Difference between revisions of "Jordan"

<p> From '''''Yarad''''' "to descend," Arab. "the watering place." Always with the [[Hebrew]] article "the Jordan," except &nbsp;Job 40:23; &nbsp;Psalms 42:6. 200 miles long from its source at Antilebanon to the head of the [[Dead]] Sea. It is not navigable, nor has it ever had a large town on its banks. The cities [[Bethshan]] and [[Jericho]] on the W., and Gerasa, Pella, and [[Gadara]] to the E. of Jordan, produced intercourse between the two sides of the river. Yet it is remarkable as the river of the great plain (ha Arabah, now el Ghor) of the [[Holy]] Land, flowing through the whole from N. to S. [[Lot]] from the hills on the N.W. of [[Sodom]] seeing the plain well watered by it, as Egypt is by the Nile (Lot's allusion to Egypt is apposite, [[Abram]] having just left it: &nbsp;Genesis 12:10-20), chose that district as his home, in spite of the notorious wickedness of the people (&nbsp;Genesis 13:10). Its sources are three. The northernmost near Hasbeya between Hermon and Lebanon; the stream is called Hasbany. </p> <p> The second is best known, near Banias, i.e. [[Caesarea]] [[Philippi]] (the scene of Peter's confession, &nbsp;Matthew 16:16); a large pool beneath a high cliff, fed by gushing streamlets, rising at the mouth of a deep cave; thence the [[Jordan]] flows, a considerable stream. The third is at Dan, or Tel el Kady (Daphne); from the N.W. corner of a green eminence a spring bursts forth into a clear wide pool, which sends a broad stream into the valley. The three streams unite at Tel Dafneh, and flow sluggishly through marsh land into lake [[Merom]] (Huleh). Capt. Newbold adds a fourth, wady el [[Kid]] on the S.E. of the slope, flowing from the springs Esh Shar. Indeed [[Anti-Lebanon]] abounds in gushing streams, which all make their way into the swamp between Bahias and [[Huleh]] and become part of the Jordan. The traditional site of Jacob's crossing Jordan (Jisr Benat Yacobe) at his first leaving [[Beersheba]] for [[Padan]] [[Aram]] is a mile and a half from Merom, and six from the sea of Galilee; in those six its descent with roaring cataracts over the basaltic rocks is 1,050 ft. </p> <p> This, the part known to [[Naaman]] in his invasions, is the least attractive part of its course, and unfavorably contrasted with [[Abana]] and [[Pharpar]] of his native land (&nbsp;2 Kings 5:12). From the sea of [[Galilee]] it winds 200 miles in the 60 miles of actual distance to the Dead Sea. Its tortuous course is the secret of the great depression (the Dead Sea being 663 ft. below the lake of Galilee) in this distance. On Jacob's return from Padan Aram he crossed near where the [[Jabbok]] (Zerka) enters the Jordan (&nbsp;Genesis 32:10; &nbsp;Genesis 32:22). The next crossing recorded is that of Joshua over against Jericho, the river being then flooded, in harvest time in April, in consequence of the rainy season and the melting of the snow of Hermon (&nbsp;Joshua 3:15-16; &nbsp;Joshua 4:12-13; &nbsp;Joshua 5:10-12). The men of Jericho had pursued the spies to the fords there (&nbsp;Joshua 2:7), the same as those "toward Moab" where the [[Moabites]] were slain (&nbsp;Judges 3:28). </p> <p> [[Higher]] up were the fords [[Bethbarah]] or Bethabara (house of passage), where [[Gideon]] intercepted the fleeing [[Midianites]] (&nbsp;Judges 7:24) and the [[Gileadites]] slew the Ephraimites (&nbsp;Judges 12:6), probably the place also of Jacob's crossing. Near was "the clay ground between [[Succoth]] and Zarthan" used for Solomon's foundry (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:46). Three banks may be noted in the Ghor or Jordan valley, the upper or first slope (the abrupt edge of a wide table land reaching to the [[Hauran]] mountains on the E. and the high hills on the W. side), the lower or middle terrace embracing the strip of land with vegetation, and the true banks of the river bed, with a jungle of '''''Agnus Castus''''' , tamarisks, and willows and reed and cane at the edge, the stream being ordinarily 30 yards wide. At the flood the river cannot be forded, being 10 or 12 ft. deep E. of Jericho; but in summer it can, the water being low. To cross it in the flood by swimming was an extraordinary feat, performed by the [[Gadites]] who joined David (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:15); this was impossible for [[Israel]] under Joshua with wives and children. </p> <p> The Lord of the whole earth made the descending waters stand in a heap very far from their place of crossing, namely, by the town of Adam, that is beside [[Zarthan]] or Zaretan, the moment that the feet of the priests bearing the ark dipped in the water. The priests then stood in the midst of the dry river bed until all Israel crossed over. Joshua erected a monument of 12 large stones in the river bed where the priests had stood, near the E. bank of the river. This would remain at least for a time as a memorial to the existing generation, besides the monument erected at [[Gilgal]] (&nbsp;Joshua 4:3; &nbsp;Joshua 4:6-7; &nbsp;Joshua 4:9; &nbsp;Joshua 4:20). By this lower ford David passed to fight Syria (&nbsp;2 Samuel 10:17), and afterwards in his flight from [[Absalom]] to [[Mahanaim]] E. of Jordan. There Judah escorted him, and he crossed in a ferry boat (&nbsp;2 Samuel 17:22; &nbsp;2 Samuel 19:15; &nbsp;2 Samuel 19:18). Here [[Elijah]] and [[Elisha]] divided the waters with the prophet's mantle (&nbsp;2 Kings 2:4; &nbsp;2 Kings 2:8; &nbsp;2 Kings 2:14). </p> <p> At the upper fords Naaman washed off his leprosy. Here too the [[Syrians]] fled, when panic struck by the Lord (&nbsp;2 Kings 7:15). John the [[Baptist]] "first" baptized at the lower ford near Jericho, where all [[Jerusalem]] and [[Judea]] resorted, being near; where too our Lord took refuge from Jerusalem, and where many converts joined Him, and from from whence He went to [[Bethany]] to raise [[Lazarus]] (&nbsp;John 10:39-40; &nbsp;John 11:1). John's next baptisms were (&nbsp;John 1:29-34) at Bethabara (or "Bethany") the upper ford, within reach of the N.; there out of Galilee the Lord Jesus and Andrew repaired after the baptisms in the S. (&nbsp;Luke 3:21), and were baptized. (See [[Bethabara]] .) His third place of baptism was near [[Aenon]] and Salim, still further to the N., where the water was still deep though it was summer, after the [[Passover]] (&nbsp;John 2:13-23), for there was no ford there (&nbsp;John 3:23); he had to go there, the water being too shallow at the ordinary fords. John moved gradually northwards toward Herod's province where ultimately he was beheaded; Jesus coming from the N. southwards met John half way. </p> <p> The overflow of Jordan dislodged the lion from its lair on the wooded banks (&nbsp;Jeremiah 49:19); in &nbsp;Jeremiah 12:5 some translated "the pride of Jordan," (compare &nbsp;2 Kings 6:2,) "if in the champaign country alone thou art secure, how wilt thou do when thou fallest into the wooded haunts of wild beasts?" (&nbsp;Proverbs 24:10.) Between Merom and lake [[Tiberias]] the banks are so thickly wooded as often to shut out the view of the water. Four fifths of Israel, nine tribes and a half, dwelt W., and one fifth, two and a half, dwelt E. of Jordan. The great altar built by the latter was the witness of the oneness of the two sections (&nbsp;Joshua 22:10-29). Of the six cities of refuge three were E., three W. of Jordan, at equal distances. Jordan enters [[Gennesareth]] two miles below the ancient city [[Julias]] or [[Bethsaida]] of [[Gaulonitis]] on the E. bank. It is 70 ft. wide at its mouth, a sluggish turbid stream. The lake of Tiberias is 653 ft. below the [[Mediterranean]] level. </p> <p> The Dead Sea is 1,316 ft. below the Mediterranean, the springs of Hasbeiya are 1,700 above the Mediterranean, so that the valley falls more than 3,000 ft. in reaching the N. end of the Dead Sea. The bottom descends 1,308 ft. lower, in all 2,600 below the Mediterranean. The Jordan, well called "the Descender," descends 11 ft. every mile. Its sinuosity is less in its upper course. Besides the Jabbok it receives the [[Hieromax]] (Yarmuk) below Gennesareth. From Jerusalem to Jordan is only a distance of 20 miles; in that distance the descent is 3,500 ft., one of the greatest chasms in the earth; Jerusalem is 2,581 ft. above the Mediterranean. [[Bitumen]] wells are not far from the Hasbeya in the N. [[Hot]] springs abound about Tiberias; and other tokens of volcanic action, tufa, etc., occur near the Yarmuk's mouth and elsewhere. Only on the E. border of lake Huleh the land is now well cultivated, and yields largely