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The Jordan River
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The Jordan River
was the setting for many of the the great events in the Bible.
This river falls nearly 2,500 feet from its start near Mount Hermon. The name Jordan, which means "descender" was
likely given to the river because of the great fall in altitude.
The Jordan River flows from four
streams that appear along the slopes of Mt. Hermon, each a
result of the melting snowfalls from the peaks above. From its
sources in the North to the river's end at the Dead Sea their is
65 miles but from overhead it looks like a snake, winding and
curving, stretching the short distance to more than 160
miles. The Jordan River starts where the Hasbani River of Lebanon, and Banias River from Syria meet. The Yarmuk River of Syria is an important tributary further downstream. Sea of Galilee is part of the Jordan River system. The
geography between Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea constitutes the Ghawr Valley. Most of
the Ghawr Valley defines the border between first Jordan and Israel, and then Jordan and Palestine. Dead Sea is the outlet of Jordan River. |
In those days John the Baptist
came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was
spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one
calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for him.'" John's clothes were made of
camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His
food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from
Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan
River.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by
John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied,
"Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to
fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
Matthew 3:1-6 and 13-15
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