📖 Biblical Definition
Jericho was the walled "city of palms" in the Jordan valley — the first Canaanite stronghold Israel encountered after crossing the Jordan into the promised land. By the LORD’s command, the armed men and seven priests with rams’ horns marched silently around the city once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day; on the long blast and the people’s shout the walls fell flat (Joshua 6). Rahab and her father’s house were spared (Joshua 6:22-25) and grafted into Israel. Centuries later, Jericho returned to Scripture under Christ’s ministry: He passed through it on the way to Jerusalem, healed blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), and called Zacchaeus the tax collector down from the sycamore tree (Luke 19:1-10).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
JER'ICHO, n.
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An ancient city of Palestine, in the tribe of Benjamin, situated about seven miles west of the Jordan and the same distance north of the Dead Sea. Its walls were miraculously thrown down, and the city given to Israel.
📖 Key Scripture
Joshua 6:20 — "The wall fell down flat... and they took the city."
Joshua 6:26 — "Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho."
Luke 19:1 — "Jesus entered and passed through Jericho."
Hebrews 11:30 — "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern strategy explains away Jericho; Hebrews 11 records the actual mechanism: faith.
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Jericho was militarily impossible. Walls thick enough to drive chariots on; gates barred; the city girded for siege. Israel's plan, dictated by God, was even more absurd: march around it once a day for six days, seven times on the seventh, blow trumpets, shout. The wall fell flat. Hebrews 11:30 names the mechanism: by faith.
Modern Christianity tends to plan its Jerichos by spreadsheets, focus groups, and demographic studies. Strategy has its place — Joshua used spies. But the wall did not fall to strategy; it fell to faith-driven obedience. The man waiting for God to bless his clever plan may be waiting forever; the man who marches the absurd circle six days in a row will see what no consultant can deliver.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Yericho (H3405) — possibly “moon-city”; perhaps “fragrance.”
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H3405 — Yericho — Jericho; city of palms
G2410 — Hiericho — Jericho (Greek form)
Usage
"Walls do not fall to strategy — they fall to faith-driven obedience."
"Six days of silent marching look foolish; the seventh day vindicates the silence."
"Christ entered Jericho and saved a tax collector — the same God still finds Zacchaeus in conquered cities."