[[Josh-06]] Prev: [[Prophecies in Josh-05]] | Next: [[Prophecies in Josh-07]] --- ### Yahweh said to Joshua, "Behold, I have given Jericho into your hand... then the city wall will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight in front of him." *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: God predicts the miraculous collapse of Jericho's fortified walls and the city's capture despite it being 'tightly shut up.' *Historical context*: Archaeological excavations at Tell es-Sultan (ancient Jericho) by John Garstang and later Bryant Wood suggest that the city's mudbrick walls collapsed outward, forming a ramp against the retaining wall that would allow invaders to climb 'straight up' into the city. While the dating is debated (Kenyon vs. Wood), the physical evidence of the collapse matches the biblical description. *Related to*: ### So the people shouted and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they took the city. *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The walls of Jericho collapsed as predicted, allowing the Israelites to conquer the city as God had promised Joshua in verses 2-5. *Historical context*: Theological tradition views this as the first victory in the conquest of Canaan, demonstrating that the land was a divine gift rather than a purely military achievement. Scholars note the specific detail of walls falling 'flat' or 'under themselves' aligns with seismic or miraculous descriptions found in the text. *Related to*: Yahweh said to Joshua, "Behold, I have given Jericho into your hand... then the city wall will fall down flat" ### Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: Joshua prophesies/declares that Rahab and her family will be the sole survivors of the city's total destruction. *Historical context*: Rahab's survival is considered a significant theological event, representing the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant community through faith. Her preservation is a rare exception to the 'herem' (total destruction) command in the conquest narrative. *Related to*: ### But Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lives in the middle of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: Rahab and her family are spared from the fire and sword, and she becomes a permanent member of the Israelite community. *Historical context*: This fulfillment extends beyond the text of Joshua; the New Testament records Rahab in the genealogy of Jesus Christ ([[Matt-01#v5|Matthew 1:5]]) and lists her as a hero of faith ([[Heb-11#v31|Hebrews 11:31]]). The phrase 'to this day' in [[Josh-06#v25|Joshua 6:25]] suggests she was still living or her immediate descendants were well-known at the time of the book's writing. *Related to*: Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house ### Joshua commanded them with an oath at that time, saying, "Cursed is the man before Yahweh who rises up and builds this city Jericho. With the loss of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he will set up its gates." *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: Joshua pronounces a prophetic curse stating that whoever attempts to rebuild the fortified city of Jericho will suffer the death of their eldest son at the start and their youngest son at the completion. *Historical context*: This prophecy remained dormant for approximately 500 years. It serves as a warning against restoring what God had 'devoted to destruction.' *Related to*: ### Cursed is the man before Yahweh who rises up and builds this city Jericho. With the loss of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he will set up its gates. *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The curse was literally fulfilled during the reign of King Ahab (c. 874–853 BCE) when Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. *Historical context*: As recorded in [[1 Kings-16#v34|1 Kings 16:34]], Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho; his firstborn son, Abiram, died when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son, Segub, died when he set up the gates, 'according to the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.' Some archaeologists suggest Hiel may have performed foundation sacrifices, while the biblical text attributes the deaths directly to the divine curse. *Related to*: Joshua commanded them with an oath... Cursed is the man... who rises up and builds this city Jericho. --- #ai_prophecy