Where is the Jordan River located? The Jordan River is the place of the baptism of Jesus Christ. This happened in Bethavara

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The Jordan is one of the main waterways in the Middle East.
The Jordan River originates at the foot of Mount Hermon, 14 km north of Lake Hula. Its source is the confluence of three rivers - Snir, Hermon and Dan, flowing from the slopes of Mount Hermon. The mountain receives large amounts of precipitation, both as rain and snow. Its meltwater passes through cracks in the limestone rock of Mount Hermon, and emerges in masses of springs. The largest of the springs is Dan. The amount of water produced by this source is about 30,000 cubic liters per hour!
The Jordan River runs its entire route along the Syrian-African fault. First along the valley of Lake Hula, then the mountainous Jordan begins, then flows into Lake Kinneret, then continues along the Jordan valley all the way to the Dead Sea, where the 251 kilometer path of the Jordan ends. Along the entire length of the river, water from several other smaller streams flows into it seasonally or constantly. The Jordan River is very winding. The soils through which it flows are very soft, and as soon as the river washes away one of the banks, it falls and blocks the channel. The river immediately begins to look for a new channel. She, like a curling snake, slowly crawls towards the Dead Sea. The width of the Jordan River, as well as its depth, varies along its entire route. There are places where the river is 5 meters wide, and there are places where the Jordan overflows 40 meters. The depth of the Jordan River is also variable. In its northern part there are places where the depth reaches 2 meters, but most often it is just over 1 meter deep. When the Jordan River emerges from Lake Kinneret and flows south, it becomes the state border between Israel and Jordan. Before reaching the Dead Sea, part of it flows through the territory that is today called the territory of the Palestinian Authority. For almost two thousand years, people have been coming to the banks of the biblical river with the hope of receiving healing of soul and body after washing. During this time, the course of the river and the borders of the states along which its waters flow changed several times. What remained unchanged was human faith in God's help and the possibility of a miracle for everyone. Once a year, on January 19, on the day of the Epiphany, the waters of the river turn back and flow in the opposite direction. So obviously and undeniably the Lord shows people His power and Divine grace. The event that took place in these waters is of utmost importance for Christians all over the world, so people needed to find a symbolic place of the baptism of Christ. According to an early version, it was generally accepted that the place of baptism was located on the west bank of the Jordan River, in Israel, in the vicinity of Qasr el-Yahud, in the territory of the Palestinian Authority. But since 1967, after the war, this site was closed. The most visited in Israel by tourists and pilgrims is the Yardenit baptism center, located in the place where the Jordan flows from Lake Tiberias. In 1981, Yardenit was chosen by the Israeli government as the symbolic site of the baptism of Jesus Christ. From the Jordan side, the place of baptism and ablution can be reached at any time. But there are restrictions on the Israeli side - depending on the military situation, since this is Palestinian territory. On Epiphany and Easter, Jordan opens the border to Israel so that pilgrims can worship the shrines. From the Israeli coast to the Jordan coast is about 10 meters. The border runs along the river and is not marked by anything. The water in the Jordan River is brown and very cloudy due to the fast current, which erodes clay and carries silt. But if you put water in a bottle and let it sit for a while, the impurities settle and the water becomes clear. Before Jesus, whose story is told in the new testament, there was the old testament. It describes the history of the Jewish people from the earliest times, and contains passages including those related to the Jordan River.

Photos:

The next point on the route is the Orthodox monastery of St. Gerasimos of Jordan, located five kilometers from the Dead Sea, a kilometer from the Jordan River and the supposed site of the baptism of Jesus Christ. Gerasim (in the world Gregory) was from Asia Minor (the region of present-day Turkish Antalya), from a wealthy family. Having left the world and taken monasticism, he retired to the Thebaid desert in Egypt, and then in about 450 he came to Palestine, where he founded a monastery not far from the Jordan River.

1. The monastery is surrounded on all sides by a hot desert, but the territory of the monastery is green and cozy.

2. Patio.

3. Panel depicting the Dome of the Rock. I wonder why this panel depicting the Muslim shrine of Jerusalem is in an Orthodox monastery?

