The Jordan River
Jordan = “descender” 197 (19th Strong Prime) in 179 (17th Strong Prime) (17 and 19 are Twin Primes)
יַרְדֵּן Yardên, yar-dane’; from H3381; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine:—Jordan 182 in 164
26 in Deuteronomy 101 : 26P 69x in 58v in Joshua 271 : 58P
15x in 15v in New Testament : Matthew (6) : Mark (4) : Luke (2) : John (3)
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, yeh-ho-shoo’-ah; or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yᵉhôwshuʻa; from H3068 and H3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader:—Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare H1954, H3442. 218 in 199
1st mention: Exodus 17:9
Source Of the Jordan River : Anti-Lebanon Mountain Range at Mount Hermon, Golan Heights
Elevation :: 9232′ :: 2,814 M
Site of where the Fallen Angels descended upon.
The site of where Jesus built his church (at the foot)
Where Jesus was transfigured in Matthew 17
Mouth: Dead Sea
Elevation : -1,365′ :: -416 M :: -16,380″ :: -455 yards
Length: 156 Miles :: 251 Kilometers
Sea of Galilee to Dead Sea : 65 Miles
jor’-dan (yarden, “flowing downward”; ‘Iordanes): “descender”
The Jordan river proper begins at the junction of 4 streams, the Bareighit, the Hasbany, the Leddan, and the Banias), in the upper part of the plain of Lake Huleh.
Bareighit receives its supply of water from the hills on the West, which separate the valley from the river Litany, and is the least important of the 4.
Hasbany is the longest of the four (40 miles), issuing from a great fountain at the western foot of Mt. Hermon near Hasbeiya, 1,700 ft. above the sea, and descends 1,500 ft. in its course to the plain.
Leddan is the largest of the 4 streams, issuing in several fountains at the foot of the mound Tell el-kady (Dan, or Laish) at an elevation of 505 ft. above the sea.
Banias issues from a celebrated fountain near the town of Banias, which is identified as the Caesarea Philippi associated with the transfiguration.
The ancient name was Paneas, originating from a grotto consecrated to the god Pan.
At this place Herod erected a temple of white marble dedicated to Augustus Caesar.
The spring of Banias with the Cave of Pan in background
This is probably the Baal-gad of Joshua 11:17 and 12:7. Its altitude is 1,100 ft. above tide,
the stream falls about 600 ft.
in the 5 miles of its course to the head of the Jordan.
Archaeologists uncovered a shrine dedicated to Pan and related deities, and the remains of an ancient city founded sometime after the conquest by Alexander the Great and inhabited until 1967;
The first mention of the ancient city during the Hellenistic period was in the context of the Battle of Panium, fought around 200-198 BCE, when the name of the place was given as Panion.
Later the region was called Paneas (Greek: Πανειάς). Both names were derived from that of Pan, the god of the wild and companion of the nymphs.
The spring at Banias initially originated in a large cave carved out of a sheer cliff face which was gradually lined with a series of shrines. The temenos (sacred precinct) included in its final phase a temple placed at the mouth of the cave, courtyards for rituals, and niches for statues. It was constructed on an elevated, 80m long natural terrace along the cliff which towered over the north of the city.
A four-line inscription at the base of one of the niches relates to Pan and Echo, the mountain nymph, and was dated to 87 BCE.
The once very large spring gushed from the limestone cave, but an earthquake moved it to the foot of the natural terrace where it now seeps quietly from the bedrock, with a greatly reduced flow. From here the stream, called Nahal Hermon in Hebrew, flows towards what once were the malaria-infested Hula marshes.[2]
Sea of Galilee:
- The Sea of Galilee occupies an expansion of the Jordan valley 12.7 miles long and from 3 to 7 miles wide.
- The hills, reaching, in general, 1,200 or 1,500 ft. above the lake, come down close to its margin on every side.
- On the East and South they are mainly of volcanic origin, and to some extent of the same character on the Northwest side above Tiberias.
- In the time of Christ the mouth of the river may have been a half-mile or more farther up the delta than now.
