The Walls of Jericho

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Why did you help us? 00:00:04 Speaker 3: I heard of the miracles of your God, the parting of the Red Sea, the victories in Moab against impossible odds. Many here dismiss these stories as exaggerations. 00:00:15 Speaker 4: But I know the truth. 00:00:17 Speaker 3: I believe your God is God of heaven above and earth below. I believe we will take this city and claim the land. 00:00:25 Speaker 5: Hang us scarlet cord in this window so we can keep our oath to protect your family when we enter the land. Bring all your family into your house. Anyone who leaves will be responsible for their own death. If anyone inside is harmed, we are at fault. But if you reveal our mission, the oath is void. 00:00:47 Speaker 6: And what are the walls? 00:00:49 Speaker 5: Heyah, Our men will find no such luck with these walls. There are two of going. 00:00:55 Speaker 4: The lower wall is over ten feet tall. Then there's a sloping rampart where their archers will surely strike us down from the watchdowns, and beyond it it's the upper wall, and that one is almost twenty feet tall and six feet thick. 00:01:14 Speaker 1: Joshua's hand instinctively reached for the blade on his left hip. He freed it from its scabbard, a half a second later, and whirled around to face the threat. A man stood on the bank before him, the sunrise silhouetting his frame. Metal armor gleamed in the pre dawn. He stood about twenty paces away, and a great sword and shield. Dondee, charm, are. 00:01:38 Speaker 7: You for us? For our enemies? 00:01:41 Speaker 8: I have come as commander of the Lord's army. 00:01:45 Speaker 1: Recognitions smacked Joshua in the face, though he did not understand fully. He dropped his weapon immediately and bowed low with his face to the ground, in homage to. 00:01:59 Speaker 9: Idn't want to see to a servant, remove the sandals from your feet to where you are standing so wholly ground. 00:02:12 Speaker 10: Click the link of the description to grow closer to God. There you'll find daily prayers, Bible plans, sleep stories, and so much more, all on the prey dot com app. Click the link of the description to get started. 00:02:27 Speaker 1: The booming of forty thousand pairs of feet marching forward was punctuated by sharp spears hammering into the gravel, everything thrown to the rhythm of war drums. The sound reverberated in Joshua's ribcage, electrifying the atmosphere around him. The men were tightly wound with a contagious phrenetic energy. As the fame double walls of Jericho loomed larger and larger before them, Joshua's heart beat alongside the thunderous forward march of the law Zarni. Joshua marched with the vanguard the tribe of Judah. When they were still a ways off the rear guards, still within the outer perimeter of their riverside camp, Joshua held up his fist. The deafening marching stopped his men, awaiting his command. The silence hung in the air like a thick morning fog. So confident in Israel's obedience, Joshua did not turn as he shouted into the now silence. The front lines of their force spread on either side of Joshua and immediately marched forward, Caleb at the helm. They marched until they kneared an archer's bow range from the city, and then halted and turned to face north. Now in the front lines behind Joshua, the seven priests Joshua had selected stepped forward ahead of the of the Covenant, carried by Eliezer, Ishama and Finnahas the unit of priests moved together, the seven priests at the front. Carrying shofars, The Ark of the Covenant and its priestly guardians crossed the plains of Jericho before the great army. They came to a halt a thousand yards behind the vanguard. The tribe of Judah created a wall of protection between the priests and the city. 00:04:25 Speaker 7: Tribes of Israel. 00:04:29 Speaker 1: With that, the rest of Israel's army marched forward until they were a thousand yards away from the Ark. It was the same distance they had given the Ark when they crossed Jordan. It marked not only the reverends they held for their God, but it would also create a spectacular aerial view of the presence of God from above. All of Jericho would know where Israel's true power came from. All of Israel's enemies needed to know who their real adversary was. It wasn't Joshua, nor was it the armies under his command. It was the Lord who challenged them. It was the Lord who marched. It was the Lord who would carry out his plans for his chosen people. The children of Israel, much like the citizens of Jericho, would be mere spectators to the glory of God Most High. The rest of the tribes filled in the space to the south and the north of the priests, curving around them to complete a gigantic circle of protection, with the tribe of Judah as the defenders of the front lines. Joshua walked among them as they moved into place. They turned north and halted to await his next order. The entire company was still out of arrow range, but undoubtedly visible to the enemy soldiers above. Joshua smiled as he continued to walk among his men, standing at attention, and imagine what an intimidating sight they were for the people of Jericho. No doubt they were shaking behind their walls. Good let them see what would come next. Joshua had received his orders hours earlier from the commander of the lord's armies. Joshua had been told the city was theirs. Victory was within grasp. They needed only to follow the Lord's commands. Victory was assured, but the method, well, that was to be yet another trial of their faith. Joshua found himself at the furthest northern edge of the army. Jericho was on Israel's left. He shouted so that the priests and the vanguard could all hear him. 00:06:38 Speaker 9: Remember, brothers, do not shout to let your voice be heard. Don't let one word come out of your mouth until I say shout. 