Jericho

Jericho
A small modern city built near the site of ancient Jericho
Area	36,421 m2 (9 acres)
Elevation	250 meters below sea level (Mediterranean standard)
Location	10 km northwest of the Dead Sea, on the edge of the Jordan Rift Valley
Features	Gateway to Canaan

Jericho (Hebrew: יְרִיחוֹ) was the first city in the land of Canaan conquered by Joshua and the Israelites. After wandering in the desert for forty years, the Israelites entered Canaan—the land flowing with milk and honey that God had promised—through the city of Jericho, their first point of conquest.

Geographic Feature of Jericho

Location

Bird’s eye view map of Palestine by Dr. Hugo Hermann, 1931

Jericho is a city in the Jordan Rift Valley, located approximately 10 kilometers northwest of the Dead Sea, near the edge of the Jordan Valley. Positioned along the central border of Canaan, it served as a key entry point for Israel’s conquest of the land. With an elevation of around 250 meters below sea level, Jericho was famously known as the “City of Palm Trees” for its rich, oasis-like environment. To the west, the desert stretched toward the highlands where Jerusalem stood.

Jordan Valley (Beit She’an and Jericho) seen from the Palestinian side

History

Archaeologists believe that Jericho has been inhabited for around 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Long before the Israelites arrived, it was home to Canaanite settlers. In the 15th century BC, Joshua led the Israelites in the conquest of Jericho—a pivotal event recorded in detail in the Bible. The city appears in several important biblical accounts throughout Israel’s history.

During the Roman period, Herod the Tetrarch built a winter palace about 1.6 kilometers south of the original city, effectively shifting Jericho’s center to that area.

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  Ruins of Old Jericho (Tell es-Sultan)
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  The wall unearthed in the ruins of Jericho

Jericho in the Old Testament

Conquest of Canaan

• Exploring the City of Jericho

In the 15th century B.C., after being freed from slavery in Egypt and completing forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites camped on the plains of Moab across from Jericho. Jericho was the first city they would conquer after crossing the Jordan River.

Following the death of Moses, Joshua became the leader of Israel. Before crossing the Jordan, he sent two spies into Jericho. When their presence was nearly discovered by the city’s soldiers, a woman named Rahab hid them. In return, the spies promised protection for her and her family when God delivered the city into Israel’s hands. The spies returned safely and reported everything to Joshua.

Joshua then led the Israelites from Shittim to the Jordan River. By God’s power, the overflowing waters of the river stopped upstream, allowing the entire nation to cross safely toward Jericho. On the tenth day of the first month, they camped at Gilgal, east of Jericho. There, in obedience to God’s command, the men were circumcised. On the evening of the fourteenth day, they celebrated the Passover on the plains of Jericho.

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  Jordan River
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  Ruins in the Jordan Valley, presumed to be Gilgal

• Fall of Jericho

Jericho was securely shut up out of fear of the Israelites; no one went in, and no one came out. But God told Joshua that He had already delivered the city into his hands. He instructed the Israelites to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to circle the city seven times. Then, when the priests sounded a long trumpet blast, the people were to give a loud shout, and the city wall would collapse. Joshua and the Israelites trusted God’s word and followed His instructions exactly. On the seventh day, after marching around the city seven times and hearing the trumpet blast, the people shouted with all their might. The fortified walls of Jericho fell flat.

The Israelites charged straight into the city and completely destroyed it, setting it ablaze. Only Rahab and her family were spared, just as the spies had promised. The silver, gold, and articles of bronze and iron were placed into the treasury of the LORD’s house. Afterward, Joshua gave a solemn warning: Anyone who attempted to rebuild Jericho would do so at great cost—losing their firstborn when laying its foundation and their youngest when setting up its gates.

With the LORD on Joshua’s side, his fame spread throughout the land. Jericho, situated in central Canaan, became the launching point for Israel’s conquest of the surrounding cities—Ai, Jerusalem, Hebron, Lachish, and others—fulfilling God’s promise: “Every place where you set your foot will be yours.”

Era of Kingdoms

Water source in Jericho known as Elisha’s Spring

After Joshua’s conquest, Jericho became part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. During the time of the Judges, it was seized by Eglon, king of Moab, but was later delivered by Judge Ehud.

About 500 years after Joshua, during the period of the divided kingdom, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. In fulfillment of Joshua’s solemn warning, Hiel lost his firstborn son when laying the foundation and his youngest son when setting up the gates.

Throughout the Kingdom Era, Jericho is mentioned multiple times in Scripture. It served as a refuge where the Israelite envoys whose beards had been shaved off by the Ammonites, stayed temporarily to avoid public shame, was the final stop for Elijah and Elisha before Elijah’s ascension, and was the site where Elisha purified the city’s water. It was also where Israelite troops released captives from Judah, and where King Zedekiah of Judah was captured by the Babylonians.

Jericho in the New Testament

• Healing of the Blind Man in Jericho

As Jesus traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem, He passed through the city of Jericho. Along the roadside sat a blind man named Bartimaeus, who cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Moved by his persistent faith, Jesus touched his eyes and Bartimaeus was instantly healed. From that moment on, Bartimaeus followed Jesus.

• Zacchaeus

When Jesus entered Jericho, a large crowd gathered to see Him. Among them was Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector. Because he was short and couldn’t see over the crowd, he climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view. As Jesus passed by, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today.” The crowd was shocked that Jesus would stay with someone they considered a sinner. Zacchaeus, employed by the Roman Empire, was disliked by the Jews for his role as a tax collector. But in response to Jesus’ grace, he declared he would give half his possessions to the poor and repay four times the amount to anyone he had cheated. His words revealed the joy of welcoming the Savior. Seeing his sincere repentance and faith, Jesus proclaimed that salvation had come to his house, and that Zacchaeus, too, was a true son of Abraham and belonged among God’s people.

• Backdrop of the Good Samaritan Parable

Desert Around Jericho

In one of His parables, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, who helped a man attacked by robbers while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Jerusalem sits on a mountain ridge, about 700 meters above sea level, while Jericho lies far below. Thus, the parable refers to the journey as the “way down” from Jerusalem to Jericho. The road between the two cities passed through dry, rugged desert terrain, a region known for its danger and frequent attacks by bandits—making it a treacherous route for travelers.

See also

• Joshua
• David
• Jordan
• Canaan