JOHN 21 : JESUS APPEARS AT THE SEA OF GALILEE
10Jesus said to them, Bring of the fish which you have now caught. 11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an 153: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12Jesus said to them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus then comes, and takes bread, and gives them, and fish likewise. 14This is now the 3rd time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
153 Sum of the first 17 INTEGERS
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7+ 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 + 15 + 16 + 17 = 153
17th Triangular Number 153
153RD verse in the bible is Genesis 6:15 : THE DIMENSIONS OF Noah’s ARK
351″ :: Surface Area of the Ark of the Covenant (351 mirror 153)
351 is the 26th Triangular Number
Jacob’s Journey’s
After Jacob made Covenant @ Mizpah (“watchtower”) with Laban, who he served for 20 years and married his 2 daughters, Rachel and Leah… he prepared to Meet Esau.
Genesis 32 : Jacob’s Fear of Esau
9Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11“Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12“For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’”
22Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.
Jacob Wrestles
24Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”27So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”31Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. 32Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.
Peniel פְּנוּאֵל Pᵉnûwʼêl, pen-oo-ale’; or (more properly,) פְּנִיאֵל Pᵉnîyʼêl; from H6437 and H410; face of God; Penuel or Peniel, a place East of Jordan; also (as Penuel) the name of two Israelites:—Peniel, Penuel. 9 in 8
the place named by Jacob when he wrestled with God and located on the north bank of the Jabbok close to the Jordan
Jabbok is Zarqa today : 40 miles south of Galilee (24 North of Dead Sea)
Then Jacob Journeyed to Succoth (“booths”) after meeting Esau.
סֻכּוֹת Çukkôwth, sook-kohth’; or סֻכֹּת Çukkôth; plural of H5521; booths; Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in Palestine:—Succoth. 18 in 16
the site where Jacob put up booths for his cattle and built a house for himself; apparently east of the Jordan near the ford of the torrent Jabbok and later allotted to the tribe of Gad
1st stopping place of the Israelites when they left Egypt
1st Mention Genesis 33:17
Genesis 33 : Jacob Meets Esau
17Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.
Jacob Settles in Shechem
18And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. 19And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money. 20And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.
Padan or Padan-aram = “field” פַּדָּן Paddân, pad-dawn’; from an unused root meaning to extend; a plateau; 11 in 11
Salem = “peace” the place of which Melchizedek was king, an early name of Jerusalem:—Salem. 3 in 3
Shechem = “back” or “shoulder” שְׁכֶם Shᵉkem, shek-em’; the same as H7926; ridge; Shekem, a place in Palestine:—Shechem. 63 in 54
שְׁכֶם shᵉkem, shek-em’; from H7925; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill:—back, × consent, portion, shoulder 22 in 22 shoulder (17x),
1st Mention Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, H7926 and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
SHECHEM where JOSEPH WAS FEEDING THE FLOCK and where Joshua and Joseph were buried
17 MILES WEST of the JORDAN (now called Nablos)
17.9 miles to Jabbok/Zarqa
17 miles from Jabbok to Gilgal
JOSHUA 2 : RAHAB WELCOMES THE SPIES
1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim 2 men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
comes from the same word as FOOT (REGEL)
Each Foot contains 26 bones and 33 joints
26 + 33 = 59 : 17th Prime
26 Letters in English Language
26 (26thP : 101) 101 : 17th Twin Prime
Surface Area of the Ark of the Covenant
29.3′
or 351″ (351 is the 26th Triangular Number )
or 19.5 Cubits
59 : 17P
59: Sum of Divisors : (1 + 59) = 60
# of Minutes in Hour
# of Seconds in Minute
33% (1/3) of 60 = 19.8
Rev 12 198th Verse
4And his tail drew the 1/3 part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
19.8 of an hour = 19.48% or 19.5
Rev 12 195TH Verse
1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: 2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
33 :: # of Years Christ Spent on Earth,
33 :: # of Days from Eclipse on 8/21 to Sign on 9/23
8/21 : 233rd Day
9/23 : 266th Day
with 99 days left
239 : 33rd Twin Prime
Mount Hermon located : 33rd degree parallel and 33 miles East of the Mediterranean
39 from Galilee
116 to Dead Sea
118 to Jerusalem (western wall)
110 to Jericho / Gilgal
2 Feet contain 52 bones and 66 Joints ( # of Books in Bible)
239 : 52nd Prime
52 + 66 = 118 (Factorization : 2 * 59) (Sum of Divisors : 180)
Revelation 4 : The Throne in Heaven
1After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.
