Jericho

Descending from Jerusalem on a roller-coaster road, winding through barren mountains into the scorched Jordan River Valley, centuries peel away as you approach the refreshing oasts of Jericho. In marked contrast to the parched surroundings, Jericho’s shimmering water canals and lush fruit trees make it a vision of the Arabian heaven. A closer look reveals occasional graffiti, barbed wire, a refugee camp-dispelling the mirage with reminders of this ancient city’s contemporary troubles. Recent peace negotiations may turn Jericho into the first self-ruled Palestinian town.

Jericho (Ariha in Arabic, Yeriho in Hebrew) is one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in the world. It is best known for the biblical account of its walls, which came crashing down when Joshua sounded his trumpets after seven days of siege. According to the Bible, two spies sent into town by Joshua were sheltered in the house of the harlot, Rahab. In exchange for the deed, her family was to be spared if she marked her house with a scarlet thread. When the tribes of Israel attacked, the entire city was destroyed save the single house with a scarlet cord dangling from its window (Joshua 2-6).