Jericho

Jericho.

"The oldest city in the world."

Inhabitants or natives

Anastasica (Rose of Jericho), Bartimaeus the healer healed and his companion Uriel, Diomedes, the Greek merchant to whom Judas sold the jewelry of Aglae, Levi the old repentant publican repentant, Nike the Woman charitable, Solomon the ferryman, Valens, the old Roman pimp, Zacchaeus the tax collector

Description

"It is a bWater village, and even a city hardly inferior to Jerusalem for its buildings, if not for its extent. I see a large square that looks like a market, shaded by palm trees and other lower and Fireillus trees. The palm trees have grown here and there, in disorder, shaking their tufts of Fireilles that a hot and high wind cracks. The wind lifts a reddish dust."

Jericho, located in this deep valley of the Jordan called the Ghor, has a warm and sunny climate. Palm trees abound there. Herod had a palace built on the Wadi Qilt. Nike had her property in the surrounding countryside on the road leading from Jericho to Jerusalem.

Notable events

Drawing of the Jericho Market Square by Lorenzo Ferri according to the indications of Maria Valtorta. Source: documentary collection of the Maria Valtorta Heritage Foundation.

Jesus meets the rich Zacchaeus. He preaches the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector there and heals the blind Bartimaeus and Uriel, his companion.

Its name

יריחו

"City of the moon" (uncertain origin) sometimes called city of palms. Today Tell es-Sultan or Aïn Es-Soultân. 250m below sea level, 16 km northwest of the current mouth of the Jordan, and 27 km northeast of Jerusalem.

Where is it mentioned in the work?

EMV 82
EMV 417
EMV 522 EMV 523 EMV 551 EMV 553 EMV 566 EMV 576 EMV 578 EMV 579 EMV 580 EMV 581
EMV 632

Learn more about this place

The plain of Jericho, view from the Mount of Temptation (photo taken in 2023)

Since archaeological excavations began, the origin of Jericho can be dated back 8,000 years before Jesus Christ. This is why archaeologists have called it "the oldest city in the world."

The successive settlements owed their existence to the perennial spring and the "oasis" it watered. In Joshua's time, there may have been a small settlement on the eastern part of the tell but all traces were erased by erosion. The account of Joshua 3:8, reporting the fall of Jericho, faithfully reflects the conditions and topography of the region. For centuries, no one tried to rebuild the once important city, fearing Joshua's curse but perhaps there was a small hamlet around the spring. During Ahab's reign (circa 874/3-853), Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho and the curse was fulfilled, as he lost two sons. Elijah and Elisha stayed there occasionally. The Babylonians destroyed it but a small town revived after the exile.

At Jesus' time, the city was located south of the ancient hill. Herod the Great and his successors built a winter palace very close by, with pleasure gardens. Therefore, it was a new and quite luxurious city.

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person who, among the Romans, was responsible for collecting taxes and duties for the State. The legal rate of each tax being hidden, the publicans could raise the amount without any means of control. (Ex: Matthew the evangelist, before following Jesus as an apostle).