Seven Days: Genesis 1 and the Fall of Jericho

It’s a fact that many professors, scholars, and authors have sought to reinterpret the creation account in Genesis 1 in various “non-literal” ways that discredit, discount, or deny the “days” described in that text. They insist that Genesis 1 does not exactly indicate what God actually did. These approaches include the day/age theory, the gap theory, the myth theory, theistic evolution, the cosmic temple theory, and perhaps others. Some of these views are tolerated and even promoted without a clear rebuttal in various Christian universities.

What does all this have to do with the fall of Jericho? Read Joshua 6:1-21. Here are Yahweh’s instructions to Joshua:

Josh 6:3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

The account of Jericho's destruction mentions the first day, the second day, and so forth, including the seventh day. Not only are the days specifically numbered and put in sequential order; the morning is mentioned as part of the days involved.

So … how long were the “days” during which the Hebrews circles Jericho? There is virtually 100% agreement among Bible students, scholars, writers, and university professors. These were ordinary days, and the text makes that clear.

Now read Genesis 1 again. Hmm … The days of creation are numbered. They are placed in order. Each day is said to include an evening and a morning.

Strange. Why do non-literal interpreters of Genesis read the “days” of Genesis 1 and the “days” of Joshua 6, which are described in nearly identical terms, and draw contradictory conclusions? How can they say, “The days described in Joshua 6 are real, ordinary days, but the days described in Genesis 1 are not?”

The Hebrew word yom, which appears 2301 times in the Hebrew Bible, is typically translated as “day.” In every one of those instances, except for Genesis 1, all are agreed as to the proper meaning of the term.

Of course, yom can refer to a period other than an actual, ordinary day. We all agree with that. For example, notice Genesis 2:4, in which the word yom refers to the entire period of God’s creation.

Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

Several other passages use the phrase, “in those days.” Note Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25. Ruth 1:1. Clearly these texts refer to periods other than an actual, ordinary day. We may say, "Well, back in my day ..." or we may speak of "the good old days." Of course, in these cases, "day" and "days" do not refer to actual 24-hour days.

However, as we saw in Joshua 6:3-4, yom can refer to an actual, ordinary day.

What contextual factors indicate, rather demand, that yom describes a literal day?

Whenever the biblical text states the day and gives that day a number (first, second, third, etc.), it is referring to an actual, ordinary day.

Whenever the biblical text states the day as including a morning, it is referring to an actual, ordinary day.

Whenever the biblical text states the day as including an evening, it is referring to an actual, ordinary day.

Whenever the biblical text states the day and notes that there was also a night, it is referring to an actual, ordinary day.

In Genesis 1:5, Yahweh defines “day one” (the literal Hebrew) as having an evening and a morning. Then he continues with the second day, the third day, etc.

Gen 1:5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Read Exodus 20:11, in which Yahweh confirmed the six actual days of creation when giving Israel the Ten Commandments.

Ex 20:11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

By the way, these texts (Genesis 1 and Exodus 20) provide the origin of the seven-day week. Our week is based on the clear, biblical texts that insists that God’s creation involved six literal days and a seventh day on which he rested and ceased creating.

Go back for a moment to Genesis 2:4. How do we know that “day” in this verse does not refer to an actual, ordinary day? We know that because Genesis 2:4 does not include any of the contextual elements that would indicate an ordinary day. There is no mention of an ordinal number, a morning or evening, or a night. The same is true of the passages cited from Judges and Ruth.

No one debates the interpretation of yom anywhere in the Bible – except in Genesis 1. And even in that crucial text, the “new” interpretations have come rather recently.

Until the 1700’s and 1800’s, virtually all biblical commentators, scholars, students, and theologians took Genesis 1 at face value. Even those who rejected the Bible as the inspired word of God agreed that Genesis 1 clearly claimed that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days.

The text did not change. The meaning of the words did not change. The history of interpretation did not change.

Enter the Re-interpreters of Genesis (ROGs)

What did change was this. Re-interpreters of Genesis (let’s call them ROGs) decided, based on the hypotheses and theories of modern science, that God could not have actually done what Genesis 1 says that he did.

ROGs came up with interpretive schemes that allowed them to have it both ways, so to speak. They would still claim that Genesis 1 tells the truth in some ways. However, they would affirm that the universe was not necessarily created in six ordinary days.

