Note 1 at Lk. 18:35: The Greek word used for Jericho is "hiericho." The original meaning of the word is uncertain but many feel that the Hebrew form "yeriho" is connected to the root word "yareah" meaning "moon," linking this to the early Semitic moon-god Yarih or Yerah.

Jericho was the second largest city in Palestine. It was situated 5 miles west of the Jordan and about 17 miles east- northeast of Jerusalem. It was located on the main road from the region beyond Jordan to Jerusalem. This road was the scene of the parable of the good Samaritan (Lk. 10:30-37). At Jericho, Jesus gave sight to blind Bartimaeus (Mt. 20:34; Mk. 10:52; Lk. 18:43), and brought salvation to Zacchaeus' house (Lk. 19:1-10).

Jericho was about 825 feet below the Mediterranean Sea level making it a very tropical climate. It was known as the city of palm trees (Jud. 3:13). In Jesus' time, Jericho of the Old Testament had been largely abandoned and a new city was built south of the old one by Herod the Great around 37 B.C.-4 B.C. (see note 5 at Lk. 10:30, p. 253).