From Weakness to Strength: Simon Peter
July 12, 2026
Zacchaeus: The Publican
July 17, 2026Jericho is the oldest city in the world at 10,500 years old. It is the lowest city in the world at 670 feet below sea level. The site has over 20 cities, each built on top of the previous one. With the exception of a few centuries following the destruction of City IV (probably by Joshua and the Israelites around 1400 B.C.), Jericho has been more or less continually occupied, including a thriving city today. So what makes Jericho important?
The answer is location and resources
- Jericho is located at the norther end of the Great African Rift Valley that starts in East Africa and stretches to the Middle East; where Jericho is located is the deepest section of the rift
- Rainfall is negligible, averaging 6.4 inches per year
- Average temperatures are fairly mild; 59°F in January and 88° F in August (although summer temperatures can reach 100°)
- Jericho lies in an arid plain on the west side of the Jordan River Valley
- What rain falls in the Judean Hills to the west flows underground along planes of rock that discharge in a series of three springs (Ein es-Sultan, Ein Duk, Ein Nu’erima)
- Ein es-Sultan pumps out between 3,000-5,000 gallons of cold clear water per minute
- Irrigates an area of approximately 2,500 acres
- Today, this area produces grapes, figs, pomegranates, dates, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and large bunches of small, very sweet bananas
- In the ancient past, the area around Jericho grew wild barley, double-rowed barley, and emmer wheat; archeological evidence shows that the region also once had large stands of sycamore (mulberry fig), date palms, tamarisk, and balsam
- Marc Anthony gave the land around Jericho to Cleopatra so that she would have a source of balsam for perfume
- The area was once inhabited by leopards, ibex, and gazelles
- Jericho is so unique it is often called “a place by itself”
Ein es-Sultan – Flow Rate 3,000-5,000 gal/min
In addition to its abundant freshwater supply, favorable climate, alluvial soil, and near permanent sunshine, Jericho is strategically located
- From Jericho, one has access to the heartland of Canaan (Palestine); roads from Jericho lead into northern Palestine, Central Palestine, and to Jerusalem (15 miles away)
- All trade routes traveling from the East to the Palestine coast went through Jericho; later in the first century A.D., all Jewish travelers between Galilee and Jerusalem traveled along the River Jordan to Jericho before going west
- As a result, Jericho became a major center for regional trade
- Jericho had ready access to bitumen, sulfur, and salt – all were valued trade items
- Trade in balsam from Ein Gedi (34 miles to the south) went through Jericho; balsam was the key ingredient in perfume which made it one of the most valuable products in the entire Roman Empire
- Archeologically, exotic trade items such as copper, obsidian, precious stones, and even hippo ivory from Africa have been recovered from Jericho
- Because of its abundant water and mild temperatures, Herod the Great built his winter palace at Jericho
Carved Hippo Ivory
Scarabs from Egypt
Cowrie Shells
Imported Precious Stones/Jewelry
The Supposed Tree of Zacchaeus
Remains of The “True” Tree of Zacchaeus
Remains of The “True” Tree of Zacchaeus
