Jericho (Yericho) was a heavily fortified city located just west of the Jordan River and was the first settlement encountered by Joshua and the Israelites upon entering Israel. The city is mentioned again during the reign of King Ahab, when Hiel of Bethel attempts to rebuild it despite a curse placed on Jericho in the book of Joshua.
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The Curse of JerichoTANAKH
The Curse of Jericho
TANAKH
The rebuilding of Jericho by Hiel the Bethelite led to the tragic fulfillment of Joshua's ancient curse, demonstrating the severe consequences of defying divine decrees. The Book of Kings I recounts the fulfillment of Joshua's curse through the deaths of Hiel's sons, Abiram and Segub, as he rebuilt Jericho.
The Miraculous Walls of JerichoTALMUD
The Miraculous Walls of Jericho
TALMUD
The miraculous nature of the walls of Jericho being swallowed into the ground rather than merely falling down highlights divine intervention. The Gemara discusses the walls of Jericho, questioning whether they were swallowed into the ground or merely fell, and explains that their equal width and height led to them being swallowed.
The Curse of Rebuilding JerichoCOMMENTARY
The Curse of Rebuilding Jericho
COMMENTARY
Rebuilding Jericho came with a dire curse that led to the sequential deaths of the builder's sons. Rashi, the renowned 11th-century Jewish commentator, explains the fulfillment of Joshua's curse in 1 Kings 16:34.
The Spies of JerichoCOMMENTARY
The Spies of Jericho
COMMENTARY
The Israelites used clever strategies, including disguise and intelligence gathering, to conquer Jericho. The Tze'enah Ure'enah, a 16th-century Yiddish commentary, recounts how potters gathered crucial information from the women of Jericho.
The Miracles of JerichoMIDRASH
The Miracles of Jericho
MIDRASH
The story of Jericho in the Book of Joshua is enriched with supernatural elements and miraculous events. Louis Ginzberg’s early 20th-century work, Legends of the Jews, provides a detailed narrative that includes demons accompanying the spies and the miraculous conversion of Rahab.
The Consequences of Achan's CovetousnessMIDRASH
The Consequences of Achan's Covetousness
MIDRASH
The story of Achan in Jericho illustrates the severe consequences of violating a divine ban, leading to the death of thirty-six righteous men. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a midrashic work, expands on the biblical narrative of Jericho, focusing on the repercussions of Achan's actions.
The Consequences of Rebuilding JerichoTALMUD
The Consequences of Rebuilding Jericho
TALMUD
Ḥiel's greed led to the tragic deaths of his sons, confirming the divine warning against rebuilding Jericho. The Jerusalem Talmud discusses the consequences of Ḥiel's actions in rebuilding Jericho, reflecting on the fulfillment of a curse mentioned in the Book of Joshua.
Oath and Curse at JerichoTALMUD
Oath and Curse at Jericho
TALMUD
Joshua's actions after the fall of Jericho included both an oath and a curse, which have distinct implications. The Talmudic tractate Shevuot explores various types of oaths and their significance, providing insight into Joshua's dual pronouncement.
The Cursed Waters of JerichoCOMMENTARY
The Cursed Waters of Jericho
COMMENTARY
The waters of Jericho became harmful due to the wickedness of its residents and a compounded curse by Eliyahu. Radak, a medieval Jewish commentator, provides an interpretation of II Kings 2:19, supported by midrash and teachings of the Sages.
Divine Retribution in Rebuilding JerichoTALMUD
Divine Retribution in Rebuilding Jericho
TALMUD
The deaths of Abiram and Segub were meant to teach that their deaths were due to Joshua’s curse, highlighting the divine retribution aspect of rebuilding Jericho. The Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin discusses the judicial system and includes narratives that illustrate divine justice, such as the deaths of Abiram and Segub.
The Sinking Walls of JerichoJEWISH THOUGHT
The Sinking Walls of Jericho
JEWISH THOUGHT
The sinking of Jericho's walls into the ground serves as a perpetual sign of divine intervention. In his philosophical work, the Guide for the Perplexed, Maimonides (Rambam) discusses the enduring impact of divine miracles in Jewish history.
The Fall of JerichoTANAKH
The Fall of Jericho
TANAKH
The miraculous collapse of Jericho's walls demonstrates the power of collective faith and divine intervention. The Book of Joshua recounts the Israelites' conquest of Jericho, where their unified shout and the sound of horns caused the city's walls to fall.
Overcoming the Barrier of JerichoHALAKHAH
Overcoming the Barrier of Jericho
HALAKHAH
Jericho was seen as the epicenter of Canaanite impurity and a barrier to divine light. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s contemporary work, Peninei Halakhah, explores the kabbalistic interpretation of the Israelites' conquest of Jericho, revealing the sanctity within the mundane.
The Conquest of JerichoSECOND TEMPLE
The Conquest of Jericho
SECOND TEMPLE
The city of Jericho was conquered without any physical force or instruments of war being applied by the Hebrews. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, provides a detailed account of this miraculous event in his comprehensive history of the Jewish people.
The Fearsome Men of JerichoMIDRASH
The Fearsome Men of Jericho
MIDRASH
The men of Jericho were so formidable that they instilled fear in everyone around them. The Sifrei Devarim, a midrashic commentary on Deuteronomy, recounts the fear the Israelites inspired in the inhabitants of Canaan, particularly referencing the events surrounding Jericho.
Jericho Spies' Hidden AgendaTANAKH
Jericho Spies' Hidden Agenda
TANAKH
Joshua's decision to send spies to Jericho was not just about military strategy but also about understanding the morale and fighting spirit of its inhabitants. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's commentary on the Book of Joshua provides a nuanced analysis of this mission, contrasting it with Moses' earlier reconnaissance missions.
The Allotment of JerichoCOMMENTARY
The Allotment of Jericho
COMMENTARY
The geographical and territorial boundaries related to Jericho are crucial in understanding the fulfillment of God's promise to the Israelites. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's modern translation and commentary on the Hebrew Bible provides a clear and engaging explanation of the land allotment to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.