Jordan River

-(Means: River of Judgment) is the border between Jordan and Israel. Elijah and Elisha parted these waters (I1 Kings 2:4 -14). Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, washed off his leprosy here (I1 Kings 5). John the Baptist baptized many here (Matthew 3); (Mark 1); (Luke 3); (John 3:23). It was famous for its thickly wooded banks infested with wild animals (Jeremiah 12:5, 49:19, 50:44), (Zechariah 1 1 :3). Evenas late as the Crusader times, lions were seen among the banks. It was also known for its swelling banks in flood season (Eccl. 24:26). It was also described as a border in (Deuteronomy 3: 17).

The Jordan River flows from the Sea of Galilee (696 ft below sea level) to the DeadSea (1292 feet below sea level). It twists and turns for 200 miles dropping 590 feet at anaverage of 9 ftlmile, but covers a straight distance of only 66 miles. The Greco-Roman name was Aulon (means Hollow) and was crossed by ferries in at least two different places, as shone in the Madaba Mosaic Map. There are two functioning bridges across the river today, but is very small because most of its tributaries are dammed up.