wheat, maize, rice, etc. Horses, cattle, and sheep, and black buffaloes (the "bulls of Bashan") pasture around. W. of Gennesareth are seen grain, palms, vines, figs, melons, and pomegranates. </p> <p> Cultivation is rare along the lower Jordan, but pink oleanders, arbutus, rose hollyhocks, the purple thistle, marigold, and anemone abound. Tracks of tigers and wild boars, flocks of wild ducks, cranes, and pigeons have been seen by various explorers. Conder considers the tells in the Jordan valley and the [[Esdraelon]] plain as artificial, and probably the site of the stronghold of ancient towns; the slopes are steep; good water is always near; they are often where no natural elevation afforded a site for a fortress. There are no bridges earlier than the Roman. The [[Saracens]] added or restored some. The Roman bridge of 10 arches, Jisr Semakh, was on the route from Tiberias to Gadara. In coincidence with Scripture, the American survey sets down three fords: that at Tarichaea, the second at the Jabbok's confluence with' Jordan, and that at Jericho. The Jordan seldom now overflows its banks; but [[Lieutenant]] Lynch noticed sedge and driftwood high up in the overhanging trees on the banks, showing it still at times overflows the plain. </p> <p> Anciently, when forests abounded more than now, Mount Hermon had more snow and rain falling on it, and Jordan was therefore flooded to overflow. It is plain from &nbsp;Joshua 3:15; &nbsp;Joshua 4:18 compare with &nbsp;Isaiah 8:7, that Jordan was not merely full to the brim, but overflowed its banks. The flood never reaches beyond the lower line of the Ghor, which is covered with vegetation. The plain of the Jordan between the sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea is generally eight miles broad, but at the N. end of the Dead Sea the hills recede so that the width is 12 miles, of which the W. part is named "the plains of Jericho." The upper terrace immediately under the hills is covered with vegetation; under that is the [[Arabah]] or desert plain, barren in its southern part except where springs fertilize it, but fertile in its northern part and cultivated by irrigation. </p> <p> [[Grove]] remarks of the Jordan: "so rapid that its course is one continued cataract, so crooked that in its whole lower and main course it has hardly a half mile straight, so broken with rapids that no boat can swim any distance continuously, so deep below the adjacent country that it is invisible and can only be with difficulty approached; refusing all communication with the ocean, and ending in a lake where navigation is impossible useless for irrigation, it is in fact what its Arabic name signifies, nothing but a 'great watering place,' Sheriat el Khebir." Geologists find that the Jordan valley was caused by a sudden violent depression after the late cretaceous period, having a chain of lakes at three levels. The level is gradually lowering, and the area of the lakes diminishing by denudation and evaporation. </p>

<p> The river of Palestine is first referred to when Lot chose the plain of Jordan, because it was well watered, as the garden of the Lord. &nbsp;Genesis 13:10 . The first great event at the river was when the waters from above were driven back, and those below failed and were cut off, and Israel marched over on dry land. They had previously passed through the Red Sea, but the details of the two passages are quite different. At the Red Sea Moses lifted up his rod and the waters divided; but at the Jordan it was when the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the water that it divided. The ark also remained <i> in </i> the river until all had passed over. Twelve stones were taken <i> out </i> of the river to form a cairn on the land, and twelve stones were placed in the bed of the river to be covered by the water. The waters were piled up at Adam, some twenty miles from where the Israelites crossed; but at the Red Sea the water was as a wall on each side. &nbsp; Joshua 3:8-17; &nbsp;Joshua 4:1-24 . (The waters being piled up 'at Adam' [ &nbsp;Joshua 3:16 ] is according to the Hebrew text [see also R.V. and Mr. Darby's Trans.]; the reading ' <i> from </i> Adam' is according to the <i> Keri. </i> ) </p> <p> All this was typical: the passage of the Red Sea typified Christ dying <i> for </i> the believer (by which the believer escapes death and judgement); the passage of the Jordan typified the believer dying <i> with </i> Christ, and being raised <i> with </i> Him (the path of death becomes the path of life), according to &nbsp;Colossians 2:20; Col.3:1. The waters of the river overflowing its banks at that time typified that the full power of death was met, and overcome by the death and resurrection of Christ. The Jordan itself has often been taken as a type of death having to be passed in order to enter heaven; but it is rather a figure of the entrance, while on earth, through death with Christ to the heavenly position of the Christian, where he has to stand for the Lord in conflict with spiritual powers of wickedness (cf. &nbsp;Ephesians 6:10-18 ), as Israel had to fight the Canaanites, and so make good the Lord's possession through them of the promised land. </p> <p> The Jordan may further be regarded as the boundary of the promised land, so that the two and a half tribes who stayed on the east of the Jordan stopped short of their privileges. They are a type of many [[Christians]] who do not in faith accept the heavenly portion, through death and resurrection, that God intends for them. They are thus more exposed to the attacks of the enemy, as were the two and a half tribes who were the first to be carried into captivity. </p> <p> The [['Swelling' Of Jordan]]  is alluded to as causing dangers or difficulties. It not only prevented persons crossing at the usual fords, but it disturbed the wild beasts in their lairs on its banks, as is thrice alluded to. &nbsp;Jeremiah 12:5; &nbsp;Jeremiah 49:19; &nbsp;Jeremiah 50:44 . Various incidents and conflicts occurred at the river or on its banks which do not call for remark. In the N.T. it was where John baptized. </p> <p> The Jordan is like no other river in the world. The Hebrew name for it, <i> Yarden, </i> always has the article, and signifies 'the Descender.' It is remarkable for the great fall it has from its source to the Dead Sea. It may be said to have three sources: the highest near Hasbeiya, between Hermon and Lebanon, some 3000 feet above the level of the sea; the second, near the ruins of Banyas, the ancient Caesarea-Philippi; and the third near <i> Tell el Kady, </i> the ancient Dan. The three streams unite with other smaller ones (the Iyon River is now considered to be another source) and entered the lake of Huleh, which was also called 'the waters of Merom.' This is estimated to be seven feet above the level of the sea, this lake was drained in 1957. The Jordan falls from here in a stream about a hundred feet wide, running south. About two miles from the lake is a bridge called <i> Jisr Benat Yakub, </i> 'Bridge of Jacob's Daughters,' where Jacob is supposed to have crossed. Its banks from this point contract, and the stream rushes violently down a rocky bed, but gets more gentle before it reaches the Lake of Gennesaret. The distance from lake to lake is about ten miles, but the windings of the river make its length about thirteen miles. The Lake of [[Gennesaret]] is 682 feet <i> below </i> the level of the sea, giving a fall of 689 feet in the thirteen miles. </p> <p> The river leaves this lake about a hundred feet wide and soon passes the remains of a Roman bridge. Some six miles from the lake is a bridge called <i> Jisr el Mujamia. </i> The river here was deep and rapid but much water is now extracted for irrigation; about fifteen miles farther south an island divides the river and there it is often fordable, as it is also near Jericho, and at low water in many other places. Another bridge is called <i> Jisr ed Damieh, </i> about 32 6' N. The river's greatest width is mentioned as 180 yards and it is about three feet deep in entering the Dead Sea. This is 1292 feet below the level of the sea, being 610 below the Lake of Gennesaret; the distance is about 65 miles, but the water-way has been estimated to be as much as 200 miles:during its course it has 27 rapids. There are several streams that run into the Jordan both on the east and the west. The two principal ones are on the east: the <i> Yarmuk </i> or <i> Wady Hieromax </i> and the Jabbok, now called <i> Wady Zerka. </i> They are both at times called rivers. </p> <p> The valley in which the Jordan runs is called the <i> Ghor. </i> On the east it is bounded by a high table land and on the west by high hills. In the valley is a terrace of vegetation, and in the middle of this are the true banks of the river, having in places a jungle of willows, reeds, canes, etc. See [[Salt Sea]]  </p>

