Page 71 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies - Textbook w videos short

In biblical times, the river was much more impressive. With rapids in the far north and the ability to
flood the Plain of Zor in the far south, the Jordan could range in depth from three to 12 feet. Joshua and
the children of Israel crossed the Jordan at its most impressive, during the spring floods (Joshua
3:15, 4:18). Other biblical events involving the famous river would include Elijah and Elisha crossing the
river on dry ground, Elisha commanding the leprous Naaman to dip seven times in the river for healing,
and of course, the baptism of Jesus. Though it doesn’t look all that impressive today, the Jordan River is
the main, natural fresh-water source for modern-day Israel and Jordan and the boundary between the
two countries.

Jericho

Jericho lies about 18 miles northeast of Jerusalem, seven miles northwest of the Dead Sea and six miles
east of the Jordan River. Fed by several underground springs, Jericho is an oasis on the northern edge of
the Judean Wilderness. It is sometimes called the “City of Palms” in the Bible (see Deuteronomy 34:3
and Judges 1:16 for examples).

Jericho likes to claim that it is the oldest continually populated city in the world. Though it might be
impossible to verify such a claim, archaeological work around the city continues to produce some of the
most ancient artifacts ever found. As Joshua led his people across the Jordan River, Jericho was the first
city taken in the Promised Land. Once the great walls of Jericho had fallen, a curse was pronounced on
anyone who rebuilt the city (Joshua 6:26). When King Ahab of the northern kingdom ordered the city
rebuilt, the curse fell on Hiel of Bethel, the overseer of the project (1 Kings 16:34).

Jericho once contained a school of the prophets and was the residence of Elisha. The waters here were
purified by Elisha in 2 Kings 2:18-22. It was close to this location that Elijah was taken to Heaven on a
chariot of fire.

In the New Testament, Jericho plays a prominent role in the Gospels. Jesus visited the city many times,
usually as a way point as he traveled to and from Jerusalem. He met Zacchaeus in Jericho and healed a
blind man named Bartimaeus there.

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