Jordan River
The Jordan River or River Jordan is a river in Southwest Asia flowing to the Dead Sea. In Judaism, the river serves as the eastern border of the "Eretz Yisra'el", the Land of Israel. In Christian tradition, Jesus was baptized here by John the Baptist. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan takes its name from this river.
The Jordan River is 251 kilometers (156 miles) long.
Courses :
The river drops rapidly in a 75 kilometer run to swampy Lake Hula, which is slightly above sea level. Exiting the lake, it drops much more in 25 kilometers to the Sea of Galilee. The last section has less gradient, and the river meanders before entering the Dead Sea, about 422 meters below sea level, which has no outlet. Two major tributaries enter from the east during this last section: the Yarmouk River and Jabbok River.
Its section north of the Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: כינרתkinneret, Arabic: Bohayrat Tabaraya, meaning Lake of Tiberias) is within the boundaries of Israel, and forms the western boundary of the Golan Heights. South of the lake, it forms the border between the Kingdom of Jordan (to the east) and Israel and the West Bank (to the west)
Human Impact :
In 1964, Israel began operating a dam that diverts water from the Sea of Galilee, a major Jordan River water provider, to the National Water Carrier. Also in 1964, Jordan constructed a channel that diverted water from the Yarmouk River, another main tributary of the Jordan River. Syria has also built reservoirs that catch the Yarmouk's waters. Environmentalists blame Israel, Jordan and Syria for extensive damage to the Jordan River ecosystem.
In modern times, the waters are 70% to 90% used for human purposes and the flow is much reduced. Because of this and the high evaporation rate of the Dead Sea, the sea is shrinking. All the shallow waters of the southern end of the sea have been drained in modern times and are now salt flats.
In September 2006, a problem arose with contamination: just downstream ,raw sewage began flowing into the water. Small sections of the Jordan's upper portion, near the Sea of Galilee, have been kept pristine for baptisms. Most polluted is the 60-mile downstream stretch - a meandering stream from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Environmentalists say the practice has almost destroyed the river's ecosystem. Rescuing the river could take decades, according to environmentalists.In 2007, Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) named the Jordan River as one of the world's 100 most endangered ecological sites, due in part to lack of cooperation between Israel and neighboring Arab states.The same environmentalist organization said in a report that theJordan River could dry up by 2011 unless the decay is stopped.The flow rate of the Jordan River once was 1.3 billion cubic meters per year; as of 2010, just 20 to 30 million cubic meters per year flow into the Dead Sea. For comparison, the total amount of desalinated water produced by Israel by 2012 will be about 500 million cubic meters per year.
Importance :
The waters of the Jordan River are an important resource to the dry lands in the area and are a source of conflict among Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians.
Biblical Importance :
In the Hebrew Bible the Jordan is referred to as the source of fertility to a large plain ("Kikkar ha-Yarden"), and it is said to be like "the garden of God" (Genesis13:10). There is no regular description of the Jordan in the Bible; only scattered and indefinite references to it are given. Jacob crossed it and its tributary, the Jabbok (the modern Al-Zarqa), to reach Haran (Genesis 32:11, 32:23-24). It is noted as the line of demarcation between the "two tribes and the half tribe" settled to the east (Numbers34:15) and the "nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh" that, led by Joshua, settled to the west (Joshua 13:7, passim).
Opposite Jericho, it was called "the Jordan of Jericho" (Numbers 34:15; 35:1). The Jordan has a number of fords, and one of them is famous as the place where many Ephraimites were slain by Jephthah (Judges12:5-6). It seems that these are the same fords mentioned as being near Beth-barah, where Gideon lay in wait for the Midianites (Judges 7:24). In the plain of the Jordan, between Succoth and Zarthan, is the clay ground where Solomon had his brass-foundries (1 Kings7:46).
In biblical history, the Jordan appears as the scene of several miracles, the first taking place when the Jordan, near Jericho, was crossed by the Israelites under Joshua (Joshua 3:15-17). Later the two tribes and the half tribe that settled east of the Jordan built a large altar on its banks as "a witness" between them and the other tribes (Joshua 22:10, 22:26, et seq.). The Jordan was crossed by Elijah and Elisha on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8, 2:14). Elisha performed two other miracles at the Jordan: he healed Naaman by having him bathe in its waters, and he made the axe head of one of the "children of the prophets" float, by throwing a piece of wood into the water (2 Kings 5:14; 6:6).
