Highlights of Joshua 6-8 - Theocratic Ministry School

Study information for Theocratic Ministry School

Bible reading: Joshua 6-8 (10 min.)

(Joshua 6:17)

The city and everything in it is to be devoted to destruction; it all belongs to Jehovah. Only Ra′hab the prostitute may keep living, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers we sent out.

*** it-1 p. 89 Ambassador ***
The treatment accorded a ruler’s messengers, or envoys, was regarded as treatment given the ruler and his government. Thus, when Rahab showed favor to the messengers sent as spies to Jericho by Joshua, she really was acting as she did because she recognized that Jehovah was the God and King of Israel. Jehovah, through Joshua, showed her favor accordingly. (Jos 6:17; Heb 11:31)

(Joshua 6:20)

Then the people shouted when the horns were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the horn and shouted a great war cry, the wall fell down flat. After that the people went up into the city, each one straight ahead, and they captured the city.

*** gm chap. 4 pp. 37-38 pars. 1-2 How Believable Is the “Old Testament”? ***
AN ANCIENT city is under siege. Its attackers have swarmed across the Jordan River and are now encamped before the city’s high walls. But what strange battle tactics! Each day for six days, the invading army has marched around the city, silent except for an accompanying group of priests blowing on horns. Now, on the seventh day, the army silently marches around the city seven times. Suddenly, the priests blow their horns with all their might. The army breaks its silence with a mighty battle cry, and the towering city walls collapse in a cloud of dust, leaving the city defenseless.—Joshua 6:1-21.
2 This is how the book of Joshua, the sixth book of the Hebrew Scriptures, describes the fall of Jericho that occurred almost 3,500 years ago. But did it really happen? Many higher critics would confidently answer no. They claim that the book of Joshua, along with the previous five books of the Bible, is made up of legends written up many centuries after the alleged events took place. Many archaeologists would also answer no. According to them, when the Israelites came into the land of Canaan, Jericho may not even have existed.

*** it-1 p. 151 Archaeology ***
At any rate, the combined results may be said to present the general picture set forth in the book Biblical Archaeology, by G. E. Wright (1963, p. 78), which states: “The city underwent a terrible destruction or a series of destructions during the second millennium B.C., and remained virtually unoccupied for generations.” The destruction was accompanied by intense fire, as is shown by the excavated evidence.—Compare Jos 6:20-26.

*** w86 12/15 p. 19 par. 16 How Majestic Is Jehovah’s Name! ***
16 At last Joshua commands the people: “Shout; for Jehovah has given you the city.” A great war cry thunders forth. The earth shakes and—miracle of miracles—Jericho’s walls fall down flat. The Israelites obediently rush forward to destroy every living thing in the city.

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