JerichoJericho is often called the oldest city on earth, with a history of over ten thousand years. This ancient city is located in the Canaan region, at the lower end of the Jordan Valley, about eight miles north of the Dead (Salt) Sea. It sits 840 feet below sea level, making it the lowest city in the world. Hunters were attracted to this place because of the abundant water sources nearby. Aqueducts and other irrigation systems were built early, making the city an agricultural center. By 8000 BC, approximately 2,000 people had permanently settled near present-day Jericho (Metzger and Coogan, 1993). Jericho was an important city in the Old Testament. The city was conquered and devastated several times. However, it was always reoccupied, sometimes quickly and other times very slowly. Herod the Great, Cleopatra, and Augustus are some of the powerful rulers who once claimed part or all of Jericho. Many Galileans crossed the Jordan Valley and passed through Jericho on their way to Jerusalem. By following this route, they could have avoided passing through Samaritan territory (Metzger and Coogan, 1993). Jericho is perhaps best known, especially by young people, as the city where Joshua was victorious in battle. This story of marching, shouting, and collapsing walls is unbelievable unless you attribute it to the almighty power of God. The capture of Jericho is significant because it marks the beginning of the war of conquest and the first time an act was carried out ritual, "herem". “Herem” refers to God's judgment on the condemned and the preservation of those who remain faithful to him. In the story of the fall of Jericho, Rahab and those of her house were the only residents of Jericho to survive Joshua's conquest. The true victory of the city belongs to the Lord as the city was achieved through obedience to His commands (Coogan 2001). The Fall of Jericho involves a great deal of symbolism. For seven days the Israelite kings and soldiers marched around the city walls. On the seventh day they went around him seven times while seven priests carried seven trumpets. The number seven recalls the seven days of creation in Genesis. This implies the creation of a new order and foreshadows the success that will follow the first great battle of the holy war.