Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 20:29

"And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him." — Matthew 20:29 (ASV)

And as they departed from Jericho. This was a large town about eight miles west of the Jordan, and about nineteen miles northeast from Jerusalem. Near this city the Israelites crossed the Jordan, when they entered into the land of Canaan (Joshua 13:16). It was the first city taken by Joshua, who destroyed it to the foundation and pronounced a curse on him who should rebuild it (Joshua 6:20, 21, 26).

This curse was literally fulfilled in the days of Ahab—nearly five hundred years later (1 Kings 16:34). It afterwards became the site of the school of the prophets (2 Kings 2:6). In this place Elisha performed a remarkable miracle, greatly benefiting the inhabitants, by making the waters near it, which were previously bitter, sweet and wholesome (2 Kings 2:21). In point of size, it was second only to Jerusalem. It was sometimes called the city of palm-trees, because many palms grew in the vicinity. A few of them are still remaining (2 Chronicles 28:15; Judges 1:16; Judges 3:13).

At this place Herod the Great died of a most wretched and foul disease (see the commentary on Matthew 2:10).

It is now a small village, wretched in its appearance, inhabited by very few people, and called Riha, or Rah. It is situated on the ruins of the ancient city (or, as some think, three or four miles east of it), which a modern traveller describes as a poor, dirty Arab village. There are perhaps fifty houses of rough stone, with roofs of bushes and mud, and the population, two hundred or three hundred in number, is entirely Muslim.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho lies through what is called the wilderness of Jericho and is described by modern travellers as the most dangerous and forbidding in Palestine. As recently as 1820, an English traveller, Sir Frederick Henniker, was attacked on this road by Arabs with firearms, who left him naked and severely wounded (see the commentary on Luke 10:30).

Jesus was going to Jerusalem. He had left Samaria and crossed the Jordan (Matthew 19:1). His regular journey was therefore through Jericho.

As they departed from Jericho. Luke says, "As he was come nigh unto Jericho." The original word used in Luke, translated was come nigh, commonly expresses approach to a place. But it does not necessarily mean that always. It may denote nearness to a place, whether going to it or from it.

It would be correctly rendered here, "when they were near Jericho," or "when they were in its vicinity," without saying whether they were going to or from it. Matthew and Mark say they were going from it. The passage in Luke 19:1, "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho," which seems to be mentioned as having taken place after the cure of the blind man, does not necessarily suppose that.

That passage might be intended to be connected with the account of Zaccheus, and not to denote the order of time in which these events took place, but simply that, as he was passing through Jericho, Zaccheus sought to see him and invited him to his house. Historians vary in the circumstances and order of events.

The main facts of the narrative are observed. And such variations of circumstances and order, where there is no palpable contradiction, show the honesty of the writers. They show that they did not conspire together to deceive and are, in all courts of justice, considered confirmations of the truth of the testimony.