Page 72 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

How Biblical geography helps us read Scripture
As the story of Jesus meeting Zacchaeus begins (Luke 19:1), we read that Jesus “entered Jericho and was passing through.”
On the same visit, we learn that Jesus healed two blind men as he was leaving Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34).

Luke, however, says Jesus healed a blind man as he was entering Jericho (Luke 18:35). Critics point to these passages as
examples of “errors” in the New Testament. Was it one blind man, or two? Did Jesus heal the blind man/men as he entered
the city or as he left Jericho?
Jericho in the time of Jesus was two cities in one. “Lower Jericho” was the older city where Zacchaeus would have lived and
worked (marked by the red box in this photo). Modern-day Jericho (marked by the yellow box) is what would have been
“Lower Jericho” when Jesus was alive. “Upper Jericho” was a new resort built by Herod the Great and many of the wealthiest
rulers in Jerusalem. Archaeological work uncovering the resort community is marked in this photography by the red boxes.

In short, it is possible that Jesus healed one blind man on his way into Jericho, had his memorable visit with Zacchaeus at
midday, and healed two blind men as he left Lower Jericho and entered Upper Jericho. Though we don’t know all the details
of these particular events, instead of proving “errors” in the biblical narrative, the lay of the land and archaeological
discoveries actually support a case for biblical historicity in these passages.

Herod the Great built a resort
community in Jericho that came to be
known as “Upper Jericho.” The
wealthiest and most powerful people in
Jerusalem had homes in Upper Jericho.
Archaeological work currently under
way is uncovering great palaces,
swimming pools and sports stadiums in
the area. As Jesus and tens of thousands
of common travelers passed by Upper
Jericho on their way to Jerusalem, they
would have seen the richly decorated
and well-watered resort. Among those

who had vacation homes in the area
were the high priests of the Temple. Only The road that connected Jericho and Jerusalem followed Wadi Qelt for most of the
journey. The path on the left-hand side of this photograph is the path Jesus, the
by cooperating with the Romans and disciples and almost every person in the Bible would have known. The aqueduct on the
participating in unethical practices could right side of the canyon was built by Herod the Great to bring water from the Prat River
a priest possibly afford such a vacation to his resort complex in Upper Jericho. Because water is so important in Israel’s desert
environment, the aqueduct has been maintained for 2,000 years and is still in use today!
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