyed as a cherem, a devoted or accursed thing. This wasn't about territorial gain or plunder; it was a radical act of obedience and judgment.
A Sacred Offering
The command was to 'utterly destroy' everything in the city. This was a holy war, a divine judgment on the Canaanites for their deep-seated sin, a sin that had been building for centuries. God's judgment is often delayed, but it is also certain and thorough when it finally comes.
Purity of the Land
This act also served to cleanse the land of Canaan from the corrupting influences that had taken root there. By eradicating Jericho completely, Israel was setting a clear boundary, signaling a new era of living according to God's ways, separate from the surrounding pagan practices.
Most conquests involve spoils for the victors. But Jericho was different. What happened to its valuable treasures, and why?
While Jericho was to be burned and destroyed, its precious metals—silver and gold—along with bronze and iron vessels, were explicitly set aside. This wasn't because they couldn't burn, but because they were destined for a special purpose.
Acknowledging God's Victory
The command was clear: 'Only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.' This was a profound act of faith and humility. Israel had played no part in the miraculous fall of Jericho's walls; God alone did that. Therefore, the valuable spoils were not to enrich the soldiers, but to be dedicated to God's service in the tabernacle (and later, the Temple).
Discipline in Obedience
This discipline was crucial. It prevented the Israelites from coveting the wealth of the defeated nations and from adopting their idolatrous practices. By surrendering the potential personal gain, they affirmed that God was their true source of provision and protection.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
An Israelite title for Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel who revealed His name to Moses. It signifies His holiness, authority, and presence among His people.
otsar · Hebrew Noun
A storehouse or place where sacred gifts and wealth dedicated to God are kept. It symbolizes the recognition that all material blessings ultimately belong to the Creator.
The complete destruction and reservation of Jericho's wealth for God's treasury underscore that this was not a typical conquest for spoils, but a divinely ordained judgment against Canaanite wickedness.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Enter Promised Land
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, preparing to conquer its cities.
c. 1446 BC
Divine Instructions for Jericho
God gives Joshua specific, unusual instructions for conquering Jericho: march around the city for seven days, with priests blowing trumpets, and on the seventh day, shout.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Fall of Jericho
Following God's commands, the walls of Jericho miraculously collapse after the Israelites march and shout. The city is then completely destroyed by fire, with all its inhabitants killed, except for Rahab and her family.
c. 1446 BC
Spoils Reserved for God
All the valuable materials from Jericho—silver, gold, bronze, and iron—are dedicated to the Lord and placed in the tabernacle's treasury, as no plunder was permitted for the Israelites themselves.
This passage parallels the command to utterly destroy the Canaanites and not to covet or take any of their cursed possessions, directly informing the principle behind Jericho's destruction and the reservation of its valuable metals for the Lord's treasury.
1 Kings 16:34This verse recounts the rebuilding of Jericho in direct defiance of the curse Joshua pronounced, highlighting the severe consequences of ignoring God's judgment and the sacredness of the spoils dedicated to Him.
Hebrews 11:30-31This passage highlights Rahab's faith, connecting her salvation and the preservation of her household to the Israelites' victory at Jericho, emphasizing faith as the reason for mercy amidst divine judgment.
Revelation 18:16-17This prophetic passage uses the destruction of a great city and the lament over its lost wealth as an analogy for the future judgment of spiritual Babylon, echoing the theme of a city's complete destruction and the fate of its treasures.
calvinJoshua 6:20-27: "So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city."
- So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout,…
jfbJoshua 6:24: "And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD."
- burned the city … and all … therein—except the silver, gold, and other metals, which, as they would not burn, were added to the treasury of the sanctuary.
The verse highlights that while the city and its inhabitants were utterly destroyed as a sacrifice to God, precious metals and essential metal goods were not wasted but dedicated to the Lord's treasury. This demonstrates a profound act of obedience where even valuable plunder was surrendered, underscoring that nothing was to be kept for personal gain.
After the miraculous collapse of Jericho's walls due to God's power and Israel's obedience, the city and everything in it was devoted to destruction as a holy offering. The only exceptions were the precious metals and vessels, which were set aside for the Lord's treasury. Rahab and her family were rescued, as promised, and the entire city was then burned, serving as a stark warning against defiance of God.
After the miraculous collapse of Jericho's walls due to God's power and Israel's obedience, the city and everything in it was devoted to destruction as a holy offering. The only exceptions were the precious metals and vessels, which were set aside for the Lord's treasury. Rahab and her family were rescued, as promised, and the entire city was then burned, serving as a stark warning against defiance of God.
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c. 1446 BC
Curse on Rebuilding Jericho
Joshua pronounces a curse on anyone who would attempt to rebuild the city of Jericho, signifying its complete destruction as an act of divine judgment.
c. 1000 BC
Jericho Rebuilt
Centuries later, Hiel of Bethel rebuilds Jericho, defying Joshua's curse and suffering the prophesied loss of his sons during the construction.
"And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD." — The verse highlights that while the city and its inhabitants were utterly destroyed as a sacrifice to God, precious metals and essential metal goods were not wasted but dedicated to the Lord's treasu…
