it's the story of wandering for 40 years, joshua's more action-packed. this is where they come on in and they take over. ♪ fought the battle of jericho >> reporter: as told in the book of joshua the conquest of canaan has all the trappings of a summer blockbuster. ♪ and the walls came tumbling down ♪ >> sounds like a movie. it's an action-packed scene. >> reporter: with the ark of the covenant leading the way, joshua crossed the river jordan with his army. >> i'm sure this is an elite fighting force. >> reporter: the conquest of jericho is one in which god is clearly in the role of a divine warrior. >> the bible tells us that joshua conquered jericho by walking around the city seven times. ♪ he marched around the wall seven times ♪ >> reporter: the whole time carrying the mystical ark of the covenant, which the bible describes as having special powers. >> god at that moment causes the walls to crumble and to fall down. and it's at that moment you that just get this image of them just rushing in on the city and flooding in and taking it over