Joshua Crosses the Jordan and Takes Jericho

After the death of Moses, the chief power passed into the hands of Joshua the son of Nun. Moses had appointed him as his successor, since he was very like Moses himself in the good qualities he showed. At the beginning of his rule he sent messengers through the camp to tell the people to get supplies of grain ready, and he announced that they would march on the third day. But the river Jordan, a very powerful stream, kept them from crossing. They had no boats for the purpose, and the river could not be forded, because it was then rushing along in full flood. So he ordered the priests to carry the ark forward and to take their stand against the current of the river. When this was done, the Jordan is said to have parted, and so the army was led across on dry ground. [a]

In that region there was a town called Jericho, fortified with very strong walls and not easy to take, either by storm or by siege. But Joshua, putting his trust in God, did not attack the city by arms or by force. He simply ordered the ark of God to be carried around the walls, with the priests walking in front of the ark and blowing trumpets. When the ark had been carried around seven times, the walls and the towers fell, and the city was plundered and burned. Then Joshua is said to have spoken to the Lord, and to have called down a curse on anyone who should try to rebuild the town that had been torn down in this way by God’s help.

Next the army was led against Geth. An ambush was set behind the city, and Joshua, pretending to be afraid, fled before the enemy. When the people in the town saw this, they opened the gates and began to press after the retreating enemy. So the men lying in ambush took the city, and all the inhabitants were killed, without one escaping. The king was taken too, and was put to death.