The Battle of Jericho

Today's Reading:

• Joshua 5:1 - 7:25

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Joshua 5:1 - 7:15
The main focus of today's reading was the battle of Jericho, which was told in chapter six.  I was surprised at the brevity of the story, as it was told in a mere 27 verses.  Nonetheless it is a very powerful story -- the men were told to march around the city once a day for six days.  On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times, then shout after the long ram's horn was blown.  That is when the walls of the city utterly collapsed and the town was captured.

I am surprised there wasn't any more detail to the story than I already knew.  The people did not complain or question the Lord's instructions, they merely followed.  There was no talk of how the people of Jericho reacted. 

I have to imagine that the people of Jericho were utterly unprepared for this invasion.  After all, they are watching this army simply walk around the town, doing no harm to them.  Then, out of no where, the walls to the city simply collapse!  How could they prepared for that?  It's amazing.

All the people of Jericho were destroyed, save for Rahab and her family.  All of the things were destroyed, save for precious metals that were to be dedicated to the Lord's treasury. 

The people of Jericho then go on to defeat their next enemy -- AI -- only to utterly fail.  Joshua then discovers (when the Lord tells him) that someone in the camp has stolen items from Jericho.  The next day, the Lord would point out the guilty party, and he will be punished.  And that is where today's reading leaves off -- with a cliff hanger!

An Introduction to Joshua

Today's Reading:

• Joshua 1:1 - 2:24

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Joshua 1:1 - 2:24

Today is a monumental day, because today I started the book of Joshua.  Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Number and Deuteronomy as well as many parts of the New Testament- those are all books that I have at least read parts of here or there over the course of my life.  Joshua is one that I have yet to ever even begin to read.  Don't get me wrong - I know the most famous story of Jericho - but I have not yet read it.  So today I embark on a journey further into the Word of God; and I am very excited to do so.

Joshua was the appointed successor of Moses - he was the man who was to lead the people of Israel into the promised land.  He had the full support of the people he was leading (1:16-17) and they were ready to take the promised land for themselves. 

Joshua sent out two scouts to spy on the area around Jericho (2:1).  Those scouts met a prostitute named Rahab who had remarkable faith in the Lord (2:11).  Rahab hid the scouts from the king's men and helped them to escape the city after the gates had been closed.  In return the scouts agreed to spare Rahab and her family, so long as she remained true to her oath not to betray them.

Chapter two ends with the scouts recounting the fact that the people were already terrified of the Israelites (2:23).  It looks like I should soon be reading the account of the battle of Jericho.  I am very excited to continue my studies!