The Old Testament’s Book of Joshua, chapter 6, narrates the ancient Israelites’ capture of Jericho after God miraculously brought down its walls. That biblical story has been retold for centuries in religious teachings, literature, and music such as in the African American spiritual “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho“.
It is a foundational event in the biblical narrative, of a miraculous victory through faith and divine intervention. Whether taken as historical fact, theological allegory, or both, the fall of Jericho continues to inspire faith and reflection in Jewish, Christian, and broader spiritual traditions. Below are nineteen fascinating facts about the biblical account of the Fall of Jericho, and what the archaeological record says about its historicity.
19. The Biblical Account of the Conquest of Canaan
The conquest of Canaan is the biblical account of the ancient Israelites’ military campaign to take possession of the land of Canaan. According to the Old Testament, the conquest was divinely commanded, and led by Joshua, the successor of Moses, after the Israelites escaped bondage in Egypt and wandered the wilderness for forty years. Canaan was a region inhabited by various city-states and peoples, including the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, and others.
Per the Bible, those groups practiced idolatry and were morally corrupt, which prompted God to remove them and give their land to the Israelites, fulfilling a promise made to Abraham centuries earlier. The conquest began after Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River, and the first major victory was at Jericho, a heavily fortified city.
