What is the significance of Jericho in the Bible?

Response

Jericho is considered one of the most ancient cities globally. In the Bible, Jericho is famous for being the site of an incredible miracle performed by God. It was the initial city conquered by Israel upon crossing the Jordan River and taking over the Promised Land (Joshua 5:13—6:23).

The location of Jericho was crucial to its importance. Positioned in the lower Jordan Valley, just to the west of the Jordan River and approximately ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea, the city resided in the widest section of the Jordan plain, over 800 feet below sea level and almost 3,500 feet lower than Jerusalem, which was only 17 miles away. This geographical detail clarifies why Jesus, in His parable, mentioned that the good Samaritan “went down from Jerusalem to Jericho” «And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. », (Luke 10:30).

In stark contrast to its arid environment, Jericho flourished as a lush, spring-fed oasis. Referred to as the “City of Palms” in the Old Testament due to its numerous palm trees (Deuteronomy 34:3;Judges 1:16;Judges 3:13;2 Chronicles 28:15), the city, strategically positioned as a frontier town, controlled vital migration paths between the north and south, as well as the east and west. Eventually, Jericho became part of the territory assigned to the tribe of Benjamin «And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out

Thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven., (Joshua 18:12,21) Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,, (Joshua 18:12,21).

After the death of Moses, God selected Joshua, son of Nun, to lead the people of Israel. Under the Lord’s direction, they entered Canaan and began to take possession of the land. The first city standing in Israel’s way was Jericho, a secure fortress with high, formidable walls. Joshua sent spies to investigate the city. Rahab the harlot, knowing that Israel’s God was going to overthrow Jericho, hid the spies and later helped them escape (Joshua 2).

Before the battle of Jericho, God gave Joshua specific instructions for the men of war to march in silence around the city once each day for six days. The priests were to walk with them, blowing ram’s horns and carrying the ark of the covenant as a sign of God’s presence among them. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. At the appropriate signal, the priests were to blow their trumpets, and the people were to give a mighty shout. They did exactly as Joshua commanded, and on the seventh day the walls of Jericho crumbled. The soldiers went in and took the city, destroying it completely. Only Rahab and her family were spared.

As the first city to fall in the conquest of Canaan, the whole of it was devoted to the Lord And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent., (Joshua 6:17). The people of Israel were to take no spoils of war; Joshua gave a clear command that “all the silver and

The gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into His treasury” (verse 19). In this way, Jericho was a “tithe” to the Lord who gave them the victory. God’s people were to honor Him with the firstfruits of the conquest. Achan violated this order and brought ruin on himself and his family.

After the destruction of Jericho, Joshua placed a curse on anyone who might rebuild the city «And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. », (Joshua 6:26). Jericho remained unoccupied until the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, about 500 years later. Then Joshua’s word was fulfilled when Hiel of Bethel rebuilt the city, at the cost of the lives of two of his sons «In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.», (1 Kings 16:34).

Jericho is mentioned briefly in the book of Judges, which says that Jericho served as a provincial outpost for Eglon, the King of Moab, who held Israel under tribute for 18 years «And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. », (Judges 3:13). In 1 Chronicles 19:5, King David sent word for his mistreated delegates to remain in Jericho until their beards regrew. In 2 Kings 2:4–18, Jericho appears to have been the home of a “school of the prophets.”

Also reported at Jericho was Elisha’s miraculous purifying of a spring.(2 Kings 2:19-22). During the reign of Ahaz, a group of prisoners was spared, clothed, fed, and cared for at Jericho «And the men who were named rose up, took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them, and gave them food and drink, anointed them, carried all the weak on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria. », (2 Chronicles 28:15). The final Old Testament mention of events in Jericho was the capture of King Zedekiah after fleeing the Chaldean army (2 Kings 25:2-7;Jeremiah 39:5;Jeremiah 52:8).

Ezra 2:34 and Nehemiah 7:36 report that the number of Jericho’s inhabitants after the return from exile under Zerubbabel was 345. These “sons of Jericho” participated in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Jericho played a minor role in the ministry of Jesus. The Lord healed two blind men near the city of Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34). He also encountered Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, while passing through Jericho (Luke 19:1-10). When Jesus dined in the home of Zacchaeus, He was probably visiting one of the finest houses in Jericho. The gospels seem to indicate that Jericho, an affluent city in Christ’s day, had many beggars (Matthew 20:29-34;Mark 10:46-52;Luke 18:35-43).

The Jericho of New Testament times was built by Herod more than a mile to the south of the Old Testament location.

Jericho is a city in the Palestinian Territories and is located near the Jordan River, at the mouth of the Wadi Qilt. Nowadays, the contemporary city of Jericho encompasses both locations.