<p> [[Jordan]] ( ''Jôr'Dan'' ), ''The Descender,'' called "the river," &nbsp;Genesis 31:21; &nbsp;Joshua 1:11, has a course of little more than 200 miles, from the foot of Anti-Lebanon to the head of the Dead sea—136 miles in a straight line. It is the river of the great depressed valley of Palestine—the "descender," if not "the river of God" in the book of Psalms. There were fords opposite Jericho, to which the men of Jericho pursued the spies. &nbsp;Joshua 2:7; compare &nbsp;Judges 3:28. Higher up were the fords or passages of Bethbarah, where Gideon lay in wait for the Midianites, &nbsp;Judges 7:24, and where the men of Gilead slew the Ephraimites. &nbsp;Judges 12:6. At one of these fords was made the first recorded passage of the Jordan in the Old Testament. &nbsp;Genesis 32:10. Jordan was next crossed, over against Jericho, by Joshua. &nbsp;Joshua 4:12-13. From their nearness to Jerusalem the lower fords were much used. David, it is probable, passed over them in one instance to fight the Syrians. &nbsp;2 Samuel 10:17; &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:22. Thus there were two or more places at which the Jordan was usually forded; and it must have been at one of these, if not at both, that baptism was afterwards administered by John the Baptist, and by the disciples of our Lord. Our Lord was baptized probably at the ford near Bethabara or Bethany. The rains and the melting of the snows on [[Lebanon]] caused it to rise and flood the valley. "The Jordan overflowed all his banks all the time of harvest." &nbsp;Joshua 3:15. The channel or bed of the river became brimful, so that the level of the water and of the banks was then the same. The bridges over the river did not exist in early times, although there are evidences of one near the lake of Galilee in the Roman period, and perhaps in the time of Christ. See ''Galilee,'' by S. Merrill. In the scriptural accounts of the Jordan it is frequently mentioned as a boundary: "over Jordan," "this" and "the other side," or "beyond Jordan," were expressions familiar to the Israelites. In one sense, indeed, that is, in so far as it was the eastern boundary of the land of Canaan, it was the eastern boundary of the promised land. &nbsp;Numbers 34:12. The Jordan rises from several sources near Panium ( ''Bâniâs),'' and passes through the lakes of Merom ( ''Hûleh)'' and Gennesaret. The two principal features in its course are its descent and its windings. From its fountain heads to the Dead sea it rushes down one continuous inclined plane, only broken by a series of rapids or precipitous falls. Between the Lake of Gennesaret and the Dead sea there are 27 rapids. The depression of the Lake of Gennesaret below the level of the Mediterranean is 653 feet, and that of the Dead sea 1316 feet. The whole descent from its source to the Dead Sea is 3000 feet. Its width varies from 45 to 180 feet, and it is from 3 to 12 feet deep.— ''Schaff.'' The only tributaries to the Jordan below Gennesaret are the ''Yarmûk'' (Hieromax) and the ''Zerka'' (Jabbok). </p>

<li> Jesus also "was baptized of John in Jordan" (&nbsp;Mark 1:9 ). <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Jordan'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/j/jordan.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> ''''' jôr´dan ''''' ( ירדּן , <i> ''''' yardēn ''''' </i> , "flowing downward"; Ἰορδάνης , <i> ''''' Iordánēs ''''' </i> ): </p> 1. Source: <p> The Jordan river proper begins at the junction of four streams (the <i> ''''' Bareighit ''''' </i> , the <i> ''''' Hâsbâny ''''' </i> , the <i> ''''' Leddan ''''' </i> , and the <i> ''''' Banias ''''' </i> ), in the upper part of the plain of Lake <i> ''''' Hûleh ''''' </i> . The <i> ''''' Bareighit ''''' </i> receives its supply of water from the hills on the West, which separate the valley from the river <i> ''''' Lı̂tâny ''''' </i> , and is the least important of the four. The <i> ''''' Hâsbâny ''''' </i> is the longest of the four (40 miles), issuing from a great fountain at the