*** 52nd Verse of Revelation (4:1)
3And he that sat was to look on like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.
4And round about the throne were 24 seats: and on the seats I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
***24 seats which represent the 24 ribs guarding the throne (heart)
Genesis 2 : The Creation of Woman
21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
52ndVerse of Genesis (2:21)
24 ribs – 1 taken out = 23:9thP
1/24 = .0417
Ark : תֵּבָה têbâh, tay-baw’; perhaps of foreign derivation; a box:—ark. vessel which Noah built; basket vessel in which Moses was placed;
Lexicon : a chest
Ark mentioned 23:9thP times in Genesis
Our chest contains our ribs which contain our heart :
Ark : אָרוֹן ʼârôwn, aw-rone’; or אָרֹן ʼârôn; from H717 (in the sense of gathering); a box:—ark, chest, coffin. Used for Ark of Covenant 202 in 174 (ark 195x)
202 SumD = 306
174 SumD = 360
Matthew 16 : Peter’s Confession of Christ
(Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20; John 6:66-71)
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He said to them, But whom say you that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Jesus built his church at the foot of Mt. Hermon
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Ruth claimed Boaz as Redeemer in Ruth 3 by uncovering his feet.
We are born with 306 Bones
(153 fishes x 2 = 306)
Exodus 13: 19
And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
306th Prime: 2017
2017th Verse in Psalms
59I CONSIDERED MY WAYS
AND TURNED MY FEET TO YOUR TESTIMONIES.119 :: 17 x 7
59 :: 17th Prime
Psalm 119 is written in Acrostic Form
8 verse sections for each of the 22 Hebrew Letters
Verse 59 is in the 8th Section
ח
HETH.57You are my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep your words.
58I entreated your favor with my whole heart: be merciful to me according to your word.
59I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies.
60I made haste, and delayed not to keep your commandments.
61The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten your law.
62At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you because of your righteous judgments.
63I am a companion of all them that fear you, and of them that keep your precepts.
64The earth, O LORD, is full of your mercy: teach me your statutes.
Numeric Value = 8
Heth = 8
:: 8 on Ark ::
8th day circumcised :;
8 years from 2017 – 2009
9 to 5 = 8 hours
5 PM = 17th Hour (last hour of work) 9 to 5 59: 17thP
17 : 7th Prime (7th day rest)
Ark Rested on the 17th day of the 7th month
The Key Of David
Revelation 3 : Message to Philadelphia
7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
JOSHUA 3 : THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN
1And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3And they commanded the people, saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it.
Josephus [4] stated that there was in his time a town, ABILA, FULL OF PALM TREES, AT A DISTANCE OF 60 STADIA[5] from the Jordan, and described it as the spot where Moses delivered the exhortations of Deuteronomy. There is to this day an acacia grove not far from the place, although the palms mentioned by Josephus are no longer there.
The Ark of the Covenant was made with Acacia wood
ARK OF COVENANT :: L & H :: 2’3″ W :: 3’9″
Surface Area of Ark : 19.5 Cubits
195th verse of Revelation
Revelation 12 : The Woman Dragon
1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:
SURFACE AREA OF ARK : :: 351″
SURFACE AREA OF ARK : 29.3′ (29.25′)
SIGN IN HEAVENS 9/23
NBA ARK 23’9″
4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about 2,000 CUBITS by measure: come not near to it, that you may know the way by which you must go: for you have not passed this way heretofore.
2,000 CUBITS
18″ CUBIT: 36,000″ :: 3,000 ft :: 1000 yds :: 0.91144 kilometers :: 0.568182 miles
25.2″ SACRED CUBIT: 50,400″ :: 4,200ft :: 1400 yds :: 1.28016 kilometers :: 0.7954545 miles
DIFFERENCE: 14,400″ :: 1200 ft :: 400 yds :: 0.37 miles :: 0.23 miles
5And Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 6And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7And the LORD said to Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8And you shall command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, WHEN YOU ARE COME TO THE BRINK OF THE WATER OF JORDAN, YOU SHALL STAND STILL IN JORDAN. 9And Joshua said to the children of Israel, Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God. 10And Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11Behold, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH PASSES OVER BEFORE YOU INTO JORDAN. 12Now therefore take you 12 men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand on an heap.
