After this, Joshua led the people to attack the city of Jericho. The Canaanite people feared the children of Abraham and had closed themselves up in their cities. Joshua was told by the angel of God how to attack. God would cause the city walls to fall, so that the people of Israel would not have to fight to win the city (Joshua chapter 6). Once a day for six days, the people walked around the city of Jericho, quietly walking around the wall that protected the city. On the seventh day, they walked around seven times and then gave a great shout. At this, the wall of the city fell flat, and the Israelites were able to capture the entire city. Joshua had given special instructions to the people that the riches of this city were only to be given as an offering to the Lord:
Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things , so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. Joshua 6.16-18
The city was defeated by the Israelites just as God had promised. Joshua gave clear instructions to stay away from all the riches of the city. However, a man named Achan stole some of the riches of Jericho to keep for himself. Because of this sin, Israel’s army was defeated in their next battle. They lost to a very small army from the town of Ai. This caused great worry in the camp of Israel, and even Joshua was upset by the defeat.
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “… O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?” … The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied…. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies… Joshua 7.6-12
Joshua and the elders found out that Achan took the forbidden things, so he was judged and killed for his disobedience. It was after this that Israel was able to take all of the land that had been promised to Abraham.