Jericho-Jerusalem Road map and footage

Few places in Israel today offer such a natural setting for some of the Bible’s most familiar passages as the road that connected Jericho and Jerusalem. The path inside Wadi Qelt has three water sources, something a walking community had to have on any of its roads. The Benjamin Desert lies to the north. Travelers would have found no water there. The waterless Judean Wilderness lies to the south, with even more rugged terrain. David escaped from Absalom on this road. Ruth and Naomi may have come to Bethlehem via this route. Mary and Joseph likely took this road to Bethlehem. Jesus traveled the path many times, including one week before the crucifixion. James and John made their request to be on the right and left of Jesus just as that journey began. The road was so familiar to Jesus’ listeners, he used it as the setting for the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30). The 18-mile hike was difficult, but not impossible. Even today, hikers find the road mostly level. The first two miles offer the dramatic footage of this video. The path is wider and not as dangerous in most places. Psalm 121, one of the “psalms of ascent,” is a perfect song to sing while facing such a daunting hike. It’s easy to picture any of the Bible’s travelers singing the words of this “climbing song” as they traveled. Even the “valley of the shadow of death” from Psalm 23 may be an offhand reference to this road.