History. The ancient Jericho lay by the springs at the foot of the hill of Karantel, that is to the W. of modern Jericho, and to the N. of the Jericho of the Roman period. The Israelitish town (Josh, v, vi) at first belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, afterwards to the kingdom of Israel. The town was of considerable size and enclosed by walls, and the vegetation was very rich. It is sometimes called the 'city of palms', and down to the 7th cent, of our era date-palms were common, though they have now almost entirely disappeared. Around the town lay a large and flourishing oasis of corn and hemp fields. In spite of many conquests Jericho continued to flourish. It was specially noted for its balsam gardens. The balsam plant has now disappeared entirely, although the plants of South Arabia and India would still flourish In this warm climate. Here, too, flourished the Henna ( Lawsonia inerntfs), which yields a red dye. In the time of Christ shady sycamores stood by the wayside (Luke xix. 4). Antony presented the district of Jericho to Cleopatra, who sold it to Herod; and that monarch embellished it with palaces and. constituted it his winter residence, as being the most beautiful spot for the purpose in his dominions. He died here, but directed that he should be interred in the Herodium. — It was at Jericho that the Jewish pilgrims from Persea (E. of Jordan) and Galilee used to assemble on their way to the Temple; and Christ also began his last journey to Jerusalem from this point (Luke xix. 1). — As early as the 4th cent, the councils of the church were attended by bishops of Jericho. The emperor Justinian caused a 'church of the mother of God’ at Jericho to be restored, and a hospice for pilgrims to be erected. About the year 810 a monastery of St. Stephen existed at Jericho. New Jericho, on the site of the present village, sprang up in the time of the Crusaders, who built a castle and a church of the Holy Trinity here. The place was afterwards inhabited by Muslims and gradually decayed. In 1840 it was plundered by the soldiers of Ibrahim Pasha, and in 1871 almost entirely destroyed by fire.

Description. 

Jericho (Erîha), the seat of a Mudîr, consists of a group of squalid hovels inhabited by about 300 souls. Like the other inhabitants of the Jordan valley, those of Jericho appear to be a degenerate race, as the hot and unhealthy climate has an enervating effect. The villagers usually crowd round travellers with offers to execute a 'fantasîa', or dance accompanied by singing, both of which are tiresome. The performers clap their own or each other's hands, and improvise verses in a monotonous tone. The traveller should be on his guard against thieves. — The entire valley of the Jordan between the Sea of Tiberias and the Dead Sea has recently been declared to belong to the civil list of the sultan of Turkey. Jericho is now one of the three seats of administration; a Serâi (government-building) and a few shops have been built. — The Russians have built a small church in Jericho; interesting relics, the remains of a large building (perhaps a church) with piers and mosaic pavement, have been discovered in the priest's garden. The only other curiosity in the village is a building on the S.E. side, resembling a tower. It probably dates from the Frank period, when it was erected for the protection of the crops against the incursions of the Beduins. The view from the battlements is interesting. Since the 15th cent, this building has been said to occupy the site of the House of Zacchaeus (Luke xix. 1-10). In the 4th cent, the sycamore into which Zacchaeus climbed was shown.

The gardens contain large vines which in summer yield an abundant supply of grapes. Everywhere the ground is overgrown with thorny underwood, sometimes taking the form of trees, such as the Zizyphvs Lotus and Z. spina Christi (the nebk and sidr of the Arabs), the fruit of which ('jujubes',. Arab, dôm) is well flavoured when ripe. The formidable thorns of these rhamnaceæ, from which Christ's crown of thorns is said to have been composed, are used by the Beduins in the construction of' their almost unapproachable fences. Among the other plants occurring here are the Acacia Farnesiana, celebrated for its gum and the delicious fragrance of its flowers, and the Zakkûm tree ( Balanites Ægyptiaca ) , also called the pseudo balsam-tree, or balm of Gilead, with small leaves like the box, and fruit resembling small unripe walnuts, from which the Arabs prepare 'pseudo-balsam', or 'Zacchæus oil , quantities of which are sold to pilgrims. The 'rose of Jericho' (Anastatica hierochuntica) does not occur here. Near Jericho are also found the gorgeous scarlet Loranthus, the Acacia vera, or true gum Arabic plant, and the Solanum sanctum (Arab, hadak), a very woody shrub, 3-4 1/2 ft. high, with broad leaves, woolly on the under side. The fruit looks like an apple, being first yellow, and afterwards red, and containing black seeds. It is sometimes called the apple of Sodom, and has been erroneously connected with the wine of Sodom mentioned in Gen. xix. 32. All these are products of a sub-tropical climate, for we are now about 825 ft. below the level of the Mediterranean.

A pleasant occupation for the evening is a walk to the (25 min.) 'Ain es-Sultân ('Sultan's Spring'), by which Jericho was once supplied with water. The water of the copious spring (temp. 80° Fahr.) is collected in a newly constructed pond, in which numerous small fishes dart about, while many strange birds enliven the neighbouring thickets. Close by is a mill; and a new conduit conveys water to the Russian hospice. The earliest pilgrims found a tradition already existing here that this was the water which Elisha healed with salt (2 Kings ii. 19-22), whence it is called Elisha’s Spring by the Christians. Remains of a paved Roman road have been found in the vicinity. Above the spring the site of the House of Rahab (Joshua ii.) was formerly shown, as it was instinctively felt that the ancient town must have stood on this spot. The tumulus near the spring is artificial.

Taking the road to the W. we reach the ruins of buildings called Tawâhin es-Sukkar (sugar-mills), in reminiscence of the culture of the sugar-cane which flourished here down to the period of the Crusaders, and might still be profitably carried on. Three such mills may be counted, and numerous relics of aqueducts are visible. Going N.W. from the third mill (20 min. from 'Ain es-Sultân) for 1/2 hr. we reach the 'Ain en-Nawâ’imeh and 'Ain Dûk, the springs of the well-watered Wâdi en-Nawâ’imeh. Near the springs are remains of a fine aqueduct. Here probably lay the ancient castle of Docus (1 Mace, xvi. 15), where Simon Maccabæeus was assassinated by his son-in-law.

A footpath takes us from the third mill in about 25 min. to the hermits' caverns on the Jebel Karantel, used as a place of punishment for Greek priests. The grotto in which Jesus is said to have spent the 40 days of his fast (Matt. iv. 1) is used as a chapel.

Among the cliffs higher up (40 min.) there are the ruins of a 'Chapel of the Temptation* as well as several rows of hermitages, some of which have even been adorned with frescoes. These, however , are only accessible to practised climbers. The weird seclusion of the spot attracted anchorites at a very early period. Thus St. Chariton is said once to have dwelt here, and the hermitages were enlarged by Elpidius. The name Quarantana (Arab. Karantel) was first applied to the hill in the time of the Crusaders (1112), when the monastery on the Quarantana was dependent on Jerusalem.

The summit of the hill, which can be reached more easily from the W. side (in 1 1/2hr.; guide necessary), commands a noble prospect. To the E., beyond the broad valley of Jordan, rises the wooded Nebi Osha', to the S. of which is the Jebel et-Tiníyeh. To the N. towers the Sartabeh. In the valley below (N.) are two beautiful pastures. On the S. side the Karantel is separated from the hill Nkêb el-Khêl by the deep Wâdi Dénûn. On the top of the hill are traces of fortifications, which probably formed part of the girdle of castles by which the Franks endeavoured to defend the E. frontier of their possessions.