00:06:46 Speaker 7: Then you are to shout. 00:06:48 Speaker 9: You shout with every fiber of your being, every ounce of strengthen your soul, until. 00:06:55 Speaker 7: Then the fire within you will be tamed. Do you understand, Joshua felt their obedience. 00:07:01 Speaker 1: The entire army of Israel nodded as one to confirm that they remembered his orders from that morning. A half a second later, the seven priests began sounding their shofars and strode forward. The ark was in their wake. As they began to march around the city's walls. They blew short, percussive blasts, unrelenting and bold. The armed men on either side, the front and the rear guards kept in stride so that the presence of the Lord was protected. As they marched, the shofar blasts reverberated off the distant city and rattled the Canaanite men's armor and steel. Joshua imagined the piercing, persistent sound was only enhanced as it echoed against the foothills of the distant twin peaks of Mount Obal and Gerizom. As they marched and the short blasts sounded all around them. A distant memory tugged at Joshua's mind and brought his sad smile to his lips. 00:08:01 Speaker 2: Now, when the army goes to battle, the priest will sound short blasts of the trumpets. Can you tell me why. 00:08:11 Speaker 8: Yes, it's so we will be remembered before the Lord that he will save us from our enemies. It's a reminder that the Lord goes before us and fights our battles. Short blast for war, long blast for gathering the assembly together. 00:08:25 Speaker 2: Ah, well done, my son. You've certainly paid careful attention when I instructed Aaron in his sons. 00:08:33 Speaker 6: Oh yes, Moses, But try my best to understand the duties of the priests, the army and the civil leaders. Want to Servius best. I can you carry so much? 00:08:43 Speaker 2: It is very wise of you to understand how leading the people and the army is interconnected with the spiritual leadership of the people. Never forget to keep the Lord at the forefront, and never I mean no mistake your leadership. Boys. Do you understand me, my son? 00:09:06 Speaker 6: Yes, yes I do. 00:09:09 Speaker 1: Joshua was hard simultaneously panned with grief and swelled with pride. At the memory of his beloved mentor and friend, Joshua longed for Moses to march at his side as Israel entered its first battle for the Promised Land. Lost in memories and complicated emotions, Joshua realized they were rounding the last bend of the city of Jericho. The city stood on about eight acres of land, and one lap around the city took about half an hour. Joshua looked around. Priests and soldiers alike still stood straight and tall, their feet pounding the ground in time to the shofars. At the last turn, the vanguard led the men back toward their camp instead of continuing to circle the city. The shofars didn't let up until the the wrists crossed the threshold of the tabernacle and the ark of the Covenant was safely back inside the most holy place. For this was all Israel was required to do on this first day, Joshua was sure there was confusion on the other side of the heavily fortified walls of Jericho. Jericho did not know that tomorrow would hold the same for them, and the next five days after that. Each day would break their spirit a little more. But each day the faith of Israel would be on display, growing little by little each day as their God went before them. Finally, the seventh morning dawned, Joshua emerged from his tent. The animal's skin flapped, spraying him with morning dew. As he thrust it aside. The cool flecks of moisture striking his cheek were electriflying. He felt alive with anticipation. Strode to the edge of camp to look out across the divide between their camp and at the mighty walls of Jericho. The battle ground marked by faith not blood, The ground gained invisible, The fighting take place not in the muck and mire of heated battle, but in the minds and hearts of warrior and priest alike. Israel had received her orders from Joshua every morning, and every morning she had obeyed. March short blasts of the shofars around the city back to camp. Not a man uttered a sound, not that it could be heard over the cacophony of ringing made by the ram's horns. But Joshua knew that the men's obedience to the word of the Lord was of the utmost importance. He doubted the Lord would grant them victory if any one had disobeyed his instructions had been so clear, victory would come. The price was their faithfulness. Joshua squinted over at the city. It was too far to make out the details at this distance, but on their marches of the previous six days, Joshua hadn't seen a soul on the walls or in the watch towers. It was as if the sound of the horns had beaten the soldier's back, and they were cowering behind their walls and boarded up gates and windows along the walls. Though he could not see them, he knew they were there. They hadn't seen anyone leave the city, nor were travelers or saviors on the horizon. Jericho's final hour crept closer and closer, and there would be no rescue. Joshua's fingers curled around the sword at his left hip and side. It was time he turned on his heel and made his way over to where the soldiers and priests were gathered to await the day's orders. They had faithfully listened to the same orders each day on those days. Joshua warned the troops daily to not shout or let their voices be heard. He reminded them that when he told them to shout, they would let up a roar the likes of which Canaan had never heard before. Joshua stood before Israel that morning as if the entire world stood still. Today felt different from the days before. They could all sense it, the stillness that comes with pent up energy, a spring coiled and ready to be released. Electric anticipation hung. 00:13:32 Speaker 6: In the air Israel. 