Verse 26

At that time Joshua made this solemn declaration:“The man who attempts to rebuild this city of Jericho will stand condemned before the LORD. He will lose his firstborn son when he lays its foundations and his youngest son when he erects its gates!”

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Kgs 16:34 : 34 During Ahab’s reign, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, in keeping with the LORD’s message that he had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.
  • 1 Kgs 22:16 : 16 The king said to him,“How many times must I make you solemnly promise in the name of the LORD to tell me only the truth?”
  • Mal 1:4 : 4 Edom says,“Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.” So the LORD of Heaven’s Armies responds,“They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as the land of evil, the people with whom the LORD is permanently displeased.
  • Matt 26:63 : 63 But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him,“I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
  • Acts 19:13 : 13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying,“I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
  • Num 5:19-21 : 19 Then the priest will put the woman under oath and say to her,“If no other man has gone to bed with you, and if you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, may you be free from this bitter water that brings a curse. 20 But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had sexual relations with you….” 21 Then the priest will put the woman under the oath of the curse and will say to her,“The LORD make you an attested curse among your people, if the LORD makes your thigh fall away and your abdomen swell;
  • 1 Sam 14:24-46 : 24 Jonathan Violates Saul’s Oath Now the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had made the army agree to this oath:“Cursed be the man who eats food before evening! I will get my vengeance on my enemies!” So no one in the army ate anything. 25 Now the whole army entered the forest and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard about the oath his father had made the army take. He extended the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he ate it, his eyes gleamed. 28 Then someone from the army informed him,“Your father put the army under a strict oath saying,‘Cursed be the man who eats food today!’ That is why the army is tired.” 29 Then Jonathan said,“My father has caused trouble for the land. See how my eyes gleamed when I tasted just a little of this honey. 30 Certainly if the army had eaten some of the enemies’ provisions that they came across today, would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?” 31 On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired. 32 So the army rushed greedily on the plunder, confiscating sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground, and the army ate them blood and all. 33 Now it was reported to Saul,“Look, the army is sinning against the LORD by eating even the blood.” He said,“All of you have broken the covenant! Roll a large stone over here to me.” 34 Then Saul said,“Scatter out among the army and say to them,‘Each of you bring to me your ox and sheep and slaughter them in this spot and eat. But don’t sin against the LORD by eating the blood.” So that night each one brought his ox and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar for the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar for the LORD. 36 Saul said,“Let’s go down after the Philistines at night; we will rout them until the break of day. We won’t leave any of them alive!” They replied,“Do whatever seems best to you.” But the priest said,“Let’s approach God here.” 37 So Saul asked God,“Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 Then Saul said,“All you leaders of the army come here. Find out how this sin occurred today. 39 For as surely as the LORD, the deliverer of Israel, lives, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan, he will certainly die!” But no one from the army said anything. 40 Then he said to all Israel,“You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The army replied to Saul,“Do whatever you think is best.” 41 Then Saul said,“O LORD God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, O LORD God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, respond with Thummim.” Then Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, while the army was exonerated. 42 Then Saul said,“Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!” Jonathan was indicated by lot. 43 So Saul said to Jonathan,“Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him,“I used the end of the staff that was in my hand to taste a little honey. I must die!” 44 Saul said,“God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn’t die!” 45 But the army said to Saul,“Should Jonathan, who won this great victory in Israel, die? May it never be! As surely as the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground! For it is with the help of God that he has acted today.” So the army rescued Jonathan from death. 46 Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home.