Joshua 6:20

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Joshua 6:20 (KJV)

Context

Joshua 6 records the Israelites’ conquest of Jericho. God had given Joshua specific instructions: for six days the armed men were to march around the city once each day, with seven priests carrying seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times, the priests were to blow the trumpets, and then all the people were to shout. Joshua 6:20 is the moment when that command was fulfilled: the people shouted, the wall fell down flat, and they took the city.

Meaning

The verse emphasizes that the victory came through obedience to God’s unusual plan, not through military strength or strategy. The people had marched in silence for six days, trusting God’s word. On the seventh day, when the priests blew the trumpets and the people shouted with a great shout, the wall collapsed. The Hebrew expression for “fell down flat” conveys the completeness of the destruction—the wall did not merely crack or crumble in part; it fell entirely, allowing every man to go straight ahead into the city. This was a divine intervention, demonstrating God’s power and faithfulness to His promise that He had given Jericho into Israel’s hand.

Biblical connections

The writer of Hebrews later points to this event as an example of faith: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days” (Hebrews 11:30). That connection shows that the people’s shout was not a mere ritual but an act of faith in God’s promise. The fall of Jericho also echoes the broader biblical theme that God fights for His people and that victory comes through trusting and obeying His word, even when the means seem foolish by human standards.

Application

This account teaches several enduring lessons. First, obedience to God’s instructions matters, even when they do not make sense from a human perspective. The Israelites did not question the strategy of marching around a fortified city; they simply obeyed. Second, God can intervene in extraordinary ways on behalf of His people. The walls of Jericho were an imposing barrier, but no obstacle is insurmountable when God is at work. Third, the victory was corporate: priests, trumpets, and people all acted together in unity. Believers today are also called to walk in faith and obedience, trusting that God can break down the strongholds in their lives. As you reflect on this verse, consider what walls you may be facing and how God might be calling you to trust Him rather than rely on your own strength.

Reflection

The fall of Jericho reminds us that God’s power is released through faithful obedience. The people shouted because they believed God’s promise, and the wall fell. In your own walk, are you willing to obey God’s word even when the path seems unusual? Are you trusting Him to bring down the barriers that hinder your progress? Let this verse encourage you to rely on God’s strength, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His promises.