14And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15And AS THEY THAT BORE THE ARK WERE COME TO JORDAN, AND THE FEET OF THE PRIESTS THAT BORE THE ARK WERE DIPPED IN THE BRIM OF THE WATER, (FOR JORDAN OVERFLOWS ALL HIS BANKS ALL THE TIME OF HARVEST,)
16That THE WATERS WHICH CAME DOWN FROM ABOVE STOOD AND ROSE UP ON AN HEAP VERY FAR FROM THE CITY ADAM, THAT IS BESIDE ZARETAN: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17And THE PRIESTS THAT BORE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD STOOD FIRM ON DRY GROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF JORDAN, AND ALL THE ISRAELITE’S PASSED OVER ON DRY GROUND, UNTIL ALL THE PEOPLE WERE PASSED CLEAN OVER JORDAN.
Joshua 3: 17 (59th Verse) 17P : 59
JOSHUA 4 : TWELVE STONES FROM THE JORDAN
1And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 2Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3And command you them, saying, Take you hence out of the middle of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, TWELVE STONES, and you shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where you shall lodge this night. 4Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: 5And Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
שְׁכֶם shᵉkem, shek-em’; from H7925; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill:—back, × consent, portion, shoulder 22 in 22 shoulder (17x),
1ST MENTION GENESIS 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their SHOULDERS, H7926 and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
SHECHEM where JOSEPH was FEEDING THE FLOCK and whereJOSHUA andJOSEPH WERE BURIED
The stone worn on the shoulders of the High Priest, the Onyx stone, was the same stone used for Joseph
17 MILES WEST of the JORDAN (now called Nablos)
6THAT THIS MAY BE A SIGN AMONG YOU, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, WHAT MEAN YOU BY THESE STONES? 7Then you shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; WHEN IT PASSED OVER JORDAN, THE WATERS OF JORDAN WERE CUT OFF: and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel for ever. 8And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up 12 stones out of the middle of Jordan, as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9And JOSHUA SET UP 12 IN THE MIDDLE OF JORDAN, in the place where THE FEET OF THE PRIESTS which bore the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there to this day.
12 Stones above the Woman’s Head
10For the priests which bore the ark stood in the middle of Jordan, UNTIL EVERYTHING WAS FINISHED that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hurried and passed over. 11And it came to pass, WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE CLEAN PASSED OVER, THAT THE ARK OF THE LORD PASSED OVER, AND THE PRIESTS, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE.
12And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them: 13About 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the LORD to battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. 15And the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 16COMMAND THE PRIESTS THAT BEAR THE ARK OF THE TESTIMONY, THAT THEY COME UP OUT OF JORDAN.17JOSHUA THEREFORE COMMANDED THE PRIESTS, SAYING, COME YOU UP OUT OF JORDAN. 18And it came to pass, when the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the middle of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned to their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
THE CAMP AT GILGAL
19And THE PEOPLE CAME UP OUT OF JORDAN ON THE 10TH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH, AND ENCAMPED IN GILGAL,in the east border of Jericho.20And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. 21And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying,When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, WHAT MEAN THESE STONES? 22Then you shall let your children know, saying, ISRAEL CAME OVER THIS JORDAN ON DRY LAND. 23For the LORD your God DRIED UP THE WATERS OF JORDAN FROM BEFORE YOU, UNTIL YOU WERE PASSED OVER, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that you might fear the LORD your God for ever.
17 is the 7th Circular Prime
JOSHUA 5 : THE CIRCUMCISION AT GILGAL
(Genesis 17:9-27; Leviticus 12:1-8; Acts 15:1-4)
1And it came to pass, when all THE KINGS OF THE AMORITES, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. 2At that time the LORD said to Joshua,Make you sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 3And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at THE HILL OF THE FORESKINS.
Covenant of Circumcision made in Genesis 17
8th day all male children circumcised.
Lexicon : FORESKIN OF TREE, THE FRUIT OF THE FIRST 3 YEARS, IS COUNTED AS UNCLEAN
4And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
6For the children of Israel walked 40 years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: to whom the LORD swore that he would not show them the land, which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 7And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. 8And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp, till they were whole. 9And the LORD