Jericho was one of the cities anciently set apart for the priests, and at this time large numbers of priests had their residence there. But the city had also a population of a widely different character. It was a great center of traffic, and Roman officials and soldiers, with strangers from different quarters, were found there, while the collection of customs made it the home of many publicans.

Jeriko hørte til de byer, der oprindeligt var forbeholdt præsterne, og på dette tidspunkt var der en mængde af præsterne, der havde deres hjem her. Men byen havde også en befolkning af en ganske anden slags. Den var en stor handelsby, og romerske embedsmænd og soldater færdedes der sammen med fremmede fra forskellige egne af landet, medens de forskellige toldsteder gjorde den til hjemsted for mange toldere.