Chapter 8: The Cord in the Ruins

When the dust began to settle, Joshua sent the two spies into the ruins with one order: find Rahab.

They made their way through the rubble to what was left of the wall where her house had stood. The scarlet cord was still tied to the window. And inside, Rahab was alive, along with her entire family.

The spies brought them and placed them in safety outside the camp of Israel.

Then Israel destroyed every living thing in the city. They put it all to the sword. When it was done, they set fire to Jericho and burned it to the ground. Only the silver, gold, bronze, and iron were pulled from the ashes and placed in the Lord's treasury.

Joshua stood over the ruins and spoke a curse.

JOSHUA“Cursed before the Lord is anyone who undertakes to rebuild this city. At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”— Joshua 6:26

The city that had sealed its gates against Israel was now smoke and ash. No one would rebuild it without paying a price.

Centuries later, a man named Hiel of Bethel did exactly that. He rebuilt Jericho. When he laid the foundation, his firstborn son died. When he set up the gates, his youngest son died. The curse Joshua spoke over those ruins carried the full weight of God behind it.