[1] Now Jericho was shut up from within and from without because of the
people of Israel; none went out, and none came in. [2] And the LORD said to
Joshua, "See, I have given into your hand Jericho, with its king and mighty
men of valor. [3] You shall march around the city, all the men of war going
around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. [4] And seven priests
shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; and on the seventh
day you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the
trumpets. [5] And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, as soon
as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with
a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people
shall go up every man straight before him." [6] So Joshua the son of Nun
called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and
let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the
LORD." [7] And he said to the people, "Go forward; march around the city,
and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD." [8] And as
Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven
trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets,
with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. [9] And the armed
men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came
after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. [10] But Joshua
commanded the people, "You shall not shout or let your voice be heard,
neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout;
then you shall shout." [11] So he caused the ark of the LORD to compass the
city, going about it once; and they came into the camp, and spent the night
in the camp. [12] Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests
took up the ark of the LORD. [13] And the seven priests bearing the seven
trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD passed on, blowing the
trumpets continually; and the armed men went before them, and the rear
guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually.
[14] And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned
into the camp. So they did for six days. [15] On the seventh day they rose
early at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner
seven times: it was only on that day that they marched around the city
seven times. [16] And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the
trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout; for the LORD has given you the
city. [17] And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the
LORD for destruction; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in her
house shall live, because she hid the messengers that we sent. [18] But
you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you
have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of
Israel a thing for destruction, and bring trouble upon it. [19] But all
silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to the LORD;
they shall go into the treasury of the LORD." [20] So the people shouted,
and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the
trumpet, the people raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so
that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and
they took the city. [21] Then they utterly destroyed all in the city, both
men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and asses, with the edge of the
sword. [22] And Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go
into the harlot's house, and bring out from it the woman, and all who
belong to her, as you swore to her." [23] So the young men who had been
spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father and mother and
brothers and all who belonged to her; and they brought all her kindred, and
set them outside the camp of Israel. [24] And they burned the city with
fire, and all within it; only the silver and gold, and the vessels of
bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
[25] But Rahab the harlot, and her father's household, and all who belonged
to her, Joshua saved alive; and she dwelt in Israel to this day, because
she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. [26] Joshua
laid an oath upon them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the LORD be the
man that rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his
first-born shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son
shall he set up its gates." [27] So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame
was in all the land.
