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Jericho
JER'ICHO (jer'i-ko; possibly "place of fragrance" or "moon city"). 'a city of
palm trees'
One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Situated in the wide plain of
the
Jordan Valley at the foot of the ascent to the Judean mountains, Jericho lies
about 8 miles northwest of the site where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea,
some 5 miles west of the Jordan.
Since it is approximately 800 feet below sea level, Jericho has a climate that
is tropical and at times is very hot. Only a few inches of rainfall are
recorded at Jericho each year; but the city is a wonderful oasis, known as "the city
of palm trees" Deut 34:3; (Judg 3:13). Jericho flourishes with date palms,
banana trees, balsams, sycamores, and henna (Song 1:14; Lk 19:4).
Interesting memories around Jericho:
The spies sent by Joshua were entertained in Jericho by Rahab (which see), for
which they promised her protection when the city would be destroyed <Josh.
2:1-21; 6:25>.
The miraculous capture of Jericho, the sin and punishment of Achan, and the
curse pronounced upon anyone who should attempt to rebuild it are graphically
recorded (6:1-7:26).
Elisha 'healed the spring of the waters;' and over against it, beyond Jordan,
Elijah 'went up by a whirlwind into heaven' <2 Kin. 2:1-22>.
Zedekiah fell into the hands of the Chaldeans <25:5; Jer. 39:5>.
The Jericho of the days of Josephus was a distant one hundred and fifty stadia
from
Jerusalem and fifty from the Jordan."
New Testament Jericho. In the early years of
Herod the Great, the Romans plundered Jericho. But Herod later beautified the city and
ultimately died there.
Jesus passed through Jericho on numerous occasions. Near there He was baptized in
the Jordan River (Mt 3:13-17), and on the adjacent mountain range He was tempted
(Mt 4:1-11).
Here Jesus healed blind
Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52. Here too
Zacchaeus was converted (Lk 19:1-10). And Jesus'
parable of the Good
Samaritan has the road from Jerusalem to Jericho as its setting (Lk 10:30-37), robbers
have ever terrorized the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.