00:13:34 Speaker 9: Today we march around the city as we've done these six before. 00:13:38 Speaker 7: But today you will not stop at one time around. 00:13:42 Speaker 9: No, we will march around the walls of Jericho seven times. Today is the day I ask you to shout. 00:13:51 Speaker 7: You will shout, for today is the day the Lord will give us the city. 00:13:56 Speaker 9: Today you will again see the wonders of the Lord. Mighty walls of Jericho will fall before you. Make no mistake, Brothers and sisters, you do not shout for victory. You aren't conjuring some spirit to destroy your enemies, nor are you summoning power for yourselves. 00:14:15 Speaker 8: The Lord is already marching. 00:14:17 Speaker 5: We shout, for he. 00:14:19 Speaker 7: Has already won, and the city and everything in it. 00:14:24 Speaker 6: Are set apart for the Lord. 00:14:26 Speaker 9: Only Raya, everyone in her house will live because she hid the spies we sent into the city. 00:14:33 Speaker 11: You will know her house by a scarlet cord. 00:14:35 Speaker 8: Hanging in the window. 00:14:36 Speaker 6: What pass by, and let them live again. 00:14:40 Speaker 9: I tell you, keep yourself from the things set apart with you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction, and make trouble for it. All the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and silver are dedicated to the Lord, must go into the Lord's treasury. 00:15:05 Speaker 6: Now, brothers, sun is rising. 00:15:07 Speaker 9: Let us march on the wall of Jericho for a final time. And when I tell you to shout, you will know what to do. 00:15:16 Speaker 7: Rock Shazakh a maats, be strong and courageous. 00:15:22 Speaker 1: With a final war cry from the men, they again fell silent. As they fell into line, the march began. The vanguard led the way, then the priests, blowing their rams horns, then the ark, and then the rear guard. The sound of horns pierced the silent morning. The Israelites made their way around the length of the city. They circled it once twice, three times, four times, five times, six times, seven times. The priests held a prolonged note as the last soldier completed his circuit. It was a star from the relentless staccato of the short blasts. There was a half heartbeat of silence when the prolonged note ended. It was a most welcome balm to Joshua's ears, and he could almost feel the sigh of relief of their enemies behind the wall. But he didn't let the moment last. 00:16:18 Speaker 7: Long shouts the Lord has giving you the same. 00:16:22 Speaker 1: The troops gave a great shout. The full throated war of forty thousand shook the ground like an earthquake. Joshua fought the urge to look down to see if it were so. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the great walls. Before them, Cracks began falling in the solid rock the inner and outer walls. They spider webed out in response to the trembling of the foundation, shaking the earth deep into its corner. The cracks rippled through the length of the walls, wrapping around edges and out of sight. The tiles of the watch towers fell first. They rattled against one another, and the first one fell and shattered on the gravel far below, as if the first one had given permission. More followed, and soon the rules slid off entirely. Then the walls started to crumble before their very eyes. Larger and larger portions collapsed in on themselves, revealing panicking soldiers scrambling to grab hold of the walls and ledges, but they found no purchase. Their cries drowned in the sound and chaos of the falling stones, bricks, and mud. The inner wall deteriorated. First, the day breed tumbled down the corridor between the two city walls and into the sloped rampart, and then collided spectacularly with the outer wall. The force of the rubble hitting the base brought down the already crumbling top heavy walls with an enormous crash. Then all went silent. A plume of dust shot towards the sky and rained down. The wave of dust that swept across the plains had an air of finality to it, and as it dissipated, Joshua released a final roar. 00:18:13 Speaker 9: Jos Axious are commuts headrong. 00:18:18 Speaker 1: And Corisius with another mighty shout. Israelites stormed forward to take the city. They sprang over the rubble and the collapsed mangled gates, and said to their destruction. As commanded, Joshua charged in, first, leaping with the veracity of a man half his age. His first downward swide met the shoulder of a guard. The second swing went sideways to block a spearman thrusting forward. Caleb finished the job with a decisive blow with an axe. 00:18:51 Speaker 7: Safe up for me? Can you to keep up? Of man? What seer? 00:18:59 Speaker 1: The elder wore of Israel pressed in with an other worldly fierceness. Every soldier fell before them. The children of Israel pressed forward. The spoils of the city would go to the Lord, and no man was to take plunder nor prisoner. The corruption of the city was not permitted to grow. Instead, it would be ripped out, root and stem. In a matter of hours, the Battle of Jericho was won, and no one was spared save the woman with remarkable faith in the God of Israel who lived in the house marked by the scarlets. Gord Raehab trembled from head to toe, but forced herself to stay