Bible Meaning: Its moon, its month, fragrant, place of fragrance
Strong's Concordance #H3405, #G2410
Jericho is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. It is also believed to have the oldest known protective city wall so far discovered and the remains of one of the oldest stone towers in existence.
The city was founded north of the Dead Sea in the well-watered valley that lies just west of the Jordan River. Access to a good spring of water made the city like an oasis. The area's fertile nature lent to Jericho being called "the city of palm trees" (Deuteronomy 34:3, Judges 1:16, 2Chronicles 28:15).
The city is the first location, west of the Jordan, conquered by the Israelites after they ended their forty years of wandering the wilderness. It was the miracle of the city's walls tumbling down, after the Israelites marched around it for seven days, which allowed God's people to enter the highly fortified town and destroy it (Joshua 2, 4 - 6). It was ultimately given to the tribe of Benjamin as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land (Joshua 18:21).
Cursed City
Joshua, after Jericho is destroyed in 1405 B.C., declares a curse on anyone who rebuilds its walls and fortifies the city yet again (Joshua 6:26). The person who dares such an endeavor is prophesied to lose both his firstborn and youngest son as the penalty for his foolishness.
More than 530 years later, during the reign of King Ahab (874 to 853 B.C.), Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt and fortified the city's walls. As Joshua warned, Hiel lost his firstborn son when work began and His youngest son died when the work was completed (1Kings 16:34).
Jesus Visits the City
In early 30 A.D., just before his death, Jesus travels to Jericho. As he nears the city, he heals a blind man who cried out to him for help (Luke 18:35 - 43).
Inside the city, the Lord meets a well-known Jewish tax collector named Zacchaeus. Jesus' presence, and especially his visit to the collector's home, moves Zacchaeus to repent of the money he extorted and stole. He not only pledges to stop his stealing but also return what he illegally took and give half his wealth as charity to the poor (Luke 19)!
As Christ leaves the city, he miraculously heals two more blind men (Matthew 20:29 - 34, Mark 10:46 - 52).
Important Verses
Joshua 2:1
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Joshua 6:26
And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
Joshua 18:21
Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz . . .
1Kings 16:33 - 34
And Ahab made a grove; and (King) Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
Luke 10:29 - 30
But he (a certain lawyer), willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luke 19:1 - 2
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Hebrews 11:30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.