Why? Scientific hypotheses and theories emerged which insisted that the universe is millions and millions (or billions and billions) of years old. According to these beliefs, the earth could not have been created in six literal days, nor could it have been created as recently as the Genesis account indicates.

The only way that religious scholars could fit millions or billions of years into the biblical account was to re-interpret Genesis 1. There was no other way to do it. The findings of science, in their view, required reevaluation of what was once held as clear biblical teaching. The text of Genesis could no longer be taken at face value.

It is not my aim to disrespect or question the sincerity of various ROGs. It is rather my aim to affirm the clear meaning of the text of Genesis.

Here are a few of the alternate theories that some have proposed and promoted.

~ Non-creationism

In a separate article, I posted about a current trend which disconnects Genesis 1 entirely from the material creation of the universe. This view proposes that Genesis 1 actually describes God, not bringing matter into existence, but rather adding purpose and function to that which already existed. Please read that post for more information. 

https://coryhcollins.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-real-world-of-genesis-1.html

~ Creation mythology

A creation myth or cosmogonic myth is a type of cosmogony, a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it. While in popular usage the term myth often refers to false or fanciful stories, members of cultures often ascribe varying degrees of truth to their creation myths.

~ Day-age creationism

This view holds that the six days referred to in the Genesis account of creation are not literal 24-hour days, but are much longer periods (from thousands to billions of years). The Genesis account is then reconciled with the age of the Earth. Proponents of the day-age theory can be found among both theistic evolutionists, who accept the scientific consensus on evolution, and progressive creationists, who reject it. The theories are said to be built on the understanding that the Hebrew word yom is also used to refer to a time period, with a beginning and an end and not necessarily that of a 24-hour day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day-age_creationism

~ Progressive creationism

This is the religious belief that God created new forms of life gradually over a period of hundreds of millions of years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_creationism

~ Theistic evolution

Also known as theistic evolutionism, God-guided evolution, or evolutionary creationism, this approach claims that God acts and creates through laws of nature. Here, God is taken as the primary cause while natural causes are secondary, positing that the concept of God and religious beliefs are compatible with the findings of modern science, including evolution. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theistic_evolution

~ Gap creationism

Here’s one with a different take. Though it does treat the six days as actual days, it inserts the millions or billions of years between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.

Gap creationism (also known as ruin-restoration creationism, restoration creationism, or “the Gap Theory”) is a form of creationism that posits that the six-yom creation period, as described in the Book of Genesis, involved six literal 24-hour days (light being “day” and dark “night” as God specified), but that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and the second verses of Genesis, which the theory states explains many scientific observations, including the age of the Earth. It differs from day-age creationism, which posits that the ‘days’ of creation were much longer periods (of thousands or millions of years), and from young Earth creationism, which although it agrees concerning the six literal 24-hour days of creation, does not posit any gap of time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gap_creationism

Takeaways

The Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, in six days, and that he rested on the seventh day.

The Bible uses almost identical language to describe the days involved in the fall of Jericho.

There is virtually unanimous agreement regarding the nature of the “days” of Jericho’s fall.

There was virtually unanimous agreement regarding the “days” of creation in Genesis 1 until the 1700s and the 1800s.

More recent scientific theories have proposed that the earth was formed billions of years ago, over a very long period of time.

Therefore, many religious leaders and even some Christian university professors have concluded that the “face-value” reading of Genesis 1 is wrong.

They have offered multiple alternative interpretations of the Bible’s creation account.

They have not offered to reinterpret the identical language of Joshua 6 to mean something other than actual days.

In fact, it’s only when specific “days” are mentioned with creation that many are now teaching, “The days cannot be actual days.”

The Bible still says, in unmistakable terms, even in Exodus:

Ex 20:11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Modesty - Jesus-Style

Image source: https://www.elim.org.uk

What if we started a discussion about modesty by talking first about Jesus?

Have you ever thought of Jesus as a modest person, in his demeanor, his conduct, his speech, and even his appearance? As disciples of Christ, let's approach the “sensitive” subject of modesty by asking, “How can we imitate and honor the modesty of our Master in our thoughts, words, relationships, appearance, and deeds?” When that is our aim, our only aim, we will find it much easier to make the everyday external choices regarding how we dress and act.

Regarding Jesus’ own modesty, let’s consider a revealing statement in Matthew 21:5. In his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, he fulfilled the “modesty” prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9.

