1. The gates of Jericho were kept shut and guarded to keep the Israelites out. No one could enter or leave the city.
2. The Lord said to Joshua, “I am putting into your hands Jericho, with its king and all its brave soldiers.
3. You and your soldiers are to march round the city once a day for six days.
4. Seven priests, each carrying a trumpet, are to go in front of the Covenant Box. On the seventh day you and your soldiers are to march round the city seven times while the priests blow the trumpets.
5. Then they are to sound one long note. As soon as you hear it, all the people are to give a loud shout, and the city walls will collapse. Then the whole army will go straight into the city.”
6. Joshua called the priests and said to them, “Take the Covenant Box, and seven of you go in front of it, carrying trumpets.”
7. Then he ordered the people to start marching round the city, with an advance guard going on ahead of the Lord's Covenant Box.
8-9. So, just as Joshua had ordered, an advance guard started out ahead of the priests who were blowing trumpets; behind these came the priests who were carrying the Covenant Box, followed by a rearguard. All this time the trumpets were sounding.
10. But Joshua had ordered the people not to shout, not to say a word until he gave the order.
11. So he told this group of men to take the Lord's Covenant Box round the city once. Then they came back to camp and spent the night there.