5. A proud rooster in the yard.

Leaving the monastery, we head directly to the Jordan River, along which the border between Israel and Jordan passes. The supposed place of the baptism of Jesus Christ was in the area of ​​Bethavara, in the lower reaches of the Jordan, about 10 kilometers from its confluence with the Dead Sea. Today this place is known as Qasr El Yahud. It is located in the border military zone between Israel and Jordan and for a long time was closed to the general public - access here was possible only to pilgrims once a year on the feast of Epiphany. Therefore, for mass visits by pilgrims and tourists in 1981, the Israeli government chose another, “symbolic” place, entirely on Israeli territory, 50 kilometers from here up the river - in the place where the Jordan flows from Lake Gennesaret on the territory of Kibbutz Kinneret. This place is called Yardenit.

And in 2011, the historical site of baptism, Qasr El Yahud, was opened to public visits. So today you can take a dip in the Jordan River in two places at once - the “symbolic” Yardenit (entirely on Israeli territory) and the “historical” - Qasr El-Yahud (and you can get there from both the Israeli and Jordanian sides). We are heading to that very “historical” place - to the border of Israel and Jordan.

6. Qasr El Yahud is a strictly guarded border area surrounded by barbed wire - before getting to the Jordan River, tourists pass through a security checkpoint. The territory bordering Jordan beyond the fence has been mined in many places - since the Six-Day War of 1967 (as a result of which the West Bank from Jordan came under the control of Israel). There is desert all around - the Jordan flows in the green valley below, and the distant mountains are already the territory of Jordan.

7. Both banks of the Jordan at the site of the supposed baptism of Christ are accessible to visitors today - from the Jordan side a small font descends to the water, and on the Israeli bank everything is much larger. The border runs in the middle of a small river barely ten meters wide. Swimming areas on each bank are limited by floats, which you cannot go beyond to avoid crossing the border. Numerous signs also warn about the border between Israel and Jordan passing here. It is also interesting that you cannot contact people on the opposite bank - shout to them, wave your arms. The military is monitoring this. It looks especially funny when Russian groups arrive from each bank in Qasr El Yahud.

8. Ahead is the state border.

9. On the Israeli shore.

10. On the opposite bank of Jordan there is a Greek Orthodox Church.

11. Flag of Jordan.

12. The Jordan, meandering through the valley, often changes its course. Research has shown that, apparently, 2000 years ago the river bed ran further east, in the territory of modern Jordan. And accordingly, the exact place of Christ’s baptism is located today on Jordanian soil. If you visit Qasr El Yahud not from the Israeli, but from the Jordanian side of the border, then a few hundred meters from the river you can see the archaeological site of the supposed old riverbed. However, today it is hardly possible to determine the place of baptism 100% accurately.

13. The Jordan bed is outside the tourist area. The width is three or four meters, the current is quite weak, the banks are swampy. In the upper reaches of the Jordan, water is widely used for irrigation, and several dams have been built. Many centuries ago the river was apparently much more powerful. However, sometimes even today, during the winter rains, significant water rises and even floods occur in the Jordan.

14. Photo with a view of Jordan.

15. Pilgrims plunge into the waters of the Jordan from the opposite bank.

16. Having visited the bank of the Jordan River in the town of Qasr El-Yahud, we continue the route through Palestine: the next stop is ancient Jericho. This city is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth - its history goes back about 10 thousand years.

Of course, during this period the settlement that existed here was repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and passed from hand to hand by different rulers. The most famous destruction of Jericho is reflected in the biblical legend - according to which in the 13th century BC the walls of the city fell from the loud sound of trumpets during the siege by the army of Joshua. And the expression “Trumpet of Jericho” has long become a household word.

