Jericho Bible History
Believed to have been inhabited since Neolithic times, the ancient city of Jericho is prominently mentioned several times in the Bible. The city was situated in a strategic location near a spring along the route from Damascus to Egypt. It was necessary to capture the city to conquer the area that would become Judea.
The first time that “the City of Palms” is mentioned is in the Old Testament. It is described as the site where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua sent two spies into the city prior to the famous battle. The Bible depicts the details of this first Israelite victory. After the battle, the city is awarded to the tribe of Benjamin. This is why some people refer to it as the “city of Benjamin.”
Left in ruins for a period of time, the city rose in prominence after it was subsequently rebuilt. It was nearby that the prophet Elijah was taken into heaven on a whirlwind. The Bible mentions this location as the home of Elisha and the place where he “healed the spring of the waters.” There was a school for the prophets located in the city. The Chaldeans captured Zedekiah on the Jericho plains. Under the reign of Herod the Great, the city gained in prominence as the location of one of his palaces and the site of his death.
The New Testament mentions the city as well. It is the road from Jericho to Jerusalem on which the story of the Good Samaritan takes place. During his visit to the city, Jesus gave sight to two blind men and forgave Zacchaeus. Christian tradition holds that the mountain where Jesus fasted in the wilderness after being baptized and was tempted by the devil is located just outside the city.
