So this is the moment we have all been waiting for, the day Israel finally conquers their enemies and takes the Promised land by...walking around a wall?
I am sure many of you have heard the classic story of the fall of the Jericho wall but I want to take another look at it because there are always juicy details that we seem to miss as we read through the story. The first thing I wanted to point out is the state of the inhabitants of Jericho. In the cartoons we always see the people (or veggies) mocking Israel from the top of the wall, this is not what happened! Remember yesterday how I stated that many of the kings were paralyzed with fear because of the Israelites and their God, well, they were not the only ones. Joshua 6 starts, "now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in." Think about it, isn't a little odd that no one is going in or out of the city for food, water, or supplies? Usually cities are open all day and only closed at night. Do you think these people were a little intimidated seeing the whole tribe of Israel near their doorway? I would be.
I like to imagine the inhabitants of Jericho shaking inside their little city, terrified of what in the world the Israelites were doing walking around their wall. They were not shouting insults from the wall, instead the Bible never mentions what they are doing. However, we do know that Rahab was probably watching and waiting in eager anticipation because she did not have to fear the judgment of God. She had been promised protection and she received it when the walls fell.
Another interesting fact I want to point out is that the Israelites were essentially told to rejoice even before the walls fell, trusting God that it would happen. They were not to shout or make any noise until Joshua told them and when he did he told them to do it because God had given them the city. After they did this the walls fell flat so that they were able to run straight ahead into the city and completely wipe out all of its inhabitants save Rahab and her relatives. So God conquered again and in such a way that only He could receive credit for it.
~Elisabeth
I am sure many of you have heard the classic story of the fall of the Jericho wall but I want to take another look at it because there are always juicy details that we seem to miss as we read through the story. The first thing I wanted to point out is the state of the inhabitants of Jericho. In the cartoons we always see the people (or veggies) mocking Israel from the top of the wall, this is not what happened! Remember yesterday how I stated that many of the kings were paralyzed with fear because of the Israelites and their God, well, they were not the only ones. Joshua 6 starts, "now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in." Think about it, isn't a little odd that no one is going in or out of the city for food, water, or supplies? Usually cities are open all day and only closed at night. Do you think these people were a little intimidated seeing the whole tribe of Israel near their doorway? I would be.
I like to imagine the inhabitants of Jericho shaking inside their little city, terrified of what in the world the Israelites were doing walking around their wall. They were not shouting insults from the wall, instead the Bible never mentions what they are doing. However, we do know that Rahab was probably watching and waiting in eager anticipation because she did not have to fear the judgment of God. She had been promised protection and she received it when the walls fell.
Another interesting fact I want to point out is that the Israelites were essentially told to rejoice even before the walls fell, trusting God that it would happen. They were not to shout or make any noise until Joshua told them and when he did he told them to do it because God had given them the city. After they did this the walls fell flat so that they were able to run straight ahead into the city and completely wipe out all of its inhabitants save Rahab and her relatives. So God conquered again and in such a way that only He could receive credit for it.
~Elisabeth
Glad to see you're blogging again! I never really thought of what it felt like to be the people inside the city. I think that would be so scary.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!