How long does it take to walk from Jericho to Jerusalem? It took me 8 hours today to cover the distance of 15 miles (24 km) with an elevation increase of about 3400 feet (1060 m). Not counting breaks, our group of 15 walked for six and a half hours. It would have taken longer if it had been hotter or if we had run into Condoleeza Rice. Fortunately, she went to Jericho today to solve the Middle East conflict.
Jesus traveled this route many times. In fact, every time that he came to Jerusalem from Galilee, he would have traveled up the same Ascent of Adumim (unless permitted to travel through Samaria; cf. John 4 and Luke 9:52-53). Scriptures record at least one trip of Jesus through Samaria and two trips by way of Jericho. My guess is that he went this way dozens of times in his life. Probably his parents had to climb back up to Jerusalem after realizing that their twelve-year-old boy wasn’t in their caravan (Luke 2:41-50). I would’ve been upset myself to have to make that return journey.
Parts of the Roman road are still visible in places, and the way today is safe and pleasant. We didn’t see any thieves, but did make a stop at the traditional “Inn of the Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37).
Roman road from Jerusalem to Jericho
Sidenote: A couple of years ago I put together a photo essay on Jesus’ Final Journey to Jerusalem for Jerusalem Perspective.
11 thoughts on “Jericho to Jerusalem”
This post was chosen for the inaugural (and experimental) This Week in Early Writings.
I’m spending time preparing for a keynote/Bible Study on the Good Samaritan.
I stumbled across your blog describe your walking trip “Jericho to Jerusalem”.
I’m becoming very interested in Khan el-Ahmar, as it could have been the image of an “inn” that Jesus was drawing upon. Do you think Jesus perhaps stopped there on his own journeys? Where is it exactly in relation to Jerusalem and Jericho?
Rev. James Byers
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Rev. Byers – the site is on the road between the two and about mid-way between Jerusalen and Jericho. I think it is less likely that there was an inn here in ancient times, as the trip between Jerusalem and Jericho is a single day’s journey. Thus inns on either end would be sufficient. I am unaware of any remains in the area earlier than the Byzantine period. Certainly though Jesus passed by this area many times.
I thought Jesus probably stoped at Mary, Martha and Lazarus home in Bethany as He traveled from Jericho to Jerusalem. They seemed to be close enough to Jerusalem, yet allowed Jesus and His group the opportunity to refresh, rest and prepare to enter Jerusalem.
The whole Samaritan story was probably something Jesus had witnessed. Jesus did say that if you do something good for someone who is sick, you also do it to Jesus, and if you don't do something for someone who is sick, you don't do it for Jesus. But how does one interpret that line? Obviously Jesus wants us to be good to the less fortunate. But is Jesus always with the less fortunate? Is he there watching? Was he there when the Samaritan did his good deed? Was Jesus the man who fell among thieves? Or was he merely watching? This couldn't have been a made up story. He didn't say it was a parable, and when He spoke, He always spoke the truth, because He was the truth.
The whole Samaritan story was probably something Jesus had witnessed. Jesus did say that if you do something good for someone who is sick, you also do it to Jesus, and if you don't do something for someone who is sick, you don't do it for Jesus. But how does one interpret that line? Obviously Jesus wants us to be good to the less fortunate. But is Jesus always with the less fortunate? Is he there watching? Was he there when the Samaritan did his good deed? Was Jesus the man who fell among thieves? Or was he merely watching? This couldn't have been a made up story. He didn't say it was a parable, and when He spoke, He always spoke the truth, because He was the truth.
i love this website, because it given me answer for me to identify distance of jerusalem to jericho. Jehovah Shalom…..
I'm doing a Sunday School lesson on the good Samaritan, thanks for your blog post. I will use some of the information!
thx a lot jesus bless u
We have apparently made the assumption that Jesus walked from Jericho to Bethany straight on discarding the fact that Jesus dined and rested for the night at the home of zackius, the tax collector who Jesus called out of the cycamore tree.
The next morning Jesus resumed his trek to Bethany arriving in the afternoon and in Bethany “they made Him a supper” and Jesus rested.
The next morning, nourished and rested, Jesus went to the top of The Mount of Olives where He ministered to the people while 2 disciples went to bethpage to procure a donkey and her colt for Jesus to ride down to Jerusalemon Palm Friday; there never was a Palm Sunday; Palm Sunday is yet another bastard given birth from the bowels of Roman Catholicism.
The blog is gratefully appreciated for its helpful perspective to anyone who has never made the ascent from Jericho to Jerusalem. It provokes thoughts about weary legs from the hours of ascending 3400 feet on a 15-mile walk. It makes me imagine the infusion of energy on seeing Jerusalem after cresting the Mount of Olive and the welcome relief of starting to walk downhill. It even prompts me to think about what it would have meant to continue on to enter and cleanse the temple after such a full day’s journey. Mr. Deaver’s complaints (challenging the day of the week of the ascent and purporting a “bastard…birth” of the church’s commemoration of the day) are irrelevant. The blog makes no reference to the day of the week and says nothing about the church’s commemoration. What it offers is the invaluable chance to share the experience of a contemporary visitor making the ascent in our time that the Bible plainly tells us Jesus made on his last trip to Jerusalem two thousand years ago. Then, by extending that experience to Jesus’ parents, as they retraced their steps back uphill to Jerusalem to find the son who had been left behind, it invites us to remember the ascent as an experience shared by generations of pilgrims who walked those miles and climbed those heights to Jerusalem for all the great temple festivals.