Palm Trees, The City of

The city of palm trees is a biblical designation for Jericho, the ancient fortified city situated in the Jordan valley near the northern end of the Dead Sea. The name reflects the abundant groves of date palms for which the region was famous in antiquity. It occurs in Deuteronomy 34:3, where Moses views Jericho from Mount Nebo, and in Judges 1:16 and 3:13, where the location is referenced in connection with the Kenites and with Eglon king of Moab.

Jericho was one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in the ancient world, and its palm-laden oasis setting made it a prized agricultural and strategic center. The title city of palm trees evokes the lush character of the Jordan valley in contrast to the surrounding wilderness, and continued to serve as a poetic synonym for Jericho in later usage.