The land and the judges · Old Testament
The Story of the Fall of Jericho
Rahab hides Joshua’s spies, Israel crosses the Jordan, and after marching around Jericho for seven days the city’s walls fall; Rahab and her family are spared.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
After Moses’ death Joshua leads Israel into Canaan. He sends two spies to Jericho, where Rahab hides them and asks that her family be spared. Joshua 1:1–2Joshua 2:1–14
The people cross the Jordan and, following the LORD’s instructions, march around Jericho for seven days with the ark and the trumpets. The walls fall. The book records the destruction of the city, and Rahab’s rescue. Joshua 6:1–5Joshua 6:20–25
Principal passages
People in this story
Places named
- Jericho Joshua 2:1Joshua 6:1
- The Jordan River Joshua 3:1
- Gilgal Joshua 4:19
Only places the passages name. Locations are not guessed.
The story, event by event
In the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here.
Rahab hides the spies
Rahab hides the two spies on her roof, sends the king’s men away, and tells the spies she knows the LORD has given them the land. They promise to spare her family if she ties a scarlet cord in her window.
Crossing the Jordan
When the priests carrying the ark step into the flooded Jordan, the water upstream stops and the people cross on dry ground. They set up twelve stones as a memorial at Gilgal.
The commander of the LORD’s army
Near Jericho Joshua meets a man with a drawn sword who says he is the commander of the LORD’s army. Joshua falls on his face and removes his sandals.
People: Joshua
Seven days around the city
The LORD tells Joshua how to take the city: the armed men, seven priests with trumpets and the ark circle Jericho once a day for six days in silence.
The walls fall
On the seventh day they circle the city seven times. At the long trumpet blast the people shout, the wall falls, and Israel takes the city and destroys it.
People: Joshua
Rahab spared
The spies bring Rahab and her family out safely, and she lives among Israel. Joshua pronounces a curse on anyone who rebuilds Jericho.
Related and parallel passages
- Joshua 4:1–24 Supporting passage · Crossing the Jordan — The twelve memorial stones
Later in the Bible
Later passages that recall or interpret this story. They are not events within it.
- 1 Kings 16:34 Direct reference — Hiel rebuilds Jericho at the cost of his sons, as Joshua had said.
- Matthew 1:5 Genealogy — Rahab is named in the genealogy of Jesus.
- Hebrews 11:30–31 Direct reference — By faith the walls fell, and by faith Rahab did not perish.
- James 2:25 Direct reference — Rahab’s welcome of the messengers is an example of faith shown in action.
Connected themes
- Faith Illustrates the theme
Hebrews names the walls of Jericho and Rahab as acts of faith. Hebrews 11:30–31
- Courage
Joshua is told repeatedly to be strong and courageous as he takes up leadership. Joshua 1:6–9
Questions for study
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- What does Rahab say in Joshua 2:9-11 about what she has heard?
- Why do you think the people set up memorial stones in Joshua 4:6-7?
- What does Joshua 5:13-15 suggest about whose battle this is?
- Joshua 6:21 records the destruction of Jericho’s people. How do the later references in Hebrews and James focus the story?
Use offline
Save this story on your device, then download the Bible books it uses in your version: Joshua. The study keeps only its own notes and references; the Scripture comes from the books on your device, never a second copy.