Today’s The World Around Us will be presented in Arabic and English, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Thai and Spanish.

Greetings spiritual viewers. Welcome to today’s The World Around Us. Please join us as we explore the holy sites of Jericho in Palestine. Jericho, a verdant oasis city in the desert, is believed to be one of the oldest few cities in the world.

It is also the lowest city in altitude, 250 meters below the sea level. Due to its geography, this warm and fertile land produces a variety of fruits and vegetables of good quality. Among them the most famous ones are figs, dates, bananas, and citrus fruits. The mild weather here also makes this place an ideal winter resort.

However, for many tourists, the most attractive aspect of this city comes from its historical and religious significance. The name of Jericho carries many beautiful meanings. It is originated from the Semitic word “yerah,” which means “the moon.”

To the Syriacs, the city’s name meant “scent.” The city is also called “the city of palm trees” in the Bible. Josephus, the Jewish historian who was born in the year 37, called it “eudaimonestate,” which means “the most blessed.”

The old city of Jericho lies 2 km northwest of the modern Jericho. This site, called Tell es-Sultan, meaning Sultan's Hill, was first excavated using modern techniques by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon. Dating to 9000 BC, the site is believed to be the Jericho often mentioned in the Old Testament.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts by archaeologists, 23 layers of ancient civilizations at this mound have been uncovered. The existing structures here include stairs and walls that are considered the oldest in the world, as well as the massive round tower, called the Neolithic tower. It is 8.5 m in diameter and 7.6 m in height and dates approximately to 8000 BC.

The fertility of Jericho comes from the Jordan River and other springs. One famous spring is known as “Spring of Elisha,” or Ein es-Sultan, which is located at the foot of Tell es-Sultan. This spring, which normally flows at a remarkable 4,500 liters of water per minute, is believed to be the spring mentioned in the chapter of Kings in the Bible.

The story tells that when Prophet Elisha passed by, villagers told him that the well water was not good. He then purified the well water by casting salt into it. He told the villagers that the water was healed and that the land would be productive again.

As stated in the Bible, “the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.” A tourist once described the water as “so clear and clean and pure and it tastes like nothing that I’ve ever drunk.”

The Jordan River, which is another source of fertility for the plain, flows in the area 7 km east of Jericho. The river also carries a religious significance as it was where Jesus Christ received his baptism from John the Baptist. As John the Baptist had predicted, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

On the west of ancient Jericho lies the Mount of Temptation. This steep mountain is where Jesus Christ spent 40 days and nights fasting, meditating and resisting the temptations from Satan.

A Biblical account of what happened tells us: “…the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.” All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

Today, the mountain can easily be reached through cable cars going up from Tel Jericho. The long trip all the way up to the mountain allows visitors to overlook the breathtaking sceneries of the ancient Jericho. From the top station, a few minutes’ walk can lead one to the Monastery of Qarantal. The word Qarantal, meaning “forty,” indicates to the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness.

The current monastery was constructed in 1895 to replace the earlier church of the 12th century. It is believed to be the very place where Jesus meditated and encountered the test. On the eastern slopes of the mountain, there are other thirty to forty caves in which the early Christian monks and hermits inhabited.

We are now on the mountain of Temptation. Here behind me, you can see the monastery. In this place, Jesus Christ stayed 40 nights and days fasting and worshipping God. During his stay here, the Satan tried to seduce him. And he told him in the Bible, “If you are the son of God throw yourself down, down here.”

But Jesus Christ didn’t accept that because he was determined to worship God and be a good man and prophet. In this mountain you see there are some caves. It is believed that Jesus Christ was living here. And then he went to Jericho there. He took a rest under a tree in that area. And then he went to the Jordan River.

When we return, we will continue our expedition in the biblical city of Jericho. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television.

Welcome back to The World Around Us and our journey to Jericho, an oasis city that holds both archeological and biblical importance. The Bible states that when Jesus Christ passed through Jericho, he healed two blind men.

