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Bible story · Joshua 6

Joshua and the Walls of Jericho

God’s people march around Jericho, and the walls come tumbling down. A 2-minute animated story, told simply for children and families, with each verse from the King James Version.

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1 of 7

The city of Jericho had huge, strong walls, and its gates were shut tight. No one could go in or out.

Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

Joshua 6:1 KJV

2 of 7

But the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.” Then God told him an unusual plan.

And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

Joshua 6:2 KJV

3 of 7

Once a day for six days, the soldiers and seven priests blowing trumpets marched around the city walls, without saying a word.

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

Joshua 6:3 KJV

4 of 7

On the seventh day, they got up at dawn and marched around the city seven times.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

Joshua 6:15 KJV

5 of 7

The seventh time around, the priests blew their trumpets, and Joshua told the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!”

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

Joshua 6:16 KJV

6 of 7

The people gave a great shout, and the walls of Jericho fell down flat!

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

7 of 7

So the LORD was with Joshua, and news about him spread through all the land.

So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

Joshua 6:27 KJV

The end

Next story: Gideon and the 300

What does this story teach?

  • God’s plans can seem strange, but they always work.
  • Obeying God matters, even when we don’t understand why.
  • Patience is part of faith. They marched for seven days.
  • Nothing is too strong for God.

Questions to talk about

Use these with your children after the story, at bedtime, at the table or in a class.

  1. How do you think the people felt marching around the walls day after day?
  2. Why do you think God told them to march instead of fight?
  3. What happened on the seventh day?
  4. Is there something God wants you to keep doing, even when it is hard?

Read the story in the Bible

This retelling uses simple words for young readers. Read the full account in Joshua 6, one verse per screen:

Joshua 6

Frequently asked questions

Where is the story of Jericho in the Bible?

It is in Joshua 6, in the Old Testament. It happens soon after the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the promised land.

How many times did they march around Jericho?

Once a day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day, thirteen times in all (Joshua 6:3–4, 15).

Who was Rahab?

Rahab lived in Jericho and hid two Israelite spies (Joshua 2). Because she trusted God, she and her family were kept safe when the city fell (Joshua 6:25). Matthew 1:5 lists her in the family line of Jesus.

What is the lesson of the walls of Jericho?

Victory came from obeying and trusting God, not from the people’s own strength. Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.”

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