Bible Stories with Jeff Vol 2 - Joshua 6

Today I bring to you the story of Josua at Jericho.  We've all heard the story related to us in Sunday School. 


Full Text (KJV)
Full Text (NIV)


An example of how this story is related to children is here in this script.


The Backstory:  After Moses died, God picked a new man to lead the Israelites, and set him to conquering Canaan.  This man was Joshua, the son of his aid, Nun.  Joshua was to become a fierce and legendary warrior, but he had not proven himself yet.  The first city that they were to be "given" was Jericho.  They had dispatched a couple of spies into the city in advance, and they had taken shelter in the house of a prostitute named Rahab.  Rahab had hidden them and then helped them escape, and in exchange for her treason the spies had promised her they would spare her family.


The Israelites had laid siege to Jericho, and the city walls had been closed.  So God told Joshua to march the Ark of the Covenant around the city, with an armed guard, and priests leading the way, blowing ram's horns.  He told him to do it once each day for six days, then on the seventh he was to march around seven times, have the priests blow a long blast, and tell the Israelites to shout.  When the Israelites shouted, the walls of the city were to come tumbling down.


Joshua did as the Lord had told him for six days.  That night, he reminded everyone that anyone in Rahab's house were to be spared, and that they would know it by the scarlet cord hung in the window.  On the morning of the seventh day, Joshua did as he was told.  The horns sounded, the people hollered and the walls collapsed.


Now, Joshua was a brave, righteous and noble leader...  Why else would people name thousands of children every year after this guy, right?  So he did what any righteous Israelite would have done, he ordered the slaughter of every living thing in the town (Except Rahab and her family of course).  Everything.  Men, women, old people, babies, even the fucking livestock.  Then he ordered the city burned to the ground.  He collected all the treasure that was left and put it into the the Treasury (of course!)


Rahab decided that she'd rather be on the winning team, so she decided to join the Israelites, hopefully having a lot of time to think about her treason.


Joshua ends the story by cursing anyone that would attempt to rebuild the city, under pain of losing their children.


Nice guy... such a Mensch, being willing do do ANYTHING, including killing babies.

There are two morals to this story:

1. When Israelite spies come to your town, treat 'em well.
2. It's OK to commit genocide, if God tells you to do it.