"The tell, or hill, which Jericho rested atop was surrounded by an enormous rampart made of mud
bricks with a stone wall around its base.
This rock wall was around twelve to 15 meters in height. The earthen wall that was on top of it was at least 6 feet thick and up to 26 feet high. At the top of the embankments sat another earthen wall about 46 feet taller than the ground level of the lower wall. It was supposed to be physically impossible for the Israelites to breach this incredible city.
Inside of the upper wall lay about 6acres of land; the total area of the upper city and its fortifications equaled about 9 acres, approximately fifty percent larger than the lower area. If there were the typically assumed 200 people per acre, then there would have been a population of around 1,200 people in the upper level. This does not include the people living in the area between the rampart between upper and lower levels of wall; nor does it include the surrounding Canaanites who would have taken refuge in Jericho once the attack started. The people of Jericho were well prepared for a siege. They city, like most, was conveniently located by a spring for water; this spring is still there today.
The walls of Jericho all collapsed save for the wall that faced to
the north. This would have been where Rahab’s house was located according to the Biblical account of Jericho’s demise. Archaeologists have found that along with the lone standing wall, the Bible was also correct in its description of the house on the walls.
Kenyon found while investigating a pile of red bricks at the base of the revetment wall, piling up almost to the top. These bricks “probably came from the wall on the summit of the bank [and/or] … the brickwork above the revetment.” This pile of bricks would have easily allowed the Israelites to go “into the city, every man straight before him” Joshua 6:20 (ASV). The walls have also been found to have fallen outwards, unlike they were designed to. The walls crubmled outwards only at the base; bricks fell from the ramparts to create a slope so the Israelites could climb into the city.
According to the Bible, the Israelites were told to burn everything and take nothing from Jericho. Archaeological proof further supports the Bible through this aspect. One level of the excavation consists of a layer of ashes and burned debris approximately three feet thick. According to Kenyon “The destruction was complete. Walls and floors were blackened or reddened by fire, and every room was filled with fallen bricks, timbers, and household utensils; in most rooms the fallen debris was heavily burnt, but the collapse of the walls of the eastern rooms seems to have taken place before they were affected by the fire.” In this debris was also found many charred jars of grain." CW
This rock wall was around twelve to 15 meters in height. The earthen wall that was on top of it was at least 6 feet thick and up to 26 feet high. At the top of the embankments sat another earthen wall about 46 feet taller than the ground level of the lower wall. It was supposed to be physically impossible for the Israelites to breach this incredible city.
Inside of the upper wall lay about 6acres of land; the total area of the upper city and its fortifications equaled about 9 acres, approximately fifty percent larger than the lower area. If there were the typically assumed 200 people per acre, then there would have been a population of around 1,200 people in the upper level. This does not include the people living in the area between the rampart between upper and lower levels of wall; nor does it include the surrounding Canaanites who would have taken refuge in Jericho once the attack started. The people of Jericho were well prepared for a siege. They city, like most, was conveniently located by a spring for water; this spring is still there today.
The walls of Jericho all collapsed save for the wall that faced to
Kenyon found while investigating a pile of red bricks at the base of the revetment wall, piling up almost to the top. These bricks “probably came from the wall on the summit of the bank [and/or] … the brickwork above the revetment.” This pile of bricks would have easily allowed the Israelites to go “into the city, every man straight before him” Joshua 6:20 (ASV). The walls have also been found to have fallen outwards, unlike they were designed to. The walls crubmled outwards only at the base; bricks fell from the ramparts to create a slope so the Israelites could climb into the city.
According to the Bible, the Israelites were told to burn everything and take nothing from Jericho. Archaeological proof further supports the Bible through this aspect. One level of the excavation consists of a layer of ashes and burned debris approximately three feet thick. According to Kenyon “The destruction was complete. Walls and floors were blackened or reddened by fire, and every room was filled with fallen bricks, timbers, and household utensils; in most rooms the fallen debris was heavily burnt, but the collapse of the walls of the eastern rooms seems to have taken place before they were affected by the fire.” In this debris was also found many charred jars of grain." CW
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| A house unearthed in Jericho |
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
