John Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 34:3

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

And the south, etc.] The southern part of the land, even all of it; and having shown him that, he is directed eastward to take a view of the plain of the valley of Jericho; which lay before him, a delightful plain; (see <060510>Joshua 5:10); the city of palm trees; so Jericho was called, because of the multitude of palm trees which grew there, and which Josephus not only testifies f661, who speaks of it as a plain planted with palm trees, and from whence balsam comes; but several Heathen writers: Pliny says f662 Jericho was set with palm trees; Diodorus Siculus f663 speaks of the country about Jericho as abounding with palm trees, and in a certain valley, meaning the vale or plains of Jericho, is produced that which is called balsam; so Strabo says f664 , Jericho is a plain surrounded with mountains abounding with palm trees, where there is a plantation of palm trees, with other fruit trees, the space of a hundred furlongs: unto Zoar; near the salt sea; (see <011922>Genesis 19:22).

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