Did the Battle of Jericho happen at all?
The spectacular fall of Jericho’s walls in Joshua 6 ranks as one of the most memorable stories in the Old Testament. It stands alongside epic tales like the parting of the Red Sea and the battle between David and Goliath. But many consider the description of events in the book of Joshua a litmus test for the Bible’s historical fallibility. The modern debate over Jericho’s historicity has raged for decades. It’s a complex battleground with strategic assaults from multiple perspectives. Archaeology and chronology are on the controversy’s frontlines. The Biblical Account To understand the conflict, we need a clear picture of the chronology of events as recorded in the Bible. Following the exodus from Egypt, Joshua replaced Moses as Israel’s leader (Num 27:18–23; Deut 317–8). He led the conquest of Jericho. According to 1 Kings 6:1, the fourth year of King Solomon’s reign marked 480 years since the exodus. Solomon’s fourth year is commonly dated to 966 BC, which places the Ex