Joshua 6:1 describes the state of the walled city of Jericho just before Israel’s attack: its gates were fully barricaded, and nobody could leave or enter. The verse is a narrator’s note that sets the scene, showing that the city was sealed in fear of the Israelites who had crossed the Jordan River. It is written by the narrator of the book of Joshua, not spoken by a character, and it is addressed to the readers of the story rather than to any person inside it.
Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Israel. No one went out, and no one came in.
Joshua 6:1 (WEB)
What Joshua 6:1 Means
The phrase “Now Jericho was tightly shut up” tells you the city had locked itself down. Its walls, gates and bars were secured, and the people inside were cut off from the surrounding land. The word “now” signals a pause in the action, as if the narrator is stopping to show you the situation before the story moves forward.
The phrase “because of the children of Israel” explains the cause. Jericho’s defensive posture was a reaction to Israel’s presence and the stories of what God had done for them. The last clause, “No one went out, and no one came in,” shows the result: trade, travel and daily life had stopped. The verse describes a fearful, frozen city, not a city at peace.
What the verse does not promise is anything about the outcome. It does not say Israel will win, nor that Jericho will fall. It simply sets the stage. The meaning of the moment comes from the verses that follow, where God gives Joshua instructions that show the victory belongs to the LORD and not to Israel’s strength.
The Context of Joshua 6:1
The book of Joshua tells the story of Israel entering the promised land after Moses’ death, with Joshua as leader. It is traditionally attributed to Joshua himself, though scholars often note that a later editor may have shaped the final text. Its first readers were Israelites who needed to understand how their ancestors had received the land and how God had kept his promise to bring them there.
Joshua 6:1 sits between the crossing of the Jordan and the first battle of the conquest. Just before it, Israel has camped at Gilgal and celebrated Passover in the land, and Joshua has met a mysterious commander of the LORD’s army. The verse that follows, in 6:2 to 6:4, begins God’s unusual battle plan. Read in that setting, the sealed city is not a sign of Jericho’s strength but a picture of a wall that cannot stop what God has already declared.
Key Phrases in Joshua 6:1
Joshua 6:2
The LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty men of valor.
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The very next verse shows the LORD speaking directly to Joshua and declaring that Jericho is already given into Israel’s hand. It answers the silence of Joshua 6:1 by revealing that the city’s fortifications were never the deciding factor. Reading it right after the sealed gates shows that God’s word comes before any military move.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”
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Moses speaks these words to Israel before his death, encouraging them to be strong because the LORD goes with them. This verse helps explain why Israel could face a fortified city without panic. It frames the conquest as a continuation of God’s faithfulness, the same faithfulness that holds Joshua steady when the walls of Jericho stand firm.
A Short Prayer From Joshua 6:1
Lord, you know the walls I have built around my heart and the fears that keep me from going out or letting others come in. Some days I shut myself up without meaning to, convinced that the danger outside is bigger than the promises you have made. Teach me to see the obstacles in front of me as you see them, and to trust that what seems solid can be moved when you speak. Help me take the next small step out of my fear this week, trusting that you are already at work beyond the wall. Amen.
