Jericho

We left the Samaritan village and headed toward Jericho.

We drove through several villages

There are lots of pharmacies.  Actually, later when we arrived at Jericho, Al, Jim and the bus driver drove to a pharmacy so Al could pick up some medicines for a few of our group who were ill.  We had brought quite a bit of meds with us, but needed more.  Amazing what can be had without prescriptions!

There are military everywhere

Wilderness

We arrived at Jericho,  the "city of palms" (Judges 3:13)

Modern day Jericho - It is the lowest city on earth; 750 feet below sea level.

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of more than 20 successive settlements in Jericho, the first of which they say dates back to around 9000 BC.

Elijah was said to have been taken up into heaven close to Jericho (2 Kings 2:1-14)

2 Kings 2:18-22

Ruins of Jericho
Jericho was the 1st city taken by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan.  Joshua placed a curse on the city, that whoever rebuilt it would do so at the cost of his firstborn and youngest son. (Joshua 5)

The city lay totally abandoned for centuries until Hiel, the Bethelite rebuilt it in the 9th century - at the cost of his firstborn and youngest son.

In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.  1 Kings 16:34

We looked out just beyond the ruins - just to think that the Israelites marched around this city and the Lord made the walls fall down right out there!  Amazing!

The parable of the Good Samaritan is placed in context of Jericho (Luke 10:25-37)

Jesus went to Zacchaeus' house in Jericho.  (Luke 19:1-10)

Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus here also (Mark 10:46-52)