crouched and hidden. Her limbs were tight and stiff, barking at her to move and stretch, but her fear would allow no such thing. The screaming of her neighbors had died away some time ago, and they had not heard the crunch of soldiers footsteps in a while. Her family was huddled around her tentatively. Her father and siblings peered up at her, their fearful eyes asking the question will we survive? In response, Raehab summoned her courage to stand. She would need to get a handle on her surroundings to decide their next move, but that would involve leaving their hiding place. She bawled her fists and willed herself not to shake as she crept quietly to the window and peered out. Despite hearing the commotion, nothing could have prepared her for what she saw outside. The walls were nothing but shattered debris and rubble. Defenders of Jericho lay dead and sprawled along broken walls or crushed beneath the stones. Rahab gaped as she realized that only her house still stood. The wall her family was huddled against made up part of the inner wall of Jericho. It defied all logic. Rahab didn't need to look further into the city to know that every one within the wall was dead. She had heard enough of the butchering to know the truth. They had gone to every house, none were left, but they did not come there to her home. Her heart knew the truth. She and her family were the only survivors in Jericho. Rahab looked back at her family and shook her head. Silence hung between them, and she was not sure what would happen next. She looked up toward the front of her house, where the scarlet cord hung in the window. She slumped down the wall and held her young siblings close as they cried softly into her shoulder. She took comfort in watching the cords sway in the breeze. For a time, no one spoke a word to one another. Rahab jolted upright. There were footsteps on the stairs below the hallway where she hid with her family. Steps grew undeniably closer and closer. She felt her family tense, preparing themselves for fight or flight. Rahab rolled her shoulders back, prepared for whatever thread burst through the door. The footsteps grew louder and louder, until finally the door swung open. Rahab jumped, and then she sobbed a cry of relief. Salmon entered with a warm look of concern. He looked as relieved as she did to see that everyone had survived. Salmon hurried towards her and knelt down to her. She was still trembling. His large, strong hands gripped her shoulders as she swayed with relief. 00:22:49 Speaker 2: Ah, Rahab, you're safe now, no one will harm you. 00:22:54 Speaker 1: Rahab found herself still clinging to Salmon's arms. She was not ready to let go, not just yet. Luckily he didn't seem to mind. 00:23:04 Speaker 3: Oh, oh, you came back, Salmon nodded. 00:23:10 Speaker 1: His eyes had not left hers as he helped her to her feet. She found herself similarly unwilling to break his gaze. 00:23:18 Speaker 3: Ah ha ha ah. My family and I are in your debt. Thank you, Thank you for sparing our lives. 00:23:26 Speaker 2: You help us when you could have easily gave us away. You remained faithful and stayed in your homes when you could have run. 00:23:34 Speaker 6: You're an Israelite. 00:23:35 Speaker 3: Now, ah, thank you, thank you. 00:23:41 Speaker 2: Come, come, your family will be safe with me. 00:23:44 Speaker 1: Salmon led Rayhab down the stairs, out of the house and over the rubble of the fallen walls. He held her hand all the while. Rayhab kept her gaze on the uneven terrain before her when necessary, or fixed on the back of her rescuer. Salmon did not drop her hand until she stood before the leader of the Israelites, and she flung herself on the ground before him in gratitude. She heard her family do the same around. 00:24:14 Speaker 3: Her, Your highness, King of Israel, follower of the One True God. I cannot express my gratitude enough. Thank you for sparing our lives. Thank you for honoring your oath and sending your servants Caleb and Salmon to rescue us. 00:24:31 Speaker 1: The leader bent and kindly pulled Rahab back to her feet. There was a steadiness to him, an unwavering air of integrity. 00:24:42 Speaker 6: My dear, no, I'm not a king. Israel has no king. Really, it's I who should be falling at your feet. And thanks Salmon here tells me you showed courage. Your faith has not only spared your life, but has also made a way for us to have victory today. It's a very wise man, And once told me it is our faith that defines us, not our lineage. You are our past. You can choose your faith. Because of that, you can have a new family. 00:25:11 Speaker 1: Raehab followed the Israelite leader's gaze back to where Salmon was standing. He was staring steadily back at her. 00:25:18 Speaker 11: Come, Rahab, I will tell you all about our God and his ways. You and your family will live in peace among us, and the legacy of your faith will be passed down through our history. From this day. 00:25:31 Speaker 1: On, Raehab followed Joshua and Salmon away from the wreckage. Plumes of smoke and dust covered the city. Raehab stole one last glance at her home. She was happy to be rid of it and hopeful for what the future held. She glanced forward at Salmon and allowed herself to smile. The future looked bright. 00:26:00 Speaker 10: If today's reading moved you, The Prey dot Com app is where you can go deeper with daily prayers, Bible plans, and more. Download it free link in the description. 00:26:10 Speaker 1: This Prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Schllabager, and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. 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