We have encouraged you to see the glory of Christ throughout the Scriptures and the Fall of Jericho is no different. I encouraged you to consider Joshua 5:13 as the start of the narrative for there we see Joshua’s encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ – ‘the commander of the Lord’s army’ who receives Joshua’s worship and commands him to remove his shoes for he stands upon holy ground. What theology and typology can we uncover from this familiar story?
The number seven figures prominently in the narrative inspiring thoughts of creation: a seven-day march including seven times around Jericho on the seventh day, and seven priests bearing seven trumpets of ram’s horns. Israel is about to enter a new creation, or new Eden. Following disobedience the first Eden was denied to man and guarded by a sword-wielding angel. Now God’s people enter a Promised Land in obedience and directed by a sword-wielding angel.
The role of the trumpets in the fall of Jericho is significant. In the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:52 speak of trumpets announcing the coming of the Lord. Moreover, the use of ram’s horns recalls the announcement of Jubilee year – a year that follows seven “Sabbath years” of land rest, in other words every 50 years. Jubilee reflected both the mercy and justice of God to his people: debts were forgiven and land restored.
Christ Connection:
The first battle in Canaan is full not only of good principles, but wonderful typology of the ultimate promise/fulfillment of Jesus. It is Yeshua (the Lord saves) who brings the Lord’s people into the new Eden, just as it is Yeshua (Jesus) who brings us to our restored and eternal Eden – our new heaven and earth. The victory comes by the promise and power of the Lord, not by military schemes and might, just as our victory comes by the promise and power of the gospel. And Jesus is the final and perfect jubilee through whom all of sin’s debt is paid!
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession”
~2 Corinthians 2:14