Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
The city was accursed including the people and many things inside the city, except when stated otherwise. Two commands were given on the accursed things: Keep yourselves from the accursed thing. All the silver, gold, and vessels of brass and iron shall come into the treasury of the Lord (Jos. 6:19). Anyone who broke the law of accursed things would not only be punished, he would bring a curse upon Israel (Jos. 7:1-26).
Joshua pronounced this ban on Jericho, a great and wealthy city, evidently by divine decree, and the severity of the doom that came to all violaters is illustrated in the punishment of Achan in Joshua 7:1-26. This curse was justified, not only because its inhabitants were part of a people who had filled up their cup of iniquity (Gen. 15:16), but by the fact that fighting men from many surrounding peoples were in Jericho helping to defend it against Israel (Jos. 24:11). Its destruction would serve to paralyze further resistance to Israel on the part of other Canaanite cities when they saw the mighty power of God in the miracle of the walls falling flat.
We see from Joshua 6:21 the utter destruction of all that was in the city. Such total destruction was unique, as firstfruits to God. It was also an example of His wrath on the depravity of Canaanites. In all other places, the laws of conquest were carried out, meaning that the stock and the spoils (including virgin women) belonged to Israel (Jos. 11:11-14; Num. 31:9-35; Deut. 20:14).
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