When the blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming, he cried out and begged for Jesus’ mercy. Jesus called him and asked what he wanted. The blind man said, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” And Jesus replied, “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.” The blind man immediately regained his sight and followed Jesus in praise of God.

Jericho is also the place where Jesus Christ met the local tax collector named Zacchaeus. With a special affinity with Jesus, Zacchaeus, a short man, climbed on to a sycamore tree in order to see him. Jesus saw the man, and said he would sojourn at his house.

Zacchaeus used to impose excessive taxes upon the poor, so when Jesus chose to stay with him, the villagers were not happy. However, they were surprised to find that Jesus’ infinite compassion transformed Zacchaeus’ heart into a loving and noble one.

Jesus Christ taught this man many things about Christianity and about mercy, and how to be very kind to people and gentle. Therefore, the heart of the clansman gets very weak, and he repents, he becomes a good and righteous man.

Now after that this man had donated half of his estates to the poor people. Therefore the Prophet Jesus called him that “Today, your house has been saved.”

This is the story of the tree. As I told you before, this is one of the most holiest trees in Palestine. We do respect here and we do hope that it lives.

Next, we’re going to visit the Dead Sea, a unique scenic salt lake. This lake is about 10 km south of the Jericho. Located 400 meters below sea level, this is the lowest spot on the surface of the Earth. The heavy salt enables people to float while swimming. You can even lie on the surface of the water and enjoy reading at the same time. The mud of the Dead Sea is cherished for containing rich minerals and nutrients that are beneficial to the skin.

On the western shore of the Dead Sea lies another holy site, Qumran, which is located 20 km south of Jericho. The famous Dead Sea Scrolls were written and found in the caves here. These scrolls offer exclusive insights about the religious vegetarian group of Essenes, which scholars believe Jesus belonged to.

The Essenes lived a harmonious life respecting nature and all lives. It’s stated in the “Gospel of the Holy Twelve,” one of their scriptures, that Jesus taught, “You shall not take away the life of any creature for your pleasure, nor for your profit, nor yet torment it.” Thus, Jesus Christ was a vegetarian.

The significance of the city of Jericho extends to Islam in the later days. In the 8th century, the 10th Umayyad caliph, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, established his winter palace here, which is now the archaeological site, Hisham's Palace. This palace contains spectacular ancient architectures, including buildings, baths, mosques and colonnaded courts.

As an art patron, Caliph Hisham built his palace with beautiful mosaics and stucco ornaments of Islamic art. It is believed that his mild and upright governance had brought this land a period of peace and prosperity.

Now we are at the Hisham's palace. The palace actually was built by the Caliph. The building site here, we call the Winter Palace. The place is built here back to the 8th century AD, at most 1,200 years old. We have the main entrance here.

That is the star, that is the window of the palace. The palace actually was two stories built one top of the other.

This is the guest rooms here. The guests were the people [who] have been invited. There is a tree here. We call [it] “The Tree of the Life.”

Look how very, very tiny mosaic floor, back to the eight century AD.

This is the heating stove for the sauna. There is a sauna where it came up the opening, canals and the water that is coming from there is come to this side and the people would stand in here.

As a devout Muslim, Caliph Hisham had performed his Hajj pilgrimage in the second year after his accession to the throne. His palace also contains mosques as well as Mihrabs, a special place for worshipping and praying, facing the direction of Mecca.

The second Mosque here of the palace and that is for the time of the Caliph when they’re praying here and that faces Mecca area. And there is a Mihrab.

The step here that’s for the Mihrab, and that’s [what] faces Mecca.

It is truly amazing to see the many pieces of evidence that are consistent with scriptural stories in Jericho and recall the glorious days of the past. While visiting these sacred sites, may all of us be reminded to find our inner glory and regain Heaven within as did the saints past.

Thank you for joining us today on The World Around Us. Coming up next is Words of Wisdom, after Noteworthy News, on Supreme Master Television. May you be blessed with infinite love and peace.