One of the many stories in the Bible is about Zacchaeus, a Tax Collector who climbed a Sycamore Tree so he could get a glimpse of Jesus. This took place in Jericho. So it was very interesting to see some very old sycamore trees in Jericho just off the main street.
These photos of a sycamore tree show that they are a very large tree and would have provided a good vantage point to be able to see. If the trees were this mature at the time of Jesus, I am sure Zacchaeus, being a person that was short, would have need assistance to be able to climb the trunk of the tree
Luke 19:1-10
New International Version (NIV)
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
For more information about Jericho
- 2014-04-04 – Galilee to Jerusalem via Jericho
- Jericho
- Jericho – Archaeological Digs
- Jericho – Elisha Springs Fountain
- Jericho – Fruit and Veg Shop
- Jericho – Sycamore Tree
- Jericho – Temptation Mount