Archeological Finds on the Walls of Jericho

Archeological finds about Jericho discuss and provide additional details about the events written in the Bible. As we imagine what Jericho must have been like these findings add another layer to the Jericho of Biblical times. Evidence shows that after the walls fell the city had been burned, just as it says in Joshua 6:24. Archeological description indicate just how fortified Jericho was. The city was surrounded by two walls. The first had an earthern embankment and stone wall at the base. This wall at the base was 12 to 15 feet and had on top of it a mud brick wall that was another 6 feet thick and around 20 to 26 feet high. The next wall located at the top of the fortification had a mudbrick wall base that was 46 feet.

Joshua 3:15 tells us that the people of Jericho had just brought in the harvest at the time the Israelites would begin their march around the city. There were findings of large jars of grain indicating the people of Jericho could withstand an attack while not leaving the city for possibly a year or two. In addition Jericho also had a significant water supply from an underground spring which provided water in ancient times as well as now.

Jericho was set to resist any attack for years and yet after only 7 days its walls fell. When it is Gods will nothing can stand in the way. He is the God that holds us in the palm of His hand and as we walk together with Him through our lives we can trust He is in control and if it is His will, it will happen.

Information is from the Creation Magazine 21,no2 (March 1999):36-40