The Jordan was crossed by Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan Maccabaeus during their war with the Nabatæans (1 Maccabees5:24). A little later the Jordan was the scene of the battle between Jonathan and Bacchides, in which the latter was defeated (1 Maccabees 9:42-49).
New Testament :
The New Testament states that John the Baptist baptized unto repentancein the Jordan (Matthew3:5-6; Mark1:5; Luke3:3; John1:28). This is recounted as having taken place at Bethabara (John 1:28).
Jesus came to be baptized by him there (Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21, 4:1). The Jordan is also where John the Baptist bore record of Jesus as the Son of God and Lamb of God (John 1:29-36).
The prophesy of Isaiah regarding the Messiah which names the Jordan (Isaiah 9:1-2) is recounted in Matthew 4:15.
The New Testament speaks several times about Jesus crossing the Jordan during his ministry (Matthew 19:1; Mark 10:1), and of believers crossing the Jordan to come hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases (Matthew 4:25; Mark 3:7-8). When his enemies sought to capture him, Jesus took refuge at Jordan in the place John had first baptized (John 10:39-40).
Symbolic importance :
The Jordan is a frequent symbol in folk, gospel, and spiritual music, or in poetic or literary works.
Because the Israelites made a difficult and hazardous journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in The Promised Land, the Jordan can refer to freedom. The actual crossing is the final step of the journey, which is then complete. The Jordan also can signify death itself, with the crossing from life into Paradise or Heaven. ( Reference : wikpedia.org )
What others write about Jordan river :
River of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, 320 km long, and starts where the Hasbani River of Lebanon, and Banias River from Syria meet.
Sea of Galilee is part of the Jordan River system, and the Yarmuk River of Syria is an important tributary further downstream.
The distance between Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea is 250 km, and constitutes the Ghawr Valley. Most of Ghawr Valley defines the border between first Jordan and Israel, and then Jordan and Palestine. Dead Sea is the outlet of Jordan River.
For Christians, the point where the Jordan River runs out of the Sea of Galilee, is holy and considered to be the place where Jesus was baptized. Many pilgrims come here.
The amount of water carried with the river has been decreasing over recent years, due to exploitation of the fresh water of Sea of Galilee and Yarmuk River of Syria. With peace signed between Israel and Jordan in 1995, more exploitation of the river water will be the result down the Ghawr Valley, especially with agriculture as the dominating recipient.
More economic growth and growing populations will also increase the need of water from Sea of Galilee. Therefore, the Jordan River is expected to carry even less water in the future, with the drastic consequences this will have on the Dead Sea.
Sea of Galilee is part of the Jordan River system, and the Yarmuk River of Syria is an important tributary further downstream.
The distance between Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea is 250 km, and constitutes the Ghawr Valley. Most of Ghawr Valley defines the border between first Jordan and Israel, and then Jordan and Palestine. Dead Sea is the outlet of Jordan River.
For Christians, the point where the Jordan River runs out of the Sea of Galilee, is holy and considered to be the place where Jesus was baptized. Many pilgrims come here.
The amount of water carried with the river has been decreasing over recent years, due to exploitation of the fresh water of Sea of Galilee and Yarmuk River of Syria. With peace signed between Israel and Jordan in 1995, more exploitation of the river water will be the result down the Ghawr Valley, especially with agriculture as the dominating recipient.
More economic growth and growing populations will also increase the need of water from Sea of Galilee. Therefore, the Jordan River is expected to carry even less water in the future, with the drastic consequences this will have on the Dead Sea.
What others write about Jordan River:
Location and Setting
- 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
- 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.
Bibliography
- Alden, R.L. "Jordan" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.
- Tenney, Merrill C. ed. The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1967. (ancientsandals )
What others write about Jordan River:
Past:
What was once a crossroads of civilizations and continents, where John the Baptist first baptized Jesus Christ and the Israelites crossed into the Holy Land, is now a river suffering greatly from pollution. The Jordan River remains today one of the holiest sites in Christanity and holds great significance for Jews as well. Christian pilgrims from all over the world and from all walks of life come to the Jordan River in order to follow in Jesus' footsteps - many have saved money their whole lives for the opportunity.
The Southern Jordan River flows 217 kilometers (135 miles) from the Sea of Galilee (in Hebrew, the Kinneret) to the Dead Sea along the Jordan Valley floor. Until the establishment of the State of Israel, the Jordan River had a flow of 1.3 billion cubic meters (317 billion gallons) of clean water each year. 480 million cubic meters (126 billion gallons) came from the Sea of Galilee and 470 million cubic meters (124 billion gallons) came from the Yarmuk River in Syria.
