WERE THE BLIND CURED ENTERING OR LEAVING JERICHO ?

- WERE THE BLIND CURED ON ENTERING OR ON LEAVING JERICHO ? -

THE APPARENT ANOMALY

According to Matthew and Mark the miracle took place when they were leaving Jericho. According to Luke it appears the miracle took place as the Lord was approaching Jericho.

MATTHEW 20
²⁹And as they departed from* Jericho, a great multitude followed him. ³⁰And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, Oh Lord, you Son of David. ³¹And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David. ³²And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will you that I shall do to you? ³³They said to him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. ³⁴So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. MARK 10
⁴⁶And they come into Jericho then as Jesus himself was coming out of^# Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. ⁴⁷And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁸And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried a great deal more, You Son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁹And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls you. ⁵⁰And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. ⁵¹And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do for you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. ⁵²And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. LUKE 18
³⁵ And it came to pass, that as he was drawing near to^$ Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: ³⁶And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. ³⁷And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. ³⁸And he cried, saying, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me. ³⁹And those who went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, You Son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁰And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought to him: and when he had come near, he asked him, ⁴¹Saying, What will you that I shall do for you? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. ⁴²And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight: your faith has saved you. ⁴³And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and when all the people saw it, they praised God.

* Matthew 20:29 "as they departed from Jericho" ekporeuomenwn autwn apo 'iericw = as they themselves were departing away from Jericho

^# Mark 10:46 "they come into Jericho
then as Jesus himself was coming out of Jericho" ercontai eiV 'iericw
kai ekporeuomenou autou apo 'iericw =
= they come into Jericho
and as he himself is departing away from Jericho

^$ Luke 18:35 "it came to pass, that as he was drawing near to Jericho" egeneto de en tw eggizein auton eiV 'iericw .... = on the route into Jericho he encounters ....

THREE FEASIBLE EXPLANATIONS

1) The phrase "he was drawing near to" (from the Greek verb eggizw) is translated "he was come nigh" in the King James Version (AV). This is the verbs most common meaning. However it could also mean 'to be near to' as in the LXX of 1 Kings 21:2 AV. "because it is near to my house" and Deuteronomy 21:3 AV. and 6 "the city next to the slain man". ^{NOTE 1}

2) At that time there were two cities named Jericho: the city destroyed by Joshua (Joshua 6:24-26) which was rebuilt and destroyed several times and one subsequently built a little further west by Herod the Great. The ruins of these are still evident.^NOTE
2 The curing of the blind men could have taken place after the Lord had passed through the tell of old Jericho and before he entered Herod's Jericho.^NOTE
3
Click here for a detailed presentation of this view

3) The suggestion that one person was cured as the Lord Jesus approached the vicinity of Herod's Jericho and others as he left should not be dismissed because they are similar. The Lord did numerous things that have not been written down.[John 21:25] Of those that are recorded some of them very similar. ^NOTE⁴
Luke records how on the approach to Jericho a blind man wanted to know the reason for the commotion and learns it was the Lord Jesus, followed him glorifying God and everyone who saw it praised God as Jesus entered and passed through the city.
No doubt other blind men who also begged on the highway near Jericho learned what the Lord Jesus had done for this man. So hearing that the Lord Jesus was passing by, as he left the city, they pleaded with him for their sight to be restored. Timeous was probable well known in the early church which could account for Mark mentioning him in particular.
For me this is the most satisfactory explanation.

When, as here, there are any possible explanations for an apparent anomaly, there is no justification in claiming that there is a contradiction.

Allan Ashurst [July 2005]

NOTES

1	Acknowledgement: A Harmony of the Gospels. In the words of the Authorized Version. The Religious Tract Society, London. Appendix p.214, Note to section 109.
2	When on line visit www.bibleplaces.com for a panoramic view looking east as far as the river Jordon looking over the ruins of Herod's Jericho and the tell of old Jericho.
3	Acknowledgement A Harmony of the Gospels by James MacKnight, 1819. vol.1, Sec.107, p.345
4	Note the similarities between the two occasions when the Lord Jesus fed large crowds. Yet there is no doubt that they are different events since both are recorded by Matthew and also by Mark. [The 5,000: Matthew 14:13-22, Mark 6:32-45,. The 4,000: Matthew 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-10] They both record how the Lord Jesus himself refers to them as separate incidents. [Matthew 16:9-10, Mark 8:18-21]

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*	Matthew 20:29	"as they departed from Jericho"	ekporeuomenwn autwn apo 'iericw	=	as they themselves were departing away from Jericho
^#	Mark 10:46	"they come into Jericho then as Jesus himself was coming out of Jericho"	ercontai eiV 'iericw kai ekporeuomenou autou apo 'iericw	= =	they come into Jericho and as he himself is departing away from Jericho
^$	Luke 18:35	"it came to pass, that as he was drawing near to Jericho"	egeneto de en tw eggizein auton eiV 'iericw ....	=	on the route into Jericho he encounters ....