Page 40 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

The people at Jericho looked to the
north and then to the south and as
far as they could see, there were a
massive number of people coming to
claim their land.

The people of Jericho worship
Ashtaroth, the goddess of the Moon.
Here was centered all that was the
vilest and most degrading of the religion of the Canaanites. God’s judgment on them was certainly just.

The city of Jericho

The city of Jericho was a double-walled city that was virtually impregnable. It was built on a mound
about nine acres in size and had a population of approximately 1,200 people living within its walls. The
inner city was about 6 acres in size. The outer walls were about 15 feet high, then above that was
another wall about 25 feet high and about six feet thick. The crest of the embankment reached about
46 feet above ground level. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the
impregnable bastion of Jericho.

A sprint provided water for ancient as
well as modern Jericho and was
located inside the city walls. At the
time of the attack, the harvest had just
been taken in (Joshua 3:15), so the
citizens had an abundant supply of
food. With a plentiful food supply and
ample water, the inhabitants of Jericho
could have held a siege for perhaps
several years. They had a false sense
of security within their magnificent
walls.

According to the Bible, Rahab’s house was incorporated into the fortification system (Joshua 2:15). If the
walls fell, how was her house spared? As you recall, the spies had instructed Rahab to bring her family
into her house, and they would be rescued. When the Israelites stormed the city, Rahab and her family
were saved as promised (Joshua 2:12–21, 6:17, 22–23). At the north end of the tell of Jericho,
archaeologists made some astounding discoveries that seem to relate to Rahab.

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