It is interesting that not a single example of faith is mentioned between Israel’s march through the Red Sea and the walls of Jericho falling, in order that the people could enter therein and take the city. Paul reminds his readers that it was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell (Hebrews 11:30). Israel didn’t besiege the city, nor did they have to break into it. The walls fell at the command of the Lord, and he gave the city to his people to destroy.
Paul uses the Greek word kukloo (G2944) to say Jericho was “compassed about seven days.” This word is used four other times in the New Testament showing: Jesus’ enemies surrounded (G2944) him (John 10:24), the disciples stood round about (G2944) Paul, when he was stoned in Galatia (Acts 14:20). Another points to the time between Pentecost 31 AD and the Lord’s return, his disciples stood defenseless with their enemies round about (G2944) them (Revelation 20:9). Finally, Jesus prophesied that one day Jerusalem, itself, would be compassed about (G2944) and his people were warned to flee the city and not trust in its walls (Luke 21:20).
I believe that Jericho’s walls are symbolic of Jerusalem’s walls in the first century AD. They were meant for the protection of the people who fled their homes at the approach of the armies of the enemy, and for a good defense for the combatants within the city. Yet, Jericho’s walls afforded protection for no one, not for anyone who trusted in them, whether combatant or non-combatant. Likewise, Jerusalem’s walls were cursed for destruction, as was her Temple (Matthew 23:37-38; 24:1-2). The Lord warned his people not to trust in them and to flee the city, if they were there when the enemy arrived (Luke 21: 20-24), which is exactly what they did in 66 AD, near the very beginning of the Jews’ war with Rome.[1] Those who obeyed the Lord were saved from death or slavery at the hand of the Roman army. Although the walls of Jerusalem were built to withstand armies for some time, even if the siege were to last over a year. Yet, the armies under the command of Titus, the Roman general, broke into the city of Jerusalem and Caesar made his camp within its walls after a siege of less than three weeks.[2]
By Paul referring to the fall of Jericho’s walls, after the Lord had sentenced them for destruction, he was encouraging the first century AD Jewish believers to remain faithful to their Messiah, because he promised to return in judgment against their adversaries and persecutors, the Jewish authorities (cp. Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 14:61-62).
In Hebrews 11:31 Paul mentioned that Rahab, the harlot, was saved out of the destruction of Jericho’s walls, because she believed no one could stand against the God of Israel. Her faith saved her alive, along with those who were with her. Paul specifically refers to three women in this chapter. He first mentions the faith of Sarah, who is the mother of Israel, the people of God. Secondly, he mentions Pharaoh’s daughter, who is symbolic of unbelieving Israel (cp. Revelation 11:8), who would be judged, just as the Lord had judged Egypt at the birth of his nation under Moses. Finally, Paul mentions Rahab, the harlot, whose only credit was that she believed God, hid his people from their enemies and asked for his mercy. In her is seen the choice of the Jewish believers of the first century AD to be numbered among Sarah’s true children rather than the powerful, movers and shakers of their society, whom the Lord promised to judge (cp. Matthew 16:27-28; 23:29-36; Mark 14:61-62).
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[1] See Josephus: Wars of the Jews 2.19.1-7 & 20.1
[2] See Josephus: Wars of the Jews 5.3.2 & 5.7.2-3
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