Courtesy: Melody
The Walls of Jericho are massive stone walls, surrounding an ancient Neolithic settlement in Jericho, built about 8000 BCE. These walls well were at least 13 feet (4 meters) in height and backed by a watchtower. Excavations have revealed that Jericho is one of the earliest settlement. It also has the oldest known protective wall in the world.
They were used to protect the settlement and its water supply from human intruders as a weapon.
Though weapons of the hunt had been in use for centuries, the walls of Jericho represent the earliest technology uncovered by archaeologists that can be ascribed unequivocally to purely military purposes.
According to the Bible, at around 1,400 BCE, Jericho was the first city attacked by the Israelites after they crossed the Jordan River and entered Canaan.
“The Wall of Jericho was destroyed when the Israelites walked around it for seven days carrying the Ark of the Covenant.“
On the seventh day, Joshua commanded his people to blow their trumpets made of rams’ horns and shout at the walls until they finally fell down.
Excavations of the site reveal a network of collapsed walls that date to around the late 17th century or early 16th century BCE. The most likely cause of the collapse was an earthquake.
Descriptions of later earthquake destruction (1267 CE & 1927 CE) match the description of the collapsed walls in the Bible.
In each description, the cliffs above the Jordan River fell into the river and dammed it up.
- Lessons from the “Walls of Jericho” teaches us that God is stronger than walls.
- The instructions Joshua gave to the army of Israel and accompanying priests were very specific. For six days, they were to circle Jericho’s walls one time without speaking. On the seventh, they were to circle seven times, blow trumpets and shout (Joshua 6:1-20). If God tells you to do something, no matter how much somebody teases you, do it anyway; God will never lie to you
- There’s a time to be silent and a time to shout. Knowing the difference may determine whether barriers stand or fall. Doing God’s work in God’s way will always accomplish God’s purpose.
- God will use your availability before he uses your ability.
REFERENCES:
- Guilmartin, J. F. (2020, June 17). Walls of Jericho. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/walls-of-Jericho
- Ramos, A. (2016, September 19). Early Jericho. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/951/early-jericho/