Sunday, March 11, 2012, Joshua and the Battle of Jericho

In Joshua 6-8 we hear the story of the taking of Jericho.  Rahab had said that the people of Jericho had heard of the Israelites' conquests and were trembling in fear.  I imagine that fear grew each day as the priests circled the city carrying the ark of the covenant and blew the eery trumpet sound before going away.  Each of the six days this happened, their fear must have grown.  They must have wondered when the attack would come.  But, on the seventh day, the circling continued.  And finally, the walls fell in.  Before the attack, Joshua gave precise directions from God regarding the destruction of everything but the precious metals, which were to go into God's treasury.  The people of Jericho had heard enough to fear the God of the Israelites.  Some of the Israelites were not that smart.