ΣΑΜΟΣ: Part 11 - Jericho, the City of Joshua

March 25 - Jericho, the city of Palms, is the lowest inhabited place on planet earth. It lies 1300' below sea level. Jerusalem, about 15 miles to the west, is situated in a range of mountains like the Coastal Range in Oregon. It's situated at about 2600' in elevation. It's a steady uphill climb, especially if one were on foot like most of the Israelites going to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage feasts. There are tens of thousands of palm trees in this hot and dry place, neatly planted in orchards.

Joshua 6:15 "But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! .......... And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword."
We are standing on the mounds of the old city of Jericho

This picture shows the ancient walls of Jericho. There is, interestingly enough, a visible burn mark in the wall sequence which tallies with the account in Joshua.

2 Kings 21:19 "Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke."

Elisha's spring, which has been tarted up considerably for the tourists

Luke 18:35 "Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ......... So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God."

Luke 19:1. "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house......... And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."

The tree in the center is billed as the Sycamore of Jericho

We took the cable car up to the "Mount of Temptation." The monastery of St. George was built up on these cliffs. We saw two priests, so it must be an active monastery. It offers a fantastic view across Jericho to the east into Jordan.