The Ruins of Jericho (Joshua 6) and the Memorialization of Violence

Archaeological and literary analysis reveals that the ruins of Jericho's Middle and Late Bronze Age walls served as a dynamic 'lieu de mémoire' (site of memory) in ancient Israel, shaping social discourses on divine and collective violence. The study demonstrates that interpretations of these ruins evolved over time, influenced by shifting sociopolitical contexts, ethical guidelines, and in-group definitions. Literary strata in Joshua 6 reflect this fluidity, underscoring the ruins' role as a didactic tool to emphasize total obedience to God as a moral principle. The research integrates textual analysis with archaeological evidence to explore how past violence was memorialized and recontextualized within Israelite identity.

Berlejung, A. (2023). The Ruins of Jericho (Joshua 6) and the Memorialization of Violence. Collective Violence and Memory in the Ancient Mediterranean, 21–55. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004683181_003