Since Jerusalem is more than 2, 500 feet above sea level, and Jericho, only 13 miles northeast, is 800 feet below sea level, it is easy to see why tropical Jericho, with its many palm trees and colorful oleander vines and bushes became the winter resort for people of Jerusalem. The most famous story about Jericho is the battle of Jericho which Joshua led, when the walls fell outward, rather than inward (Joshua 6). This happened about 1, 400 B. C. But the history of Jericho goes back hundreds of years before Joshua. Jericho is actually three cities--the Old Testament city and the New Testament city, separated by about a mile, and modern Jericho near Old Testament Jericho. In modern Jericho we find Elisha's Springs, or Elisha's Fountain, known today as the Ain es-Sultan Spring. When the people of Jericho complained to Elisha that the water was bad, Elisha threw a bowl of salt into the spring and miraculously purified the water (2 Kings 2:19-22). In New Testament times, an important trade route passed through Jericho.

jericho; judea; israel; wall; battle; war; joshua; elisha; elisha's spring; Joshua 3--8; 2 Kings 2:19-22; elisha's fountain; ain es-sultan spring; miracle; tropical; palm trees; oleander; flower; sea level; winter resort; trade route; walls; battles; wars; miracles; flowers; sea levels