The Old Testament book of Joshua, chapter 6, records the amazing account of the Israelite army overthrowing the city of Jericho. This fascinating story shows how keeping the commandments lead to the fulfillment of God’s promises.
In the biblical account, we learn that God spoke to Joshua and told him to march around the city with his army once every day for six days. On the seventh day, God told him to march around the city seven times while the priests blew their ram’s horn trumpets. At the sound of the trumpets, Joshua told the people to shout, as God had commanded them to do. When they shouted “with a great shout” (verse 20), the walls fell down, and Joshua’s army took the city.
It is believed that slaves composed the song in the early 19th century, and it was first recorded by Harrod’s Jubilee Singers in 1922. Moses Hogan, a composer and arranger who was acclaimed for his arrangements of African-American spirituals, arranged the Choir’s rendition in the video below. Many of his arrangements have been used by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, including “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me,” “Old Time Religion,” and “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit.” Watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing the hauntingly beautiful a cappella spiritual “The Battle of Jericho.”
The Battle of Jericho (Lyrics)
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls come tumbling down
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls come tumbling down
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Talk about your kings of Gideon,
Talk about your men of Saul
But none like good old Joshua
And the battle of Jericho.
That morning Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls come tumbling down
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Right up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand,
"Go blow that ram horn," Joshua cried,
"Cause the battle am in my hand."
God almighty then the lamb ram sheep horn begins to blow,
And the trumpets began to sound,
And Joshua commanded the children to shout!
And the walls come a tumbling down.
Oh Lord, you know that Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
The walls come tumbling down
Oh Lord, you know that Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle, the battle of Jericho
The walls come tumbling down
Refrain
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho,
Jericho, Jericho,
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho,
And the walls came tumbling down.
1. You may talk about the kings of Gideon,
You may talk about the man of Saul,
But there’s none liked old Joshua,
At the battle of Jericho. Refrain
2. Right up to the walls of Jericho,
he marched with spear in hand.
Go, blow that ram’s horn,
Joshua cried,
’cause the battle is in my hand. Refrain
3. Then the lamb ram sheep horns began to blow,
and the trumpets began to sound,
and Joshua commanded the children to shout,
and the walls came tumblin’ down. Refrain
Clean Lyric
Paragraph Lyric
360
Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho
Jericho
Jericho
Joshua fit de battle ob
Jericho
an' de walls cam' a tumblin' down.
You can talk about ye' man ob Gideon
you can talk about ye' man ob Saul
not a man like good ol' Joshua
an' he was de best man of all 'dat mornin'.
Joshua ...
When the chillun of Israel begin to march
Seven times roun' an' roun'
Ol' Joshua commanded de sun to stan' still
An' de sun did never go down 'dat mornin'
Joshua ...
Den de lamram sheep horns begin to blow
Trumpets begin to
soun'
Ol' Joshua commanded de Chillun to shout
An' de walls came tumblin' down 'dat mornin'
Joshua ...
360
Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho Jericho Jericho Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho an' de walls cam' a tumblin' down. You can talk about ye' man ob Gideon you can talk about ye' man ob Saul not a man like good ol' Joshua an' he was de best man of all 'dat mornin'. Joshua ... When the chillun of Israel begin to march Seven times roun' an' roun' Ol' Joshua commanded de sun to stan' still An' de sun did never go down 'dat mornin' Joshua ... Den de lamram sheep horns begin to blow Trumpets begin to soun' Ol' Joshua commanded de Chillun to shout An' de walls came tumblin' down 'dat mornin' Joshua ...
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