The Jordan River—or River Jordan, as it is commonly called—is one of the most sacred places, both historically and symbolically, for Christians throughout the world. Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ all crossed it during their lifetimes, and it is associated with some of the most important events in the Bible.

After the death of Moses, the Bible says that God stopped the waters from flowing, allowing Joshua to lead his people across the River Jordan into Canaan (Joshua 3: 14-17). This reportedly took place at a ford in the river directly opposite Jericho known as Bethabara, or Beit ‘Abara ("house of the crossing").

This place, opposite Jericho, is believed to be the same place where the Prophets Elijah and Elisha parted the waters and crossed miraculously to the east bank of the Jordan. From a nearby spot on the east side, Elijah then ascended into heaven "on a chariot of fire and horses of fire" (2 Kings 2: 5-14).

For Christians, the most significant event associated with the River Jordan is undoubtedly the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. Interestingly enough, this also took place very close to Beit ‘Abara, where Joshua, Elijah and Elisha crossed the river. In New Testament times, it became known as Bethany, the village of John the Baptist. This Bethany is not to be confused with the village of Bethany near Jerusalem, where the Bible says Lazarus was raised from the dead.

The Bible clearly records that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 13-17), and that John the Baptist lived, preached and baptized in the village of Bethany, on "the other side of the Jordan" (John 1: 28). The baptism site, known in Arabic as al-Maghtas, is located at the head of a lush valley just east of the Jordan River. It is now protected and by early 1999 it will be accessible to visitors. After Jesus’ baptism at Bethany, he spent forty days in the wilderness east of the River Jordan, where he fasted and resisted the temptations of Satan (Mark 1: 13, Matthew 4: 1-11).

Location

The Jordan River is Palestine’s only large flowing body of water. It begins in the north at Mount Hermon and flows south through Lake Huleh (now drained), the Sea of Galilee, and the tropical Jordan valley, terminating at the Dead Sea.

The name, Jordan, means "flowing downward" or "the descender." It descends 689 feet from Lake Huleh to the Sea of Galilee and then another 610 feet from Galilee to the Dead Sea.

The straight-line length of the river measures just over seventy miles. When all the serpentine curves are taken into account, however, its overall actual length measures two hundred miles. The width of the Jordan varies from ninety to one hundred feet, while its depth measures three to ten feet.

Four streams form the source of the Jordan near Mount Hermon. Nahr Banias at Caesarea Philippi is the easternmost contributor. It merges with the Nahr el-Leddan, which begins near the ancient city of Dan. On the western side of Hermon, the Nahr Hasbani and the Nahr Bareighit flow together shortly before they merge with the others.

Other major tributaries that contribute to the Jordan include: the Yarmuk, which joins it five miles south of the Sea of Galilee; the Wadi Bira and the Wadi Arab, entering the Jordan from opposite directions at approximately the same point, four miles below the Yarmuk; the Wadi Tayibeh; the Wadi Yabis; and the Jabbok that enters the Jordan about forty miles south of the Sea of Galilee.

The Jordan Valley is home to many forms of life. Of the thirty species of fish found in the river, sixteen are unique to the Jordan. Additionally, twenty-three of the forty-five species of birds in the Jordan area can be found nowhere else.

Historical and Biblical Significance of Jordan River

After Moses’ death, Joshua assumed leadership of the Israelites and prepared them to cross the Jordan. When the priests carrying the Ark of Covenant stepped into the water, God miraculously blocked the flow of the river at Adam, near the Jabbok-Wadi Fari’a crossing, allowing all the people to pass through it on dry ground (Joshua 3).

The prophet Elisha commanded the Syrian general, Naaman, to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed of his leprosy. At first, Naaman rejected this directive, considering it foolish. When he finally obeyed, God healed him (2 Kgs 5:10-14).

Elisha performed another miracle in the Jordan, causing an iron ax head to float after it had fallen from its handle into the water (2 Kgs 6:1-7).

John the Baptist came out of the wilderness and began preaching and baptizing in the Jordan River area (Matt 3:5,6; Mark 1:5; John 1:28; 3:26). John also baptized Jesus in the Jordan as He began his public ministry (Matt 3:13; Mark 1:9; Luke 4:1).

Jewish residents of Nazareth and western Galilee usually avoided passing through Samaria as they traveled to Jerusalem. They crossed to the eastern side of the Jordan near Scythopolis and returned to the western side of the Jordan at the Jericho ford. Jesus probably traveled this route many times.

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