Today Jericho is a major city in the West Bank, completely under the control of the Palestinian Authority (“Area A”). Israeli citizens cannot visit these areas of Palestine, and holders of Palestinian passports, on the contrary, cannot visit Israel without special permits. In recent history, this was not always the case - in the 90s, Israelis loved to relax in Jericho: it was cheap, plus there were several casinos and gambling zones. But after the Arab-Israeli conflict of 2000-2005 (“Second Palestinian Intifada”), everything changed - the mutual rules of movement of Israelis and Palestinians became stricter, separation barriers appeared, etc. Today it is relatively calm here again, tourism has begun to develop again, but people live in Jericho very poor. And this is very striking in contrast to Israeli cities.

17. In the oases of the Judean Desert in the area of ​​the Dead Sea and the lower reaches of the Jordan River there are a lot of date palm plantations. Dates are one of the most important agricultural products in Israel, including for export.

18. This is how they grow.

19. Jericho has a cable car that takes tourists from the city center to Mount Quarantal (or Mount of Temptation), where, according to legend, the devil tempted Jesus while he was fasting for 40 days. While traveling by cable car, very beautiful views of the city, the oasis, the Judean Desert and the Jordan Valley open up.

21. Archaeological excavations of ancient Jericho.

22. Mosque.

23. Many houses are abandoned. The streets are deserted, there are almost no people.

25. Outside the city lies the Jordan River Valley, along which the border with Jordan runs. There is an Israeli-controlled border crossing not far from here.

27. Mount Karantal.

28. On the rocks of this mountain is the Orthodox Greek monastery of Temptation (or Carantal), founded in the 4th century.

29. The buildings of the monastery are built directly on the steep ledges of the mountain.

32. Monastery streets on a steep rocky ledge.

33. In one of these caves on the mountain, according to legend, Christ fasted for 40 days.

36. Views from one of the balconies.

39. We get on the cable car and go back down. It's good for tourists - there is a funicular. But pilgrims have to climb the Mount of Temptation on foot, which is very difficult in the forty-degree heat.

This is where the one-day trip to Palestine ended - from Jericho to Jerusalem it is only 30 kilometers, very close. In conclusion, I will traditionally say that I will return to these parts with pleasure: it would be interesting to travel around Palestine, see Nablus, Ramallah, other cities... Bethlehem, of course. But that's for another time. And our next plan is Israel again: the Masada fortress, the Dead Sea and then the north of the country, the city of Haifa and the surrounding area.

In contact with

The lower reaches represent a natural border between Israel and Jordan. One of the main waterways of the region. Length - 252 km.

Once upon a time, tropical forests were green in the Jordan Valley, and hippopotamuses lived in the coastal thickets of papyrus. Now there is nothing left of its former plant splendor, except that evergreen sycamore sycamore trees rise here and there, brightening up the deserted appearance of the Jordan Plain.

The Jordan River is mentioned many times in the Bible. According to the Old Testament, Joshua led the Jewish people on dry land between the miraculously parted waters of the Jordan, thereby ending the Jews' forty-year wandering in the desert. Later, according to the Gospel, Jesus Christ was baptized in the waters of the river.

Christians treat the Jordan as a sacred river; Since the Byzantine era, there has been a widespread belief that the water of the Jordan heals diseases.

Hydrography

The length of the Jordan is 252 km. The basin area is about 18,000 km². The average slope is 1.85 m/km, in the area from Lake Hula to the Sea of ​​Galilee - 17.6 m/km. The river is not navigable.

The Jordan originates 14 km north of Lake Hula. Its source is the confluence of three rivers - El Hasbani (Khatsbani, Snir), Baniasi (Hermon) and Liddani (Dan), flowing from the slopes of Mount Hermon and accounting for 77% of the waters of the Jordan basin. Then the river flows in a direction from north to south until it reaches its mouth.

Downstream of Sde-Nehemiah, the Jordan divides into two channels, which after a few kilometers connect again. The canals were dug between 1950 and 1958 as part of a project to drain the Hula Lake valley. From their junction there is a canal to the Bridge of Jacob's Daughters. From here the Jordan flows in its natural channel, passing along the bottom of a basalt gorge, before flowing into the Sea of ​​Galilee.