western foot of Mt. Hermon near <i> ''''' Hasbeiya ''''' </i> , 1,700 ft. above the sea, and descends 1,500 ft. in its course to the plain. The <i> ''''' Leddan ''''' </i> is the largest of the four streams, issuing in several fountains at the foot of the mound <i> ''''' Tell ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' kady ''''' </i> (Dan, or Laish) at an elevation of 505 ft. above the sea. The <i> ''''' Bânias ''''' </i> issues from a celebrated fountain near the town of <i> ''''' Bânias ''''' </i> , which is identified as the Caesarea Philippi associated with the transfiguration. The ancient name was Paneas, originating from a grotto consecrated to the god Pan. At this place Herod erected a temple of white marble dedicated to [[Augustus]] Caesar. This is probably the Baal-gad of &nbsp; Joshua 11:17 and &nbsp; Joshua 12:7 . Its altitude is 1,100 ft. above tide, and the stream falls about 600 ft. in the 5 miles of its course to the head of the Jordan. </p> 2. Lake Huleh: <p> The valley of Lake <i> ''''' Hûleh ''''' </i> , through which the Jordan wends its way, is about 20 miles long and 5 miles wide, bordered on either side by hills and mountains attaining elevations of 3,000 ft. After flowing 4 or 5 miles through a fertile plain, the Jordan enters a morass of marshy land which nearly fills the valley, with the exception of 1 or 2 miles between it and the base of the mountains upon the western side. This morass is almost impenetrable by reason of bushes and papyrus reeds, which in places also render navigation of the channel difficult even with a canoe. Lake <i> ''''' Hûleh ''''' </i> , into which the river here expands, is but 7 ft. above tide, and is slowly contracting its size by reason of the accumulation of the decaying vegetation of the surrounding morass, and of the sediment brought in by the river and three tributary mountain torrents. Its continued existence is evidence of the limited period through which present conditions have been maintained. It will not be many thousand years before it will be entirely filled and the morass be changed into a fertile plain. When the spies visited the region, the lake must have been much larger than it is now. </p> <p> At the southern end of Lake <i> ''''' Hûleh ''''' </i> , the valley narrows up to a width of a few hundred yards, and the river begins its descent into levels below the Mediterranean. The river is here only about 60 ft. broad, and in less than 9 miles descends 689 ft. through a narrow rocky gorge, where it meets the delta which it has deposited at the head of the Sea of Galilee, and slowly winds its way to meet its waters. Throughout this delta the river is easily fordable during a great part of the year. </p> 3. Sea of Galilee: <p> The Sea of Galilee occupies an expansion of the Jordan valley 12 miles long and from 3 to 6 miles wide. The hills, reaching, in general, 1,200 or 1,500 ft. above the lake, come down close to its margin on every side. On the East and South they are mainly of volcanic origin, and to some extent of the same character on the Northwest side above Tiberias. In the time of Christ the mouth of the river may have been a half-mile or more farther up the delta than now. </p> 4. The Yarmuk: <p> As all the sediment of the upper Jordan settles in the vicinity of the delta near Capernaum, a stream of pellucid water issues from the southern end of the lake, at the modern town of <i> ''''' Kerak ''''' </i> . Before it reaches the Dead Sea, however, it becomes overloaded with sediment. From <i> ''''' Kerak ''''' </i> the opening of the valley is grand in the extreme. A great plain on the East stretches to the hills of Decapolis, and to the South, as far as the eye can reach, through the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> which descends to the Dead Sea, bordered by mountain walls on either side. Four or five miles below, it is joined on the East by the <i> ''''' Yarmûk ''''' </i> , the ancient Hieromax the largest of all its tributaries. The debris brought down by this stream has formed a fertile delta terrace 3 or 4 miles in diameter, which now, as in ancient times, is an attractive place for herdsmen and agriculturists. The valley of the <i> ''''' Yarmûk ''''' </i> now furnishes a natural grade for the Acre and [[Damascus]] Railroad, as