To reduce Jericho was seen by Joshua to be the first step in the conquest of Canaan. But first of all he sought an assurance of divine guidance, and it was granted him. Withdrawing from the encampment to meditate and to pray that the God of Israel would go before His people, he beheld an armed warrior, of lofty stature and commanding presence, "with his sword drawn in his hand." To Joshua's challenge, "Art thou for us, or for 488 our adversaries?" the answer was given, "As Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come." The same command given to Moses in Horeb, "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy," revealed the true character of the mysterious stranger. It was Christ, the Exalted One, who stood before the leader of Israel. Awe-stricken, Joshua fell upon his face and worshiped, and heard the assurance, "I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor," and he received instruction for the capture of the city.

Den store, rige by Jeriko var en af de stærkeste fæstninger i landet. Den lå lige foran dem, kun et kort stykke fra deres lejr i Gilgal. Den var beliggende i udkanten af en frugtbar slette, hvor der dyrkedes en overflod af de mest forskelligartede tropiske produkter. Luksus og laster florerede i byens paladser og templer. Her lå denne stolte by bag sine massive fæstninger og bød Israels Gud trods. Jeriko indtog en vigtig plads i afgudsdyrkelsen. Den var specielt viet til månegudinden Astarte. Den var arnested for alt det sletteste og mest nedværdigende i kanaanæernes religion. Israelitterne, der stadig havde de frygtelige følger af deres synd ved Bet-Peor i frisk erindring, kunne ikke andet end betragte denne hedenske by med afsky og rædsel.