The Fall of Jericho: Biblical Meaning and Lessons for Today
We all face walls in life. They may be invisible, but they are real—walls of debt, illness, fear, and failure that block our progress. We often stand before our personal Jericho, a seemingly impenetrable fortress holding back the promise of breakthrough.
When we look back at the original event, we ask: How did a city forged in defiance fall not by sword, but by a shout? What are some biblical principles we can bring home that showed another David v Goliath story?
What Does the Wall of Jericho Mean?
What did marching around the walls of Jericho six times and then seven times on the seventh day mean? Why were they told not to make any noise during the six days? What did the order of the armed guards and seven priests who blew the trumpets signify?
I was eager to know the truth, the meaning, and the typologies. I knew in my heart that once I understood these secrets, I would start to see the breakthroughs God intended for me. I remember praying relentlessly for this revelation, hoping that God would open my eyes to see biblical truths I could apply today to find success, healing, and overcome every blockage I was facing.
I searched for various interpretations, but none fully explained the actual meaning of why they had to march around the city with seven priests carrying trumpets.
The only insight I initially understood was that the trumpet was a picture of the death of Christ. In order to have the horns of a trumpet, a lamb had to be slain. This is a picture of the Lamb of God who was slain on the cross.
For most other interpretations, the basic explanation was simply to obey God's commandments.
It actually took me a year before God opened my eyes to see. And here I'll be sharing many nuggets with you.
The Fall of Jericho Story: Setting the Scene
Let's dive into the story:
At this point, God had already led Joshua and the Israelites to enter the Promised Land after crossing the Jordan River. The Jordan River represents a new life—passing from their wandering in the desert to the Promised Land. Jesus was also baptized in the Jordan River.
They had already sent two spies to survey the lands, including Jericho, where they met Rahab the prostitute who helped the two spies escape. We will come back to this later.
Then in Joshua Chapter 6, the story begins with these words:
Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."
The remains of ancient Jericho in Palestine today
Joshua and the Walls of Jericho: God's Commands vs. Joshua's Instructions
Let's examine this passage carefully. If you notice, there are some differences between what the Lord commanded Joshua and what Joshua spoke to the people.
The Lord told Joshua:
"I have delivered Jericho into your hands—its king and its fighting men."
March around the city once per day for six days
All the armed men are to march together
Have seven priests carry trumpets made from rams' horns
The priests are to walk in front of the Ark of the Covenant
On the seventh day, march around the city seven times
The priests must keep blowing the trumpets
When the priests sound a long blast, the whole army must give a loud shout
Then the wall of Jericho will collapse
The army is to go straight into the city
But when Joshua spoke to the people, he added this:
"Advance! March around the city"
An armed guard must go ahead of the Ark
A rear guard must follow the Ark
No one is to speak or shout during the march
"Do not give a war cry or raise your voices until the day I tell you to shout—then shout!"
The one command Joshua added: Why did Joshua told the Israelites not to speak a word
One significant command added by Joshua was not to speak a word during the march. But why?
One explanation I found is that knowing the Israelites were grumblers, Joshua foresaw that the army would start complaining, perhaps in the middle of the 7 days. He knew that if one of them were to start murmuring among themselves about how marching around walls could possibly help them possess the land, the plan would come to nothing and the Lord would burn in anger for their unbelief and murmuring.
This is something we can apply today: complaining and murmuring is a sin. Our marching, our laboring, may seem weary and nothing seems to be working out. But we must know that the Lord has not left us.
In fact, Paul mentioned their faith in book of Hebrews 11 saying: By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
But that's not all.
Fall of Jericho Meaning: What the 7 priests and 7 trumpets mean?
What did all the marching mean? Why did they have to keep their mouths shut and blow the rams' horns until the seventh day before giving a loud shout?
What I'm about to share with you will open your eyes like never before.
When God showed me a picture of what all the marching and numerology meant, I was awestruck.
Are you ready?
The picture I saw was the seven angels with the seven trumpets. Do you see it?
The seven priests holding the rams' horns were a parallel to the seven angels spoken of in Revelation Chapter 8.
At the sound of each trumpet blown by the angels, plagues and turmoil poured onto the earth.
The Seven Trumpets in Revelation 8–11
The 1st Angel – Hail and fire mixed with blood fell on the earth. A third of the land, trees, and all green grass were burned up.
The 2nd Angel – Something like a blazing mountain was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, a third of sea life died, and a third of ships were destroyed.
The 3rd Angel – A great star called Wormwood fell on the rivers. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the poisoned water.
The 4th Angel – A third of the sun, moon, and stars were darkened. Day and night lost a third of their light.
The 5th Angel – The Abyss was opened, releasing locust-like creatures to torment those without God's seal for five months. Their king was Abaddon, meaning "Destroyer."
The 6th Angel – Four angels bound at the Euphrates were released, leading an army of 200 million to kill a third of mankind. Despite the plagues, the survivors still did not repent.
The 7th Angel is more interesting.
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke...
"There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
Do you see the parallels?
On each of the six days of marching, they were blowing the trumpets. It actually typifies one of the disasters being released on earth. And on the seventh day, they were told to give a loud shout—which the seventh angel also shouted like the roar of a lion.
What Was the Significance of the Fall of Jericho?
This is also a picture of judgment in the end times, when people are so unrepentant despite the punishments invoked on earth.
Who can withstand such wrath from God?
There is actually one—in fact, a whole family. Remember Rahab the prostitute?
But wait. Wasn't she a woman of many sins? How was she spared from the wrath of God?
The Scarlet Cord: A Picture of Salvation
Let's go back a few chapters.
When Rahab saw the two spies, she knew that God had come to take over the city and that it would not be spared. So she pleaded for mercy, and this is what the two spies told her:
"This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house." (Joshua 2:17-18)
So when the Israelites came back to take over Jericho, only the house that hung the scarlet cord at the window was saved. And this speaks of the blood of Jesus Christ!
How precious was the blood of Jesus?
Rahab actually went on to become the mother of Boaz, and the great-great-great grandmother of David, and eventually the bloodline that gave birth to Jesus Christ! Her name was even mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (not even Sarah was mentioned).
If that is not enough, her faith was spoken of by Paul in the book of Hebrews chapter 11
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who [j]did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
What immense grace she was given for her faith in the God of Israel!
And who are the two spies? They are also a picture of the two witnesses who will appear in the end times to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
These two witnesses come with power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain, turn waters to blood, and command any plagues on earth as often as they want. They are most likely Moses and Elijah, both of whom did not die physically on earth. I believe they are sent to seek repentant hearts. And only the ones who believed like Rahab, saved by the blood of Jesus, will be spared from the judgment of God.
Breaking our own walls of Jericho: From Formula to Faith
I find this revelation humbling. It took me more than a year for God to reveal this to me after praying for some time. I'm not sure why it took so long, knowing that God is always willing to reveal His rhema word to us. Perhaps it's because my flesh only wanted to see the formula for breakthroughs. Perhaps God delayed it so that I would grow patient in waiting and keep praying.
I started by looking at how to bring my walls of Jericho down. But the revelation brought me to see the One who saved me from the wrath in Jericho.
What walls are you facing today? The fall of Jericho reminds us that victory comes not through our own strength or strategy, but through obedience, faith, and ultimately, through the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us from judgment.