it did for the caravan routes of early times. The town of Gadara lies upon an elevation just South of the <i> ''''' Yarmûk ''''' </i> and 4 or 5 miles East of the Jordan. </p> <p> Ten miles below the lake, the river is joined on the West by <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Bireh ''''' </i> , which descends from the vicinity of Nazareth, between Mt. [[Tabor]] and Endor, and furnishes a natural entrance from the Jordan to Central Galilee. An aqueduct here still furnishes water for the upper terrace of the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> . <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' [[Arab]] ''''' </i> , with a small perennial stream, comes in here also from the East. </p> 5. El-Ghor: <p> [[Twenty]] miles below Lake Galilee the river is joined by the important <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Jâlûd ''''' </i> , which descends through the valley of [[Jezreel]] between Mt. Gilboa and the range of the Little Hermon (the hill [[Moreh]] of &nbsp; Judges 7:1 ). This valley leads up from the Jordan to the valley of Esdrelon and thence to Nazareth, and furnished the usual route for [[Jews]] going from Jerusalem to [[Nazareth]] when they wished to avoid the Samaritans. This route naturally takes one past <i> ''''' Beisān ''''' </i> (Bethshean), where the bodies of Saul and [[Jonathan]] were exposed by the Philistines, and past [[Shunem]] and Nain. There is a marked expansion of the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> opposite Beisan, constituting an important agricultural district. The town of Pella, to which the Christians fled at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, lies upon the East side of the Ghor; while Jabesh-gilead, where the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were finally taken by their friends and cremated, is a little farther up the slope of Gilead. Twenty miles farther down, the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> , on the East, is joined by <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Zerka ''''' </i> (the brook Jabbok), the second largest tributary, separating [[Ammon]] from Gilead, its upper tributaries flowing past Ammon, Mizpeh, and Ramoth-gilead. It was down this valley that Jacob descended to Succoth. </p> <p> A few miles below, the <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Farah ''''' </i> , whose head is at [[Sychar]] between Mts. Ebal and Gerizim, descends from the West, furnishing the natural route for Jacob's entrance to the promised land. </p> <p> At <i> ''''' Damieh ''''' </i> (probably the Adam of &nbsp; Joshua 3:16 ), the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> is narrowed up by the projection, from the West, of the mountain ridge terminating in <i> ''''' Kurn ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Sûrtûbeh ''''' </i> , which rises abruptly to a height of 2,000 ft. above the river. </p> <p> The section of the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> between <i> ''''' Damieh ''''' </i> and the Dead Sea is of a pretty uniform width of 10 to 12 miles and is of a much more uniform level than the upper portions, but its fertility is interfered with by the lack of water and the difficulty of irrigation. From the vicinity of Jericho, an old Roman road follows up the <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Nāwaimeh ''''' </i> , which furnished Joshua a natural line of approach to Ai, while through the <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Kelt ''''' </i> is opened the natural road to Jerusalem. Both [[Ai]] and the Mount of [[Olives]] are visible from this point of the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> . </p> 6. The Zor: <p> In a direct line it is only 70 miles from Lake Galilee to the Dead Sea, and this is the total length of the lower plain (the <i> ''''' Zôr ''''' </i> ); but so numerous are the windings of the river across the flood plain from one bluff to the other that the length of the river is fully 200 miles. Col. Lynch reported the occurrence of 27 rapids, which wholly interrupted navigation, and many others which rendered it difficult. The major part of the descent below Lake Galilee takes place before reaching <i> ''''' Damieh ''''' </i> , 1,140 ft. below the