Journeys to Jericho. By Mark Mayberry 7/1/2012

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1 Journeys to Jericho By Mark Mayberry 7/1/2012 Introduction Jericho is an important city, both in the Old and the New Testaments. Consider the following introductory article that is found in Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. JERICHO [JEHR ih coe] one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Situated in the wide plain of the Jordan Valley (Deut. 34:1, 3) at the foot of the ascent to the Judean mountains, Jericho lies about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of the site where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, some 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of the Jordan. Since it is approximately 244 meters (800 feet) below sea level, Jericho has a climate that is tropical and at times is very hot. Only a few inches of rainfall are recorded at Jericho each year; but the city is a wonderful oasis, known as the city of palm trees (Deut. 34:3) or the city of palms (Judg. 3:13). Jericho flourishes with date palms, banana trees, balsams, sycamores, and henna (Song 1:14; Luke 19:4). There have been three different Jerichos throughout its long history. Old Testament Jericho is identified with the mound of Tell essultan, about 2 kilometers (a little more than a mile) from the village of er-riha. This village is modern Jericho, located about 27 kilometers (17 miles) northeast of Jerusalem. New Testament Jericho is identified with the mounds of Tulul Abu el- Alayiq, about 2 kilometers west of modern Jericho and south of Old Testament Jericho. By far the most imposing site of the three is Old Testament Jericho, a pear-shaped mound about 366 meters (400 yards) long, north to south, 183 meters (200 yards) wide at the north end, and some 67 meters (70 yards) high. It has been the site of numerous archaeological diggings and is a favorite stop for Holy Land tourists. Old Testament Jericho. Jericho first appears in the biblical record when the Israelites encamped at Shittim on the east side of the Jordan River (Num. 22:1; 26:3). Joshua sent spies to examine the city (Josh. 2:1-24) and later took the city by perhaps the most unorthodox method in the history of warfare (Joshua 6). Joshua placed a curse on anyone who would attempt to rebuild Jericho (Josh. 6:26). As the Israelites settled into the land, Jericho was awarded to the tribe of Benjamin, although it was on the border between Ephraim and Benjamin (Josh. 16:1, 7). Jericho is only incidentally mentioned in the reign of David (2 Sam. 10:5) and does not figure prominently again in Old Testament history until the reign of King Ahab (about 850 B.C.; 1 Kings 16:34), when Hiel the Bethelite attempted to fortify the city and Joshua s curse was realized. During the days of Elijah 1

2 and Elisha, Jericho was a community of the prophets (2 Kings 2:5) and was mentioned on other occasions as well (Ezra 2:34; Neh. 3:2; Jer. 39:5). New Testament Jericho. In the early years of Herod the Great, the Romans plundered Jericho. But Herod later beautified the city and ultimately died there. Jesus passed through Jericho on numerous occasions. Near there He was baptized in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:13-17), and on the adjacent mountain range He was tempted (Matt. 4:1-11). At Jericho Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). Here too Zacchaeus was converted (Luke 19:1-10). And Jesus parable of the Good Samaritan has the road from Jerusalem to Jericho as its setting (Luke 10:30-37). Excavations at Jericho. From 1907 until 1911, the German scholars Ernst Sellin and Carl Watzinger excavated this site. But it was the British archaeologist John Garstang whose excavations from 1930 to 1936 yielded significant information. Garstang believed he found evidence of Joshua s destruction of the city. He discovered an inner wall about 3.66 meters (12 feet) thick and an outer wall about 1.83 meters (6 feet) thick. Garstang was convinced that he had found the fabled walls of Jericho. However, archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon began seven seasons of excavation at Jericho in 1952 and found evidence that conflicted with that of Garstang. Kenyon s findings indicated that little of the city in Joshua s day remained and thus the archaeologist must turn to Hazor and other cities captured during Joshua s campaigns for information about this period. The most spectacular finds made by Kenyon were the Stone Age defenses, including a tower dating to about 7000 B.C. Source: Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1995), s.v. Jericho. Jericho of the Old Testament Avoiding the Corruption of Sin Confirming His covenant with Abraham, God promised to judge the inhabitants of Canaan when their iniquity was full (Gen. 15:12-21). Later, Israel was warned against defiling themselves with the abominations of a sinful society (Lev. 18:24-30). Genesis 15:12-21 (NASB95) 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete. 17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To 2

3 your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite. Leviticus 18:24-30 (NASB95) 24 Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. 25 For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants. 26 But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you 27 (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); 28 so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you. 29 For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am the Lord your God. God judges corrupt cultures (Prov. 14:34; Psa. 107:33-34). God s people must not become joint participants in sinful behavior (2 Cor. 6:14-18), but rather oppose such (2 Cor. 10:3-6). Let us shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (Phil. 2:14-18). Achieving the Promises of God After Joshua led Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, Jericho was the first Canaanite city to fall. Obedience and joint participation were essential to Israel s success (Josh. 6). Joshua 6:1-11 (NASB95) 1 Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. 4 Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead. 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the Lord. 7 Then he said to the people, Go forward, and march around the city, and let the armed men go on before the ark of the Lord. 8 And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams horns before the Lord went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, saying, You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, Shout! Then you shall shout! 3

