Location of Jericho Within Ancient Canaan
Jericho, a city of significant antiquity, was strategically located in the Jordan plain, approximately five miles west of the Jordan River and seven miles northwest of the Dead Sea [3, 1]. Its geographical position made it a key entry point into Western Palestine and the most important city in the Jordan valley [1].
Biblical accounts consistently place Jericho within the land of Canaan. Numbers 33:48 states that the Israelites encamped "in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho" [2]. Another passage in Numbers clarifies this, noting that the plains of Moab were "over against where Jericho is situate beyond the Jordan" [4]. This indicates Jericho's position on the western side of the Jordan River, making it part of Canaan proper. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, in the Babylonian Talmud, reinforces this by interpreting Numbers 34:15 ("The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise") to mean that "Just as Jericho is part of the land of Canaan, so too, the Jordan River is part of the land of Canaan" [6, 7, 11]. Rashi further clarifies that while the land of Moab was on the eastern side of the Jordan, the Ammonites had crossed the Jordan to occupy Jericho, which was "in the land of Canaan, on the western side of the Yardein" [12].
The city was situated in an oasis within the Judean wilderness, about eighteen miles northeast of Jerusalem [9]. It is notable for being one of the world's lowest cities, at 820 feet (250 meters) below sea level, and also one of the oldest [9]. Its fertile surroundings led to its name, which means "place of fragrance" [1, 3].
Jericho is prominently featured in the biblical narrative of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Joshua sent two spies from Shittim to reconnoiter the land, specifically Jericho, which was a "strongly fortified frontier town" [5, 8]. The city's walls were substantial enough to have houses built upon them [3]. The Israelites crossed the Jordan River and encamped at Gilgal, which was about two miles northeast of Jericho, before their assault on the city [10, 13]. The miraculous fall of Jericho, as described in Joshua 6, marked it as the first Canaanite city to resist God's purposes and experience divine judgment [1, 14]. As the "firstfruits" of the conquest, it was considered to belong to God, and Joshua placed a curse upon its rebuilding [14].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jericho — Place of fragrance, a fenced city in the midst of a vast grove of palm trees, in the plain of Jordan, over against the place where that river was crossed by the Israelites (Josh. 3:16). Its site was near the Ain es-Sultan, Elisha's Fountain (2 Kings 2:19-22), about 5 miles west of Jordan. It was the most important city in the Jordan valley (Num. 22:1; 34:15), and the strongest fortress in all the land of Canaan. It was the key to Western Palestine. This city was taken in a very remarkable manner by the Israelites (Josh. 6). God gave it into their hands. The”
- Numbers “They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. -- Numbers 33:48”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jericho — (place of fragrance), a city of high antiquity, situated in a plain traversed by the Jordan, and exactly over against where that river was crossed by the Israelites under Joshua. (Joshua 3:16) It was five miles west of the Jordan and seven miles northwest of the Dead Sea. It had a king. Its walls were so considerable that houses were built upon them. ch. (Joshua 2:15) The spoil that was found in it betokened its affluence. Jericho is first mentioned as the city to which the two spies were sent by Joshua from Shittim. (Joshua 2:1-21) It was bestowed by him up”
- Numbers “Numbers 22:1 (DRC) — And they went forward and encamped in the plains of Moab, over against where Jericho is situate beyond the Jordan.”
- Joshua (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Joshua 2 (introduction): Two Spies Sent Over to Jericho. - Jos 2:1. Although Joshua had received a promise from the Lord of His almighty help in the conquest of Canaan, he still thought it necessary to do what was requisite on his part to secure the success of the work committed to him, as the help of God does not preclude human action, but rather presupposes it. He therefore sent two men out secretly as spies from Shittim the place of encampment at that time (see at Num 25:1), to view, i.e., explore, the land, especially Jericho, the strongly fortified frontier town of Can”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bekhorot 122b.109:14: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The verse states with regard to the portions of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh: “The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise” (Numbers 34:15). Just as Jericho is part of the land of Canaan, so too, the Jordan River is part of the land of Canaan.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bekhorot 122a.109:14: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The verse states with regard to the portions of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh: “The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise” (Numbers 34:15). Just as Jericho is part of the land of Canaan, so too, the Jordan River is part of the land of Canaan.”
- Joshua (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joshua 2 (introduction): RAHAB RECEIVES AND CONCEALS THE TWO SPIES. (Jos 2:1-7) Joshua . . . sent . . . two men to spy secretly--Faith is manifested by an active, persevering use of means (Jam 2:22); and accordingly Joshua, while confident in the accomplishment of the divine promise (Jos 1:3), adopted every precaution which a skilful general could think of to render his first attempt in the invasion of Canaan successful. Two spies were despatched to reconnoitre the country, particularly in the neighborhood of Jericho; for in the prospect of investing that place, i”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 18:35: 18:35-43 This account again demonstrates Jesus’ care for the poor and marginalized in Israel. It reminds the reader that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah (18:38), shortly before he enters Jerusalem as king (19:28-44). 18:35 Jericho was located in an oasis in the Judean wilderness, eighteen miles (thirty kilometers) northeast of Jerusalem. At 820 feet (250 meters) below sea level, Jericho is the world’s lowest city and one of the oldest.”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 11:30: 11:30 Gilgal was the site of the first camp the Israelites would make in Canaan after crossing the Jordan (Josh 4:19). It was about two miles northeast of Jericho, although its exact location is no longer certain. A line from Jericho to Shechem would pass near Gilgal. • The oaks of Moreh were near Shechem; they were where Abram had set up his first camp in Canaan (Gen 12:6) and where Jacob had later buried Laban’s idols (Gen 35:4).”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bekhorot 55a.14: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: The verse states with regard to the portions of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh: “The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise” (Numbers 34:15). Just as Jericho is part of the land of Canaan, so too, the Jordan River is part of the land of Canaan.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Judges 3:27: At Mount Ephrayim. Which was in the land of Canaan, on the western side of the Yardein. The land of Moav was on the eastern side of the Yardein, but as they had subdued Yisroel and crossed the Yardein, they occupied Yericho as stated above, and installed their princes and governors over Yisroel.”
- Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 4:19: And the people came up out of Jordan,.... The channel of it, to the shore: on the tenth day of the first month; the month Nisan or Abib, which from the time of Israel's coming out of Egypt was appointed the first month of the year, Exo 12:2; on the fifteenth of which month they came out of Egypt, having kept the passover on the fourteenth at even; so that their coming out of Egypt, to their entrance into Canaan, was just forty years, wanting five days. This tenth day was the day in which the passover was taken from the flock, and kept till the fourteenth, on which d”
- Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 6:26: 6:26 Joshua placed a curse upon the site because Jericho was the first Canaanite town to resist God’s purposes in bringing Israel into the land. Jericho was also the first town to experience God’s judgment upon Canaan’s great wickedness. As the firstfruits of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, it belonged to God (Exod 13:2; 23:19). God executed Joshua’s curse on the first man to defy it (1 Kgs 16:34; cp. Josh 7).”