Workshop 4: The Battle of Jericho

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Part of Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

In This Section

Introduction
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

But for the natives in these parts, God hath so pursued them, as for 300 miles space the greatest part of them are swept away by smallpox which still continues among them. So as God hath thereby cleared our title to this place, those who remain in these parts, being in all not 50, have put…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
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Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: The Battle of Jericho 15 Activity 2: Retelling the Story 10 Activity 3: Right or Wrong? True or False? 10 Activity 4: Explaining Small Group Options 5 Activity 5: Discussion — Option 1 25 Activity 6: Newscasts from Jericho — Option…
Spiritual Preparation
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Can you recall a time in your life when you obtained something important for your well-being for which you had planned and waited a long time (such as a home, citizenship, a sought-after job, a needed medical procedure)?…
Welcoming and Entering
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Materials for Activity Name tags, durable or single use Bold markers Sign-in sheet and pen/pencil Small table Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Create a sign-up sheet with columns for name, address, phone, and e-mail information and place it on the table….
Opening
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle and lighter, or LED battery-operated candle Stand or table space for the chalice Decorative covering for chalice stand Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Prepare a welcoming space, including comfortable seating…
Activity 1: The Battle of Jericho
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “The Battle of Jericho” Leader Resource 1, Joshua, Rahab, and the Battle of Jericho Background Information Leader Resource 2, Ark of the Covenant Picture Preparation for Activity Print the story and practice reading it aloud.
Activity 2: Retelling the Story
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “The Battle of Jericho” Optional: Simple costumes Preparation for Activity Familiarize yourself with the story so that you can guide a dramatized retelling. Description of Activity Invite participants to take on the various roles, asking…
Activity 3: Right or Wrong? True or False?
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Invite participants to discuss the story: Did the Hebrews think the battle ended the way it was supposed to? What made them think that? Was the result fair and right? What do we learn about the way the story teller understood God?…
Activity 4: Explaining Small Group Options
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Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity List the small group options and their locations on newsprint and post. Description of Activity Explain options for small processing groups and point out breakout spaces….
Activity 5: Discussion - Option 1
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Write these questions on newsprint and post: Why is this story preserved? What were they trying to teach with this story? What is it that we can learn?…
Activity 6: Newscasts from Jericho - Option 2
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Paper and pens/pencils Microphone or similar object to be used as a prop for news casting Optional: Video camera for capturing the newscasts Description of Activity Invite participants to pretend that there was television news coverage in Joshua an…
Activity 7: Questioning the Storyteller - Option 3
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity 9 X 12-inch ecru or white construction paper Assorted fancy papers (origami, tissue, craft, construction, old magazines) Scissors Glue sticks Pens, pencils, color pencils, fine point markers Preparation for Activity Set out materials….
Closing
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Creating the Closing Worship Taking It Home handout Chalice, candle and lighter, or LED battery-operated candle Stand or table space for the chalice Decorative covering for chalice stand Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Cop…
Leader Reflection and Planning
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Take a few minutes to talk with your co-facilitator about how the workshop went, using these questions as a guide: What went well? What surprised us as facilitators? Amazed us? Challenged us? How did this workshop strengthen multigenerational community?…
Faith In Action
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Materials for Activity Leader Resource 4, Statement of Conscience on Creating Peace Preparation for Activity Review and make copies of Leader Resource 4, Statement of Conscience on Creating Peace. Description of Activity The story of the battle of Jericho is a morally ambiguous story, which…
Alternate Activity 1: The Spies and the Red Chord
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Bulky red yarn, three yards per person Hay, cornstalks, torn fabric, or torn paper to represent flax stalks Pictures of flax growth and processing Length of rope or jump rope Optional: Flax seed Optional: Piece of linen fabric or clothing made from…
Taking It Home: The Battle of Jericho
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

But for the natives in these parts, God hath so pursued them, as for 300 miles space the greatest part of them are swept away by smallpox which still continues among them. So as God hath thereby cleared our title to this place, those who remain in these parts, being in all not 50, have put…
The Battle of Jericho
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

Joshua 1: 1-3, Joshua 2:1-7,15-18, 21, Joshua 6: 1-25 (New Revised Standard Version) … The Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun… saying, “… Now proceed to cross the Jordan [River], you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your…
Leader Resource 1: Joshua, Rahab, and the Battle of Jericho Background Information
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

The book of Joshua continues the history of the Hebrew people that was written by historians in King David’s court. The central story of the Hebrews, as presented in the biblical history, is their escape from slavery in Egypt….
Leader Resource 2: Ark of the Covenant Picture
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures
Leader Resource 3: Creating the Closing Worship
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

In this program, the closing worship circle offers a time for the group to come back together to enrich each other’s understanding of the story and of their own life experience. This is not a show-and-tell experience, but rather a participatory, co-created worship experience. You will need to do…
Leader Resource 4: Statement of Conscience on Creating Peace
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

This statement was passed on June 25, 2010 by the delegates of the 2010 General Assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We believe all people share a moral responsibility to create peace. Mindful of both our rich heritage and our past failures to prevent war, and enriched by our present diversity of…
Find Out More
From Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures

For photos of Jericho’s antiquities and pilgrimage sites today, see Travel Palestine: The Official Site for Tourism in Palestine. To explore some of the resources available to create learning experiences about peacemaking for people of all ages, review…