Matt 21:5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The way we dress, speak, and act can say a lot about who we are, what we believe, and what we seek. The world urges us to dress less and show more, to promote ourselves, and to draw attention to ourselves. “Fit in! Impress others with how you look, how you live, and how much you have! Attract the opposite sex! Look cool and cute!” However, Jesus’ life tells a far different story.

Modesty and Jesus Christ

The prophet Isaiah predicted Jesus’ modesty 700+ years before his birth.

Isa 53:2 … He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

The Gospel of Matthew quotes that second passage after noting this about Jesus.

Matt 12:15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Jesus was not showy. His appearance was not particularly attractive or impressive. He wasn’t concerned about being first in line, but rather last. He didn’t seek to enrich himself, but rather to enrich others at his own expense. He didn’t “keep score” using any fleshly, material, social, or economic standards.

What is modesty? It’s common practice to focus first on the external, especially on the dangers of immodest clothing, gaudy jewelry, and an extravagant lifestyle. However, all of these outward elements actually express matters of the heart – one’s attitude, faith, values, and priorities.

For a disciple of Jesus Christ, everything – yes, everything – starts with Jesus Christ. Having died to self and sin, and having been buried with him in baptism, one rises to begin living a transformed life (Romans 6-8 – read it all!).

Modesty is moderation in one’s estimation of his own abilities, accomplishments, or value. It is humility, meekness, reserve or propriety in speech, dress, and behavior. To be modest is to focus on what is honorable, respectable, decent, and appropriate.

Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to each of you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Rom 12:16 … be of the same mind toward one another; be not haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Phil 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

What is the opposite of modesty? Extravagance, showiness, selfish pride, and narcissism. Improper attempts to impress, attract, and draw others to oneself by behavior, speech, lifestyle, or dress. “Look at me!”

Even when scripture talks about clothing, jewelry, and other outward factors, it connects these elements to one’s prior commitment to Christlike godliness.

Modesty and Adornment: 1 Tim 2:9-10

1 Tim 2:9 Likewise, I want women to adorn (kosmeo*) themselves with proper (kosmios*) clothing, modestly (aidos**) and discreetly (sophrosune***), not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. *>>>“cosmos” and “cosmetics.”

** With proper respect for convention, even reverence (Heb 12:28). KJV has “shamefacedness,” the ability to feel shame and to blush.

*** With sound judgment, rationality, self-control, moderation.

The Christian woman’s primary adornment: her good works. Why? Because she is all about godliness (reverence for God).

She adorns herself, not with an outward show, highlighting externals, but with good works. Why? Because that’s what fits her claim to godliness.

By the way, the primary issue in this text is overdressing. One can be immodest in either direction. Underdressing – showing too much, needing more clothes. Overdressing – showing off with excessive outward adornment.

How can modesty describe both of these? Because modesty describes the person who does not say, “Look at me based on my outward appearance!” One who seeks to create the WOW factor, either by wearing too little or by dressing extravagantly, is immodest.

Our clothes make a statement. Our appearance, just like our speech and conduct, should not draw undue attention to ourselves.

May our appearance not say “sex,” “money,” or “pride,” but “godliness,” “purity,” and “moderation.”

Modesty and Adornment: 1 Peter 3:1-6

1 Pet 3:1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Again, adornment. Not first of all external, but “the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

Its quality and source: that of a gentle and quiet spirit.

Why? Because that’s what God sees and considers as precious.

Because the Christian woman is holy and hopes in God, like Sarah.

She will not compromise. She must not!

Think of Sarah. A beautiful woman, so that Abraham constantly feared that someone would kill him and take her! Yet today we know nothing specific about her physical appearance. What does it matter?

Christians don’t think, speak, act, or dress like the world. We are holy, set apart, and consecrated by God and for God.

Modesty and Principles

A woman – or a man! – whose primary adornment when “getting dressed” for life each day is good works that please God …

and whose primary “claim to fame” is his or her intense desire to be godly …

will naturally speak, act, and dress modestly …

lean on the cautious side and the conscience side …

and welcome the genuine help of others in that shared pursuit.

Modesty is first an attitude, not an action.

It begins with how one dresses the heart, not the body.

The outside reflects the inside, as the fruit reveals the tree.

Modesty and Clothing, Speech, and Behavior

Respect yourself, your privacy, your space, and your value.

Don’t cheapen yourself in your own eyes or the eyes of others.

Be transformed, not conformed. Be different. Be holy. Rom 12:1-2.

Adorn yourself with holiness first, before you speak, act, or dress.

