The Jordan River is the longest river in Palestine and divides Palestine north-south with the coastal plain and central hill country to the west and the Transjordan to the east. Typically the name is taken to mean "the descender," a fitting name since the river descends from the foothills of Mt. Hermon to the Dead Sea. Others have suggested the name means "perennial river" or "river of Dan."
The Jordan River has four sources all fed by the melting snows of Mt. Hermon. The river flows southward into the Huleh Basin Area north of the Sea of Galilee. Lake Huleh existed at the south end of this basin and the reeds that grew around the lake and in the marsh may have been a source of papyrus manufactured in ancient Phoenicia. In the 1950's Lake Huleh was drained to create additional farmland, although an 800-acre wildlife preserve was maintained. The Jordan then flows into the Sea of Galilee. The section of the river from Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee is known as the Upper Jordan River.
After leaving the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan (Lower Jordan River) flows south. Although the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea are separated by only 65 miles, the Jordan meanders for 135 miles making the journey. The river ranges in depth from 2 to 10 feet and is approximately 100 feet wide. The shallowness, swiftness, and twisting nature of the river combine to make it unsuitable for moving people or trade items. The floodplain varies from 200 yards to a mile wide and during the biblical period was home to lush growths of trees and brush and animals such as lions, leopards, boars, and ibex. Lions became extinct in the area in the 19th century but leopards, boars, and ibex still populate the area along with foxes, hyenas, jackals, and 100 species of birds. Of the species of birds, 23 are unique to the area. There were many places where the river could be forded but the thickness of the jungle-like growth made the crossing difficult. In addition, spring usually brought floods which made crossing the river impossible. Bridges were first constructed across the river by the Romans. Thus in biblical times the river formed a natural boundary.
The Jordan first appears in the Hebrew Bible in Gen. 13:10 when Lot moved into the plain of the Jordan. Moses was not allowed to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land (Deut. 3:23-29, 31:2) but Joshua crossed over with the Israelites and took the Promised Land (Josh. 3:1-17, 10:40). The Jordan River continues to be a symbol in the Christian faith of crossing over to the Promised Land after death.
Top photograph by Bob Dunston
Bottom photograph from the Davka Israel Graphics Collection