While at Gilgal, Joshua saw a man with a sword who identified himself as the Lord’s army captain. Joshua worshiped, and the man told him to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground. God promised Jericho and gave Joshua specific instructions for its conquest.

Joshua arranged the army with priests blowing trumpets and the Ark of God leading the silent march around Jericho once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they marched seven times, and at Joshua’s command, shouted. The city walls fell, and the Israelites destroyed Jericho, sparing only Rahab and her family, who were protected by the spies.

Joshua declared a curse: anyone rebuilding Jericho would lose their firstborn and youngest sons. God was with Joshua, and his fame spread. Rahab and her family were safely integrated into Israel, and she later married a man from Judah, bearing a son named Boaz.