When peers affect your choices, change your peers, not yourself.

Take thought for, respect what is right in the sight of all. Rom 12:17.

Remember: God gave clothes to conceal, not to reveal. Gen 3.

Respect your conscience. When in doubt, cover more, act out less.

Read Every Man’s Battle, Every Woman’s Battle, etc. (Arterburn).

Dress in such a way that most people will not even remember what you wore.

Don’t wear clothes that call attention to yourself but rather to your purity.

Don’t act, speak, or dress in order to tease or tantalize.

Ask yourself why you wear what you wear.

Who do you want to see you, and what do you want them to think or do when they see you.

More like the world, or less like the world.

What statement you make.

Modesty and the Home

Modesty begins in the home. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t preach and teach on the subject. We must! However, nothing takes the place of mom and dad discussing and demonstrating biblical modesty at home.

When a girl or a boy dresses inappropriately, for example, it was the mother or the father, not the preacher or the elders, who bought those clothes! Parents must address the modesty question, not only before our children leave the house, but before even shopping for clothes.

It can be extremely difficult for male church or camp leaders, who are not a girl’s father, to talk directly to her about modesty. So, fathers and mothers, step up! Teach your sons and daughters. This is your job!

Accept your God-given primary responsibility for such instruction.

Begin with the inside, “who you are and whose you are.”

Start with, “Because you love and honor God and you respect yourself and others …”

Show how the outside (behavior, speech, and dress) reflects such.

Don’t let them be naïve as to the world’s sexualization and seduction.

Warn them of cultural idols and celebrities who promote immodesty.

Demonstrate Christian modesty by the way you yourself act, dress, and speak.

Modesty and Temptation

Notice with me the complementary truths found in Romans 13:14 and in Romans 14:13. You can remember them by swapping the chapter numbers and the verse numbers – 13:14 and 14:13.

Each follower of Christ is responsible to control his or her eyes, thoughts, desires, and behavior. Scripture exhorts you and me, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14). If one chooses to lust or practice sexual immorality, that person chooses to sin.

At the same time, you and I must “determine not to put an obstacle or stumbling block in the way of a brother” (Romans 14:13). If I know that my brother is very easily tempted by money, for example, I will not knowingly put a pile of cash where he could steal it without being seen!

Likewise, you and I must not act, speak, or dress in a way that we know may cause difficulty for members of the opposite sex. This has always been true, but it is perhaps even more true today than just a few decades ago. Our culture is sex-crazed. Clothing, television, movies, music, pornography, social media, multiple websites, and advertising often seek to heighten sexual desire.

So, from Romans remember both 13:14 and 14:13! Guard yourself against sin, but also protect others who may not guard themselves as carefully as you try to do.

Help! I'm Stuck!

 

HELP! I’M STUCK!

It's a true story. On a Sunday night in February, 2008, four-year-old Donovan Hasseman, of Dover, Ohio, decided to climb into his family’s top-loading washing machine. Fortunately, the machine was not running. Wedged up against the agitator with one knee folded against his chest, he began screaming for deliverance. His mother tried to wriggle him out, but little Donovan could not move. What started out as a great adventure suddenly turned into his worst nightmare.

His mom called 911. Firefighters arrived but could not extricate him. Then they phoned an expert - the owner of an appliance store - for advice on taking the machine apart. In the end, the firefighters used hydraulic "jaws of life" to cut through the metal and plastic and free Donovan. He was taken to the hospital where he was examined and given a “clean” bill of health. 

The hospital staff also gave him a little stuffed bear, which the family named “Agitator.” Alas, the faithful washing machine, cut in pieces, did not survive.

All of us have gotten ourselves stuck at times, committing sins which brought painful consequences far greater than any anticipated pleasure. Sin does not liberate; it enslaves (2 Peter 2:19). Try as we might, we could not wrench ourselves free.  Struggling with the pain, fear, and regret that resulted, we cried out for relief. Longing like Paul to be delivered, we found that Jesus was the only one who could make it happen (Romans 7:24-25).

Say, are you stuck? Do you need a Savior? Don’t panic. Because Jesus faced the “jaws of death” in His crucifixion, He can offer you the “jaws of life.” The Son can set you free (John 8:31-36). Put your faith in that wonderful news. Confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Turn from your sinful past. Be baptized, that His blood might make you clean. Live for Him every day. Then go tell someone else who wants to be free.

https://abc7ny.com/archive/5936800/