And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
At that time, Joshua made a solemn oath before everyone, saying, 'May the Lord curse anyone who tries to rebuild this city of Jericho. When he lays its foundation, his oldest son will die, and when he sets up its gates, his youngest son will die.'
Joshua pronounced a curse that anyone who rebuilt Jericho would lose their firstborn and youngest sons in the process.
📚 Historical Context
This curse was pronounced after God had miraculously delivered Jericho into Israel's hands through the collapse of its walls. Joshua wanted to ensure that this powerful Canaanite city, which had been devoted to destruction as part of God's judgment, would never again become a threat to Israel. The curse served as both a memorial to God's victory and a warning against rebuilding what God had destroyed.
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