Pages

Monday, January 16, 2012

Jericho—one city or two?



 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record a miraculous healing that took place near Jericho. (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43) Both Matthew and Mark say it was when Jesus was “going out” of Jericho that he performed this miracle. Luke, however, says that it occurred when Jesus was “getting near” to Jericho.
 

In Jesus’ day, was there just one city named Jericho or were there two? The book Bible Then & Now answers: “By New Testament times Jericho had been rebuilt about a mile (1.6 km) south of the old city. Herod the Great had established a winter palace there.” This is verified by the book Archaeology and Bible History, which says: “Jericho of Jesus’ time was a double city. . . . The old Jewish city was about a mile [1.6 km] away from the Roman city.”
 

So perhaps Jesus performed the miracle while leaving the Jewish city and approaching the Roman city or vice versa. Clearly, a knowledge of the circumstances that existed at the time of writing helps clear up what might appear to be a contradiction.


Why not check the Scriptures here?

 
BIBLE ON LINE
 


 

No comments:

Post a Comment