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‘And the Walls Came Tumbling Down’ – The History and Historicity of the Biblical Account of Jericho

Khalid Elhassan May 16, 2025 16 min

Jericho - Depiction of the Old Testament's description of Jericho's walls miraculously falling down — Depiction of the Old Testament's description of Jericho's walls miraculously falling down. Pinterest

13. The Most Dramatic Story in the Biblical Narrative of the Conquest of Canaan

Jericho - Ancient Jericho — Ancient Jericho. The Archaeologist

The fall of Jericho is one of the Bible’s most dramatic stories, and marks a key moment in the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan, the land promised to them by God. The narrative is significant both theologically and historically, symbolizing God’s power, the importance of obedience, and the fulfillment of divine promises. Jericho, in the Jordan Valley near the Jordan River, is one of the world’s oldest cities, and the oldest one known to have been fortified with walls.

When the Israelites arrived, it was a strong, fortified city surrounded by massive stone walls that were deemed impenetrable. The city’s strategic location made it a crucial military and trade center, which is why it became one of the first targets in the Israelites’ campaign to conquer Canaan.

Written by

Khalid Elhassan

A lifelong history buff, I developed a particular passion for WW2 history as a child, when I spent hours listening to my grandfather, enraptured, as he recounted his wartime experiences in the British East African Campaign and with the British 8th Army in North Africa.

I graduated with a history BA from George Mason University, then went on to get a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. After lawyering for a decade, I moved to sunny Rio de Janeiro and a less demanding career, opening a tourism agency in Copacabana.

A big chunk of my free time is spent blogging (you can follow me on Quora https://www.quora.com/profile/Khalid-Elhassan ) or freelance writing, mostly about my favorite subject, history.