4 11 So he had the ark of the Lord taken around the city, circling it once; then they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Joshua 6:12-21 (NASB95) 12 Now Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went before them and the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while they continued to blow the trumpets. 14 Thus the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp; they did so for six days. 15 Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times. 16 At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. 17 The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the Lord; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it. 19 But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord. 20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city. 21 They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. Joshua 6:22-27 (NASB95) 22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, Go into the harlot s house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her. 23 So the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and all she had; they also brought out all her relatives and placed them outside the camp of Israel. 24 They burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time, saying, Cursed before the Lord is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates. 27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land. God gives the victory (Josh. 24:11-12; Psa. 44:1-3). Yet, He always requires His people to trust His word and obey His will (Heb. 5:8-10; 11:6; 11:30-31). Joshua 24:11-12 (NASB95) 11 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the citizens of Jericho fought against you, and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Girgashite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. Thus I gave them into your hand. 12 Then I sent the hornet before you and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow. 4

5 Psalm 44:1-3 (NASB95) 1 O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old. 2 You with Your own hand drove out the nations; Then You planted them; You afflicted the peoples, Then You spread them abroad. 3 For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them. Hebrews 5:8-10 (NASB95) 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 11:6 (NASB95) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:30-31 (NASB95) 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. Jericho of the New Testament Submitting to Baptism Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River; in all likelihood, this occurred in the general vicinity of Jericho (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-13; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:28-34). While Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, penitent believers are baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:37-41; 22:16). Matthew 3:13-17 (NASB95) 13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? 15 But Jesus answering said to him, Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased. Mark 1:9-13 (NASB95) 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased. 12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. 5

6 Luke 3:21-22 (NASB95) 21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased. John 1:28-34 (NASB95) 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me. 31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water. 32 John testified saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God. Acts 2:37-41 (NASB95) 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation! 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 22:16 (NASB95) 16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name. Resisting the Tempter Afterwards, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). Tradition says this occurred in the vicinity of Jericho. In like manner, we must resist the evil one (James 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-9). Matthew 4:1-11 (NASB95) 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. 4 But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will command His angels concerning You ; and On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, All these things I will give You, if You 6

7 fall down and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Mark 1:12-13 (NASB95) 12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Luke 4:1-13 (NASB95) 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone. 5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours. 8 Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. 9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written, He will command His angels concerning You to guard You, 11 and, On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answered and said to him, It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. James 4:7 (NASB95) 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NASB95) 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. Healing the Blind On a latter occasion, as Jesus was leaving Jericho, He healed the blind (Matt. 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43). In like manner, we must turn to Christ for restoration of our spiritual vision (Eph. 1:18-19; Rev. 3:18-19). Matthew 20:29-34 (NASB95) 29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! 31 The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us! 32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, What do you want Me to do for you? 33 They said to Him, Lord, we want our eyes to be opened. 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. 7

8 Mark 10:46-52 (NASB95) 46 Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me! 49 And Jesus stopped and said, Call him here. So they called the blind man, saying to him, Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you. 50 Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51 And answering him, Jesus said, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Rabboni, I want to regain my sight! 52 And Jesus said to him, Go; your faith has made you well. Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road. Luke 18:35-43 (NASB95) 35 As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me! 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41 What do you want Me to do for you? And he said, Lord, I want to regain my sight! 42 And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has made you well. 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. Ephesians 1:18-19 (NASB95) 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Revelation 3:18-19 (NASB95) 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Practicing Brotherly Love In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught what it means to love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:25-37). We must practice brotherly love (John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:10-13). Luke 10:25-37 (NASB95) 25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 And He said to him, What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? 27 And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 28 And He said to him, You have answered correctly; do this and you will live. 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30 Jesus replied and said, A man was going down 8

9 from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you. 36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers hands? 37 And he said, The one who showed mercy toward him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do the same. Preaching the Gospel Near the end of his ministry, Jesus entered Jericho and encountered Zaccheus, a chief tax collector (Luke 19:1-10). We should also look for opportunities of sharing the gospel, with even the most unlikely of prospects (Matt. 13:1-9; Acts 16:25-34). Luke 19:1-10 (NASB95) 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house. 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much. 9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Matthew 13:1-9 (NASB95) 1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. 3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear. Acts 16:25-34 (NASB95) 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were 9

10 shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here! 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 They said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. Conclusion Learning the lesson from Old Testament Jericho, let us avoid the defilement of sin, and the resulting judgment that must inevitably follow. May we also achieve the promises of God through obedience to the Father s will. Considering the example of Jesus, which occurred in or around New Testament Jericho, let us submit to the Lord s will regarding baptism, resist the tempter, enjoy the restoration of spiritual sight that Christ provides, practice brotherly love, and faithfully proclaim the good news of salvation. 10