JerichoJericho is often considered the oldest city in the world, with a history spanning over ten thousand years. This ancient city is located in the Canaan region at the lower end of the Jordan Valley, approximately eight miles north of the Dead (Salt) Sea. It sits 840 feet below sea level, making it the lowest-lying city in the world. Hunters were attracted to this location because of the abundance of water sources nearby. Aqueducts and other irrigation systems were built very early, making the city an agricultural center. By 8,000 BC, approximately 2,000 people had settled permanently near present-day Jericho (Metzger and Coogan, 1993). Jericho was an important city in the Old Testament. The city was invaded and devastated several times. However, it was always reoccupied – sometimes quickly and sometimes very slowly. Herod the Great, Cleopatra, and Augustus are among 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 course, they could avoid crossing Samaritan territory (Metzger and Coogan, 1993). Jericho is perhaps best known, especially by young people, as the city where Joshua won the battle. This story of marches, screams and collapsing walls is unbelievable unless you attribute it to the almighty power of God. The capture of Jericho is significant because it is the beginning of the war of conquest and the first time that a ritual act, "herem", is implemented. “Herem” refers to God’s judgment on the condemned and his preservation of those who remain faithful to him. In the story of the fall of Jericho, Rahab and the inhabitants of her house were the only inhabitants of Jericho who survived Joshua's conquest. The city's true victory belongs to the Lord, for the city was achieved through obedience to His commandments (Coogan 2001). The fall of Jericho has a lot of symbolism. For seven days the Israelite kings and soldiers marched around the city walls. On the seventh day they surrounded 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..