Why is Jericho still here?

[DamianWarS]

I recently read in Joshua 6 after the destruction of Jericho that Joshua cursed the ruins before God to the one who rebuilds the city. Joshua's curse says "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates". Ironically today Jericho is thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world and despite Joshua's curse some one did rebuild the city. Now granted maybe their firstborn did die as the curse goes but it seems to be the curse's focus is not so much about the punishment than it is about not rebuilding the city. So whether the letter of the curse was met or not it would seem the spirit of it was ignored since Jericho was rebuild and not only stands today but is a symbol of antiquity that has stood the test of time. So does the curse imply Jericho should not have been rebuild and if so why is Jericho standing today?

 

[branchofthevine]

1 Kings 16:34
34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun


it was rebuilt, and the penalty was paid.

Plus, Jericho has a spring of water which is desirable in a geographical terrain like the Near East.

Moreover, many cities were built, destroyed, and then rebuilt. It is normal for cities in the Near East.

Hopefully this helps.

 

[Lilly Owl]

Still learning my way through the Bible but yet well aware of Jericho, I thought to seek an answer to an intriguing OP question. I found this.

Fact Finder: There were three cities named Jericho. The Old Testament era city, now again a total ruin, was located slightly northwest of the present-day city. The New Testament era Jericho was near the site of the most ancient one. Did Jesus Christ ever visit the Jericho that existed in that time? (a) Did He heal blind people there? (b) Did He bring "salvation to the house of a publican" there?
(a) Matthew 20:29-34
(b) Luke 19:1-10

 

[DamianWarS]

1 Kings 16:34
34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun


it was rebuilt, and the penalty was paid.

Plus, Jericho has a spring of water which is desirable in a geographical terrain like the Near East.

Moreover, many cities were built, destroyed, and then rebuilt. It is normal for cities in the Near East.

Hopefully this helps.

I was wondering if there was a later mentioned account of something like this. And there it is just as you have shown... thanks for the verse... if I have taken the time to look at a good cross reference bible I would have found this a lot sooner. The moment I checked the verse in the NASB there is a reference to 1 Kings 16:34. I suppose Jericho was rebuild and the curse was paid.

 

[pshun2404]

I recently read in Joshua 6 after the destruction of Jericho that Joshua cursed the ruins before God to the one who rebuilds the city. Joshua's curse says "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates". Ironically today Jericho is thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world and despite Joshua's curse some one did rebuild the city. Now granted maybe their firstborn did die as the curse goes but it seems to be the curse's focus is not so much about the punishment than it is about not rebuilding the city. So whether the letter of the curse was met or not it would seem the spirit of it was ignored since Jericho was rebuild and not only stands today but is a symbol of antiquity that has stood the test of time. So does the curse imply Jericho should not have been rebuild and if so why is Jericho standing today?

It was as he had seen in his vision...

Paul