In Hebrew, this section of the river is called Yarden Haharari (literally, “Mountain Jordan”). Here the river has the greatest slope - 17.6 m/km. There are several rapids along the gorge, which attracts water tourists.

After leaving the gorge, the Jordan flows into the Sea of ​​Galilee - Israel's largest natural reservoir. The area of ​​the lake is 167 km², the volume is about 4 billion m³.

The Jordan Valley, together with the Arava Valley, is part of the Syrian-African tectonic fault, which stretches from Syria to East Africa. Here the river bed becomes very winding, and the banks become high, in some places sheer. The width of the river reaches 40 meters.

In winter, during high water, the river washes away its banks, and this sometimes leads to landslides that create serious obstacles to the watercourse. In this section, several rivers flow into the Jordan, the largest of which are the Yarmouk and (left tributaries) and Harod (right tributary).

About 100 km south of the Sea of ​​Galilee, the Jordan flows into, which is one of the most saline lakes in the world. The Dead Sea coast is the lowest part of the earth's surface (420 m below sea level, and continues to decline).

Due to the high salt content, fish and most other fish cannot live in the lake. This fact gave the lake its name.

Tributaries

Rivers whose confluence forms the Jordan:

• El-Hasbani (Khatsbani, Snir) - flows down from the Lebanese part of Mount Hermon. Attempts by the Lebanese government to block the river to use a significant part of its waters for economic purposes have more than once led to friction in Lebanese-Israeli relations.

• Baniasi (Hermon, Banias) merges with Liddani (Dan), after which the watercourse receives a small river on the right - Koruni.

The largest tributaries in the area between the Kinneret and the Dead Sea:

• Yarmouk - separates Jordan from Syria and the Golan Heights.
• Seil ez-Zarqa (Yabbok)
• Harod

Power of the Jordan and its tributaries

Average annual flow at the mouth of the Jordan River and its largest tributaries:

A significant part of the waters of these rivers is used by Israel and Jordan for economic purposes, which is why their current annual flow is less than natural. For example, for Jordan this figure should be 1.2-1.3 billion m³ per year.

Photo gallery

Helpful information

Jordan River
Arab. نهر الأردن‎‎
translit nahr al-urdun
Hebrew נָהָר הַיַרְדֵּן‎,
translit. nahar ha-yarden;

origin of name

Until now, scientists have not formed a consensus on the origin of the name of the river.

Various etymologies from Semitic languages ​​are proposed: “ditch”, “to make noise”, etc. In accordance with the most common point of view, the Hebrew name of the river “Yarden” comes from the word “yered” (“descends”, “falls”), and the name of the source Dan.

Some researchers (for example, V.V. Ivanov) make assumptions about the Indo-European origin of the name of the river. It could have been preserved from the Indo-Iranians or, rather, the “peoples of the sea” (in particular, the Philistines), who were here at one time. Supporters of this version in the second part of the hydronym highlight the Indo-European root *danu (“moisture, water, river”), which is present, for example, in the name of the Danube River (Latin Danubius).

D. S. Merezhkovsky believed that “... the name of Jordan himself was brought to Palestine from Fr. Crete, where the Kidon tribe, as we learn from Homer (Odyssey III.292), lived near the bright streams of the Yardan.”

Mentions in the Bible

In the Old Testament

The Jordan is mentioned many times in the Old Testament as a place where various events took place, including miraculous ones. Jordan was the border of the Promised Land.

The first miracle occurred when the Israelites with the Ark of the Covenant crossed the Jordan on dry ground under the leadership of Joshua, opposite Jericho (Joshua 3:15-17).

Later, the two and a half tribes of Israel, who settled east of the Jordan, built a large altar on its banks as a “witness” between them and the other tribes (Joshua 22:10-34).

The prophets Elijah (2 Kings 2:8) and Elisha (2 Kings 2:14) crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

Elisha miraculously healed Naaman by ordering him to wash himself in the river (2 Kings 5:8-14), and in addition, he made the ax of one of the “sons of the prophets” float by throwing a piece of wood into the water (2 Kings 6:1- 7).