Mediterranean. While the bluffs of the <i> ''''' Ghôr ''''' </i> upon either side of the <i> ''''' Zôr ''''' </i> , are nearly continuous and uniform below <i> ''''' Damieh ''''' </i> , above this point they are much dissected by the erosion of tributary streams. Still, nearly everywhere, an extended view brings to light the original uniform level of the sedimentary deposits formed when the valley was filled with water to a height of 650 ft. (see Arabah; [[Dead Sea]] ). </p> <p> The river itself averages about 100 ft. in width when confined strictly within its channel, but in the early spring months the flood plain of the <i> ''''' Zôr ''''' </i> is completely overflowed, bringing into its thickets a great amount of driftwood which increases the difficulty of penetrating it, and temporarily drives out ferocious animals to infest the neighboring country. </p> 7. The Fords of Jordan: <p> According to Conder, there are no less than 60 fording-places between Lake Galilee and the Dead Sea. For the most part it will be seen that these occur at rapids, or over bars deposited by the streams which descend from one side or the other, as, for example, below the mouths of the <i> ''''' Yarmûk ''''' </i> , <i> ''''' Jabbok ''''' </i> , <i> ''''' Jâlûd ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' Kelt ''''' </i> . These fords are, however, impassable during the high water of the winter and spring months. Until the occupation by the Romans, no bridges were built; but they and their successors erected them at various places, notably below the mouth of the <i> ''''' Yarmûk ''''' </i> , and the <i> ''''' Jabbok ''''' </i> , and nearly opposite Jericho. </p> <p> [[Notwithstanding]] the great number of fords where it is possible to cross at low water, those which were so related to the lines of travel as to be of much avail were few. Beginning near the mouth of the Jordan and proceeding northward, there was a ford at <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Henu ''''' </i> leading directly from Jericho to the highlands Northeast of the Dead Sea. Two or three miles farther to the North is the ford of the pilgrims, best known of all, at the mouth of <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Kelt ''''' </i> . A few miles farther up the river on the road leading from Jericho to <i> ''''' es ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Salt ''''' </i> , near the mouth of the <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Nimrin ''''' </i> , there is now a bridge where the dependence was formerly upon the ford. Just below the mouth of the <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Zerka ''''' </i> ( <i> ''''' Jabbok ''''' </i> ) is the ford of Damieh, where the road from Shechem comes down to the river. A bridge was at one time built over the river at this point; but owing to a change in the course of the stream this is now over a dry water-course. The next important crossing-place is at the opening of the valley of Jezreel coming in from the West, where probably the Bethabara of the New [[Testament]] should be located. Upon this ford a number of caravan routes from East to West converge. The next important crossing-place is at <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Mujamia ''''' </i> , 2 or 3 miles below the mouth of the <i> ''''' Yarmûk ''''' </i> . Here, also, there was a Roman bridge. There are also some traces of an ancient bridge remaining just below the exit of the river from Lake Galilee, where there was a ford of special importance to the people residing on the shores of this lake who could not afford to cross in boats. Between Lake Galilee and Lake <i> ''''' Hûleh ''''' </i> , an easy ford leads across the delta of the stream a little above its junction with the lake; while 2 or 3 miles below Lake <i> ''''' Hûleh ''''' </i> is found "the bridge of Jacob's daughters" on the line of one of the principal routes between Damascus and Galilee. Above Lake <i> ''''' Hûleh ''''' </i> the various tributaries are easily crossed at several places, though a bridge is required to cross the Bareighit near its mouth, and another on the <i> ''''' Hâsbâny ''''' </i> on the main road from Caesarea Philippi to Sidon, at <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Ghagar ''''' </i> . </p>