Ein as-Sultan / Elisha’s Spring

Ein as-Sultan rises beside ancient Jericho and remains part of the oasis’s water landscape. Its other familiar name, Elisha’s Spring, recalls a biblical act of purification.

The municipality links the spring with Elisha’s purification of Jericho’s water. Jewish and Christian scripture provides the religious frame for that association.

Locate the natural spring rather than the separate roadside fountain or a general pin for the tell. Water infrastructure and visitor areas need to remain clear.

In the biblical account, people bring Elisha a new vessel containing salt. He casts the salt at the spring and announces that the water has been healed. Local interpretation identifies this with Ein as-Sultan. The story is a religious account of restored life, not an instruction to treat drinking water by adding salt.

The spring is opposite Tell es-Sultan, the archaeological mound. The two places are related through Jericho’s settlement history but are distinct physical features.

The evidence supports a biblical association and pilgrimage interpretation. It does not verify an organized contemporary rite at the source.

The biblical narrative and Jericho’s continuing dependence on water each help explain this place. Sacred interpretation should retain the Palestinian town’s present context.

Continue through the atlas by country, tradition, physical form, or a focused search that combines this place’s strongest context.

Explore other sacred places in the region. Proximity does not establish access or travel time; check each place’s guidance.

Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan

Jericho, Jericho Governorate, Palestinian Territories

0.1 km away

Baptism Site 'Bethany Beyond the Jordan'

Al-Maghtas, Al-Maghtas, Balqa Governorate, Jordan

10.6 km away

Tomb of Lazarus, Bethany

Al-Eizariya, Palestinian Territories

21.0 km away

Tomb of Mary, Valley of Cedron, Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel

21.9 km away

Sources consulted for this page. Source categories describe the publication, not a guarantee that every claim is verified. Traditional accounts and outside interpretations may differ.

1. 01Old Jericho: Tell al-Sultan — Jericho MunicipalityofficialMunicipal account locates spring opposite tell and records Elisha salt-purification tradition; 2014 hours not treated as current.
2. 02Tell es-Sultan — Visit PalestineSource contextLiving spring and local water supply; biblical Elisha association.
3. 03نبع عين السلطان — OpenStreetMap contributorsSource contextSpecific mapped feature checked against authority description; not a nearby swimming pool or town center.