In the New Testament

According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

The Jordan River - the eastern border of the Holy Land - is mentioned more than once in tones and other Jewish sources.

It was the crossing of the Jordan and the miracles revealed by G-d during this transition that served as the starting point, the beginning of the conquest of the land of Israel by the Jewish people.

Subsequently, the Jordan River became the border between the tribes of Gad, Reuben and half of the Lesser tribe, who asked for an allotment on the eastern bank of the Jordan, and the remaining tribes.

It is interesting that, according to the instructions of the Torah, Moshe Rabbeinu allocated 3 of the 6 cities of refuge created by the Jews on the other side of the Jordan, although the population and territory occupied there by the Israelis was significantly smaller (Bemidbar 35:9-15). And Rashi explains: this is because “... there are many murderers in Gilad” (Gilead is a region in Transjordan). Since we are talking here about unintentional, random murders, this can be interpreted as follows: there are more random murderers there than in the Land of Israel. Obviously, this is due to the spiritual differences of the lands lying on opposite sides of the Jordan River.

And our sages also say: the reason why those tribes were the first to be taken into captivity is because they chose to live beyond the Jordan.

One way or another, from these examples we see that the Jordan River served as a kind of spiritual “watershed” between the land of Israel and its neighboring lands.

Let's consider the main events of Jewish history related to the Jordan.

Parting the waters of the Jordan

Twice in history G-d parted the waters for the Jewish people.

The second time this happened was when Yehoshua bin Nun led the Jews to Eretz Israel through the Jordan. As one of the psalms says: “The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned back” ( Tehilim 114:3).

However, there is a significant difference between these two events. When the Jews leaving Egypt reached the Red Sea, they found themselves in a hopeless situation. The Egyptian army was overtaking them from behind, and the path forward was blocked by the depths of the sea. There was nowhere to run. All that remained was to hope for a miracle. And a miracle happened: the sea parted and the Jews were saved.

When the Jewish army led by Joshua approached the Jordan River, no one was chasing it. On the contrary, the Jews had to enter territory controlled by enemy forces. The width of the Jordan was only about thirty meters, and a bridge or boat could be used to cross. Why then did the Almighty need to cut the waters of the Jordan?

This miracle had a double purpose. First, it was to remind the Jews how Moshe led them through the Red Sea, and thus elevate Yehoshua bin Nun in their eyes as a worthy successor to Moshe and the undisputed leader of the nation.

And secondly, Hashem wanted to instill fear in the Canaanite peoples and throw them off balance. Both goals were achieved.

The crossing of the Jordan took place on Tuesday, the 10th of Nissan. 1270 BC e.

“On that day Hashem magnified Yehoshua in the sight of all Israel; and they began to fear him just as they feared Moses..." ( Joshua 4:14). “And it came to pass, when all the kings of Canaan heard... that Hashem had dried up the waters of the Jordan,... their hearts were afraid” ( same place 5:1).

The miracles that happened to the Jewish people during the crossing of the Jordan demonstrated to them that even in the absence of Moshe, G-d continued to protect them. Now they knew for sure that success was guaranteed, Eretz Israel would be conquered.

To strengthen this impression and give His Will greater credibility, Hashem commanded them, when crossing the Jordan, to change the order of the twelve tribes. During the wilderness journey, the Ark of the Covenant was carried by the Levites who followed the tribes of Judah and Reuven, who led the column. Now the Levites handed the Ark to the kohanim, who stood in front of the entire procession.

When the kohanim entered the river, the waters immediately parted. It was visible from afar how two giant walls of water shot up into the sky, opening the way for the Jewish people to triumphantly enter their land.

Malbim gives the following figurative comparison: when an army is preparing to conquer foreign lands, the king becomes its leader. With all his actions he wants to show that he is the commander-in-chief of his army and the future ruler of the country that is to be conquered. Just as the battle columns of soldiers respectfully part to open the way for the king, the guards open the gates for him, in the same way the waters of the Jordan parted to allow the envoys of the King of Kings to enter the Holy Land.