With the establishment of the State of Israel and the National Water Carrier, water was taken from the Sea of Galilee and a dam was built to block water from flowing to the Jordan River. The Syrians and Jordanians were also quick to build dams along the Yarmuk River and began to use the water for agriculture.
The Southern Jordan River flows 217 kilometers (135 miles) from the Sea of Galilee (in Hebrew, the Kinneret) to the Dead Sea along the Jordan Valley floor. Until the establishment of the State of Israel, the Jordan River had a flow of 1.3 billion cubic meters (317 billion gallons) of clean water each year. 480 million cubic meters (126 billion gallons) came from the Sea of Galilee and 470 million cubic meters (124 billion gallons) came from the Yarmuk River in Syria.
With the establishment of the State of Israel and the National Water Carrier, water was taken from the Sea of Galilee and a dam was built to block water from flowing to the Jordan River. The Syrians and Jordanians were also quick to build dams along the Yarmuk River and began to use the water for agriculture.
The result was immediate. The Jordan River began to slowly die and the water level in the Dead Sea began to drop.
Present:
Instead of fresh water flowing into the Jordan River, today the Southern Jordan is a river of polluted wastewater. The wastewater comes from regional kibbutzim - Afikim, Ashdot Yaakov, Menachamia, Beit Zera and more. Veteran kibbutzniks tell tales of when it used to be possible to swim in the river, but today none of them would even come close to the, quite literally, stinky water. The regional council has sworn for years to build a local waste water treatment plant, but it has yet to happen.
Next to the King Hussein bridge and border crossing between Israel and Jordan, the polluted Herod River flows into the Jordan River. The Herod River's pollution comes from Herod Valley kibbutzim, wastewater from factories, the city of Beit Shean and wastewater from fish hatchery pools. In the upcoming months, the Beit Shean wastewater treatment plant is meant to begin functioning, but this will not solve the other pollution problems of the Herod River from entering into the Jordan River.
One of the areas along the river with the poorest water quality is the baptism site of Qasar El Yehud. At this point the river is a mere 5 meters (16 feet) wide instead of its average 10 meters (32 feet) and the rate of water flow is approximately 40 cm/sec (1.3 feet/sec). The river is primarily wastewater (treated and untreated) and used water from fish hatchery pools. A number of monasteries and churches exist along this section of the river and they are regularly visited by pilgrims coming to be baptized, primarily during holidays. These pilgrims entering the river do so at great risk to their health.
Next to the King Hussein bridge and border crossing between Israel and Jordan, the polluted Herod River flows into the Jordan River. The Herod River's pollution comes from Herod Valley kibbutzim, wastewater from factories, the city of Beit Shean and wastewater from fish hatchery pools. In the upcoming months, the Beit Shean wastewater treatment plant is meant to begin functioning, but this will not solve the other pollution problems of the Herod River from entering into the Jordan River.
One of the areas along the river with the poorest water quality is the baptism site of Qasar El Yehud. At this point the river is a mere 5 meters (16 feet) wide instead of its average 10 meters (32 feet) and the rate of water flow is approximately 40 cm/sec (1.3 feet/sec). The river is primarily wastewater (treated and untreated) and used water from fish hatchery pools. A number of monasteries and churches exist along this section of the river and they are regularly visited by pilgrims coming to be baptized, primarily during holidays. These pilgrims entering the river do so at great risk to their health.
Future:
Returning the Jordan River to a healthy state and giving this incredibly holy site the respect it deserves requires removing the polluters along the entire length of the river - on both the Israeli and Jordanian sides of the river. We must end the flow of polluted water from the Herod River into the Jordan and demand to renew the flow of clean water to rehabilitate the plants and wildlife and to allow for safe baptisms.
Zalul Environmental Association is taking it upon ourselves to save the Jordan River - demanding that the polluted water entering the river be replaced with clean water. With an excellent track record of successes to bring change and renewal to the rivers of Israel, Zalul will not turn away until our vision is complete.
Zalul Environmental Association is taking it upon ourselves to save the Jordan River - demanding that the polluted water entering the river be replaced with clean water. With an excellent track record of successes to bring change and renewal to the rivers of Israel, Zalul will not turn away until our vision is complete.
( Reference : savethejordan.com )
In Other languages :
Jordaan
Jourdain
Giordano
Urdun Nehri
Raul Iordan
Реки Иордан
Jordanfloden