Today the Jordan River forms much of the international boundary between Israel … The crossing of the Jordan was made possible by a mudslide, itself caused by an earthquake precisely where the book of Joshua specifies. The Jordan River played a crucial role in the Old Testament, since it formed the border that the Israelites crossed to enter the Promised Land, which was then occupied by the Canaanites. Informative study providing facts about the Jordan River and the biblical events that happened there. The Jordan Valley (The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan). Jordan is the name of a river and a country. Bible Thought of the Day. Read on to find out why. Therefore, water being the source of life, is of utmost importance. Most of At least four water sources, arising at the foothills of Mount Hermon, come together to form the Jordan River. The Jordan river is the only river that flows all year round with fresh water. The Jordan Valley, extending from the outlet of the Jordan River at the Sea of Galilee to its inlet into the Dead Sea, a little over 62 miles to the south as the crow flies, reveals the variety of landscapes and sites for which Israel is famous, highlighted here from north to south.. The first mention of the Jordan is when Abraham and Lot parted company: "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of The Lord, like the land of Egypt , in the direction of Zoar; this was before The Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. This river falls nearly 2,500 feet from its start near Mount Hermon. According to the Bible, King David reigned over a large territory and his son Solomon over an even larger one. More Biblical Archaeology - Significant Discoveries from Ancient Empires. Sign In Sign Up. Picture Study Bible - StudyBible with Pictures and Maps. One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. The Jordan is also a place of healing, including that of Naaman the Syrian, who was commanded to immerse himself in the river by Elijah and was healed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5). Because of its great length and central location, the Jordan River is mentioned in the Bible over 185 times. In the New Testament, John the Baptist most likely baptized Christ on the eastern side of the Jordan River. The name Jordan, which means "descender" was likely given to the river because of the great fall in altitude. The Jordan Valley (Daily Bible Study). THOUGH counted small among mighty rivers of the earth, the Jordan is no insignificant stream. The Jordan River is mentioned indirectly in Genesis 13, where Lot and Abraham are dividing up the land to which God had led them. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.”(Matt.3:3) The Jordan River flows through the Jordan Rift Valley into the Sea of the Galilee and then continues down into the Dead Sea with no outlet. Torrey's Topical Textbook. In biblical times, the river Jordan was both a source of life and a great barrier. Along its banks stirring events have been enacted, and by its waters vital pages of history have been written. It is the main source of water for the Sea of Galilee and continues all the way south till the Dead Sea. Books; Themes and Organization; People and Places; Bible Thought of the Day THOUGH counted small among mighty rivers of the earth, the Jordan is no insignificant stream. It flows along the Syrian/African rift (a geological event that happened 20 million years ago). New life — but also a barrier. I want to thank Pastor Mike (Todd) Fink for this great video. Jordan River. Books; Themes and Organization; People and Places; Bible Thought of the Day In biblical times, the river Jordan was both a source of life and a great barrier. The Jordan River plays an important role in the Old Testament as the border of the land that God gives to the Israelites. Deuteronomy 34 The Jordan River (The Jordan river and Jordan valley are referenced over 180 times in the Bible. The Baptism of the Lord Celebration is a feast commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by the John the Baptist. According to the Catholic Church’s tradition, the holiday is celebrated always on … For hundreds of years, the Jordan remained desolate. Following Moses' death, as Joshua led the Israelites across the river, God produced dry land when the priests carrying the Ark of Covenant stepped into the water. It’s for that reason that for millennia people have chosen to live on its banks. (2.) After the nation crossed, Joshua made a fundamental comparison: For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed. Furthermore, they were entering enemy territory opposite Jericho, a major fortress city of the Canaanites. The historian Josephus says that John was beheaded at Machaerus, Herod’s fortress in Jordan near the Dead Sea. When the priests of God left the Jordan’s eastern banks and stepped into its current, the river stopped flowing upstream at a site called Adam. Along its banks stirring events have been enacted, and by its waters vital pages of history have been written. 15522 W Paradise Ln, Surprise, AZ 85374, USA. It’s a source of life in a similar way to the Nile, though on a much smaller scale. Numerous references to the Jordan River appear in the New Testament. Mt Nebo (the Mountain where Moses was shown the Holy Land and then passed away.) The Jordan River starts where the Hasbani River of Lebanon, and Banias River from Syria meet. Bible > Topical > the River Jordan the River Jordan: Remarkable Events Connected With: Its Division by Elijah Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Resources. More Biblical Archaeology - Significant Discoveries from Ancient Empires. But in spite of the problems, Israel crossed the Jordan River because God had promised them the Land. At that time, the river was parted for the people to cross on dry land. Bible Thought of the Day. The Yarmuk River of Syria is an important tributary further downstream. The Baptism of Jesus is not the only noteworthy biblical event to feature the Jordan River. result of the melting snowfalls from the peaks above. The Jordan River was the setting for many of the the great events in the Bible. The Jordan River is mentioned in the … 10 km south of the Sea of Galilee it becomes to be the border between Israel and the Jordanian Kingdom. The Jordan is significant for Jews because the tribes of Israel under Joshua crossed the river on dry ground to enter the Promised Land after years of wandering in the desert. Mayat 2.7.15. It rarely rains in the Jordan Valley — but thanks to the river, plants grow in abundance. 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