Contrary to the laws of nature

The parting of the waters of the Jordan was the first of a series of miracles performed by the Almighty for his people in Eretz Israel. Besides this miracle, there were others.

The sun and moon stood motionless over the Ayalon valley for a whole day to allow the army of Yehoshua to complete the defeat of the Amorites (Emorites) ( Joshua 10:12-15).

During the battle in Beth Horon, huge boulders fell directly from the sky onto the heads of the enemies ( there 10:11).

Under King Hezkiyah, the 185,000-strong army of Sancheriv, preparing for the siege of Jerusalem, died out completely in one night ( II Kings 19). In the books of the prophets and in the Oral Tradition one can find many such stories where G-d miraculously intervened in the course of events on the side of his people.

A miracle occurs in those cases when the Almighty wants to change the established, natural order of things once and for all. Whatever goal Hashem pursued - to save one person or an entire nation, or to demonstrate His power - the miracle He performed proves His complete and undivided power over man and nature. Although G-d is omnipresent, we are especially clearly convinced of His Presence when something “impossible” is accomplished, for example, parting the sea or delivering a small nation from the power of another, stronger and more numerous nation.

In Eretz Israel His power is felt much more strongly than anywhere else. “This is the land for which Hashem your God cares; the eyes of Hashem your God are constantly on it” ( Devarim 11:12). In this regard, let us remember the laws established in memory of the miracles that happened.

Laws related to visiting places of miracles

When visiting places where G‑d performed miracles for the Jewish people, the following blessing should be recited:

“Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our fathers in this place.” .

This blessing is recited only if a person has not visited this place for thirty days (not counting the current day and the day of the last visit).

If, when passing by a memorial place within the mentioned 30-day period, you did not read the blessing or did not know about the sanctity of this place, you still cannot say the blessing until another 30 days have passed.

Many historical sites in Israel are associated with the conquest of the country by Yehoshua's army; among them is the place where the waters of the Jordan parted (“and the people passed over against Jericho” - Yehoshua 3:16 ).

And also - the place where boulders fell from the sky on the heads of the Canaanites (next to Beth Horon); and, of course, the remains of the ancient walls of Jericho (Jericho) that fell into the ground.

However, if you do not know the exact location of the place where the miracle took place, the blessing cannot be read. Instead, when you see, for example, some section of the Jordan River, you can read a song of praise.

Song of Jordan

Lived in the 14th century Rabbi Ishtori Aparhi composed a poem that is read at the sight of the Jordan River.

On the banks of the Jordan I will bless, praise, extol and give thanks to Your Name,

You divided it for Your people like the Red Sea...

And for Eliyahu You divided it...(before he ascended to heaven in a chariot); and the same for Elisha (his student), who was in no hurry when the Jordan parted for him.

Your holy right hand was laid bare (You showed dominion over the laws of nature), O bringer of salvation to the humble race.

Do as you see fit, O savior of Zion.

Circumcision at Gilgal

The day after Joshua entered Israel, he circumcised all the men born in the desert.

The Levites and certain righteous people performed this mitzvah(commandment) even during a forty-year wandering in the desert. The rest of the people legally abstained from this sacred rite so as not to endanger the lives of children. G-d led the Jews through the desert, and no one knew what would happen to them the next day. If the column of smoke stood motionless over the Mishkan, they did not move. If the pillar rose, they packed up their things and set off, following the Cloud of Glory. In such conditions, it was dangerous to circumcise a newborn baby, as it was easy to get an infection. The hectic preparations and hardships of the hike could also endanger the child’s life. During all the time of their wanderings in the desert, the healing northern breeze did not blow even once, so as not to dislodge the Cloud of Glory. Because the Sanhedrin could not guarantee the safety of the children, he decided not to force the people to fulfill the commandment of circumcision.

But now, encamped at Gilgal and without fear of attack by the Canaanite tribes, who were temporarily paralyzed with horror at the sight of the supernatural phenomena of nature that accompanied the Jews' crossing of the Jordan, the people felt sufficiently safe to fulfill this most precious commandment.