Joshua 6:5
And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When the text says the wall will "fall down flat," it’s more precise than we often imagine. This phrase implies the wall collapsed inward, "under itself," creating a level path right where it stood—not scattering outward into a jumbled mess of rubble. This incredible precision is why the people could then "go up, every man straight before him," walking directly into the city because God had perfectly cleared their way.
Jericho was a formidable, sealed-off city, impossible to conquer by conventional means. Yet, God gave Joshua an extraordinary, seemingly foolish plan: for six days, Israel's armed men, priests, and the Ark of the Covenant were to silently march around the city once. This verse reveals God's climactic instruction for the seventh day, promising a miraculous collapse of the walls if the people shout after a long trumpet blast. It was a test of their faith, requiring them to trust God's unconventional strategy over their own military might.
Imagine being told to win a battle by marching, blowing horns, and shouting. Sounds crazy, right? That's exactly what God commanded for Jericho!
The ancient city of Jericho was a formidable fortress, described as 'straitly shut up' and impenetrable by human standards. But God's plan wasn't about human might or military strategy. Instead, He laid out a method that seemed utterly foolish: march around the city for six days in silence, then seven times on the seventh day, followed by a specific trumpet blast and a great shout. This wasn't just quirky; it was a profound test. God chose to work through what appeared to be weakness and absurdity to reveal His own strength, proving that His ways are far beyond human understanding and military tactics. It challenged Israel to lay aside their own logic and fully depend on His word alone.
The walls of Jericho didn't just crumble; they collapsed in such a specific, miraculous way that it left no doubt about who was truly at work.
The Hebrew phrase translated 'fall down flat' (or 'under itself') suggests a complete, catastrophic collapse right where the wall stood, rather than just a section being breached. This wasn't a partial collapse that would still require a difficult scramble; it was an instantaneous leveling, creating a clear, unobstructed path for 'every man straight before him.' This detail is crucial. It wasn't the force of a shout or the vibration of a trumpet that brought the stone down; it was God's direct, precise intervention. This also accounts for Rahab's house, which was built into the wall, being preserved – a testament to divine discernment even amidst widespread judgment. It's a powerful reminder that when God acts, He does so with absolute authority and intentionality, often far beyond what human engineering or brute strength could achieve.
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The Israelites spent six days in almost complete silence, only to be commanded to unleash a 'great shout' at a precise moment. What was the real power behind that noise?
For days, the only sounds accompanying the marching were the priests' trumpets and the rhythmic footsteps. Joshua specifically commanded silence until the moment of the 'great shout.' This wasn't a battle cry meant to intimidate or disorient the enemy, though it may have done so. It was an act of corporate obedience and a declaration of faith that, at that exact moment, God was delivering the city into their hands. The shout was the human response to God's signal, an act of faith that anticipated His miraculous intervention. It showed their patient endurance, their trust in God's timing, and their collective affirmation of His promise to them. Their voices weren't the cause of the collapse, but the echo of their belief in the One who causes walls to fall.
Understand the original words
teruah · Hebrew Noun
A communal vocal expression used in biblical contexts to celebrate victory, express joy in God, or signify the onset of divine judgment. It represents the people's faith and active participation in the act of God.
This whole bizarre strategy for taking Jericho wasn't about military prowess; it was God showing His people—and us today—that truly impossible walls crumble when we step out in faith and obey His often-unconventional commands.
~1446 BC
Israel Freed from Egypt
After centuries of slavery, God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt, setting them on their path to the Promised Land.
~1406 BC
Jordan River Miracle
Just as with the Red Sea, God parted the Jordan River, allowing over a million Israelites to cross on dry ground into Canaan, the land He promised them.
~1406 BC
Gilgal: Base in Canaan
After entering the land, the Israelites established their first camp at Gilgal, where they observed Passover and prepared for the daunting task of conquering Canaan.
~1406 BC
God Reveals Jericho Plan
Before the attack, God appeared to Joshua, providing him with a divinely unconventional strategy to take the heavily fortified city of Jericho, focusing on faith, not force.
~1406 BC
The Seven-Day March Begins
Following God's detailed instructions, Joshua commanded the people to march silently around Jericho once a day for six days, led by the Ark of the Covenant and priests blowing trumpets.
~1406 BC— this verse
Command for Jericho's Fall
On the seventh day, after seven circuits, God's instructions were clear: a long blast of the ram's horn would signal the entire assembly to unleash a mighty shout, causing the city walls to collapse.
~1406 BC
Jericho Conquered
Just as God promised, the walls of Jericho miraculously fell flat after the people's shout, demonstrating His power and Israel's obedience.
This New Testament verse directly points to the event at Jericho, affirming that the walls fell 'by faith' as the people obeyed God's seemingly illogical instructions.
Zechariah 4:6The fall of Jericho powerfully illustrates this truth: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. It was God's supernatural power, not human military strength, that brought the walls down.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5Just as the physical walls of Jericho were a stronghold demolished by divine power, this passage speaks of spiritual 'strongholds' that are overcome not by human wisdom, but by God's truth and mighty power.
Exodus 14:13-14Here, God's people faced an impassable barrier in the Red Sea, much like Jericho's walls. God intervenes with overwhelming power, showing He fights for His people and makes a way where there is none.
bensonJoshua 6:5: "And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him."
Joshua 6:5 . The wall — Not all of it; which was unnecessary, and might have given the people better opportunity of escaping; but only a considerable part of it, where the Israelites might fitly enter: for…
calvinJoshua 6:1-19: "Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in."
And you shall compass the city, all you men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shall thou do six days.
Circuibitis itaque urbem, omnes viri bellatores, circundando eam semel: sic facies sex diebus.
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blo…
When the text says the wall will "fall down flat," it’s more precise than we often imagine. This phrase implies the wall collapsed inward, "under itself," creating a level path right where it stood—not scattering outward into a jumbled mess of rubble. This incredible precision is why the people could then "go up, every man straight before him," walking directly into the city because God had perfectly cleared their way.
Jericho was a formidable, sealed-off city, impossible to conquer by conventional means. Yet, God gave Joshua an extraordinary, seemingly foolish plan: for six days, Israel's armed men, priests, and the Ark of the Covenant were to silently march around the city once. This verse reveals God's climactic instruction for the seventh day, promising a miraculous collapse of the walls if the people shout after a long trumpet blast. It was a test of their faith, requiring them to trust God's unconventional strategy over their own military might.
Jericho was a formidable, sealed-off city, impossible to conquer by conventional means. Yet, God gave Joshua an extraordinary, seemingly foolish plan: for six days, Israel's armed men, priests, and the Ark of the Covenant were to silently march around the city once. This verse reveals God's climactic instruction for the seventh day, promising a miraculous collapse of the walls if the people shout after a long trumpet blast. It was a test of their faith, requiring them to trust God's unconventional strategy over their own military might.
"And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight be…" — When the text says the wall will "fall down flat," it’s more precise than we often imagine. This phrase implies the wall collapsed inward, "under itself," creating a level path right where it stood—n…
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