Seated 620 feet below sea level the city of Jericho is the lowest city in the world. The climate here is semi-tropical and the annual rainfall is between four and six inches. The cities major crops include varieties of fruits, vegetables, and wheat, while vegetation in the area is limited to grass, small bushes, and some spring-flowering plants. The Encyclopedia Americana tells us that, “The characteristic vegetation is a species of lotus, Ziziphus Spina Christi, Christ’s thorn. Historical sources report the cultivation of sugarcane, balsam, and indigo at various times.”
To properly understand the impact of this city we must understand a little bit more about it’s history and how it developed. A Neolithic settlement dated from 4000 - 3000BC is the first information that we have on Jericho. This settlement makes Jericho the oldest city in the world. The Babylonians founded the first actual city (City I) around 3000BC and it lasted until 2500BC. The second city (City II), again influenced by a Babylonian culture, was founded at this time and was destroyed around 2000BC. In 1900BC, the Canaanites built City III and it existed under their influence for 150 years until it became a Hyksos stronghold for another 150 years in 1750BC. Finally, in 1580BC, City IV - biblical Jericho, was founded under Egyptian domination. However, after about a hundred years the Egyptians allowed the Canaanites domestic sovereignty, while maintaining their control over the nations international affairs. It was at this time that the Israelites crossed the Jordan and began to conquer the land of Canaan. The city remained desolate after the time of Joshua until Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt the city around 900BC, with the exception of a few small settlements from 1285 - 1150BC.
City IV was “four hundred and ninety-nine yards in length, one hundred and seventy-five yards wide.” The city was fortified by, “A redoubtable 6-foot thick wall was built on the edge of the mound. The inner wall was separated from it by a space of from twelve to fifteen feet and was itself twelve feet thick. The wall was originally about thirty feet high.” “The houses in Jericho were built of mud-brick, containing but few rooms. Some were thatched with palm leaves or reeds from the Jordan ferns,” “A number of ground-floor rooms...contained many large storage jars with carbonized grains, and also loomweights and saddle querns, which indicate that the street-level rooms served as working areas and possibly shops, while the second-story rooms were for living and bedrooms.” Jericho was doubtlessly a remarkable city and would have easily struck fear in the hearts of those who knew they needed to destroy it.
In the Old Testament, we are able to trace the city of Jericho from the time of Joshua through the time of Nehemiah. We read about the city in connection with Joshua, during the time of the Judges, David mentions it, and we see Solomon fail to mention it. It is a point of disobedience during the reign of King Ahab and purification during the time of Elisha. It is mentioned in the return from captivity and also in connection with Nehemiah. In the next section we will trace these stories through and examine the relationship between the condition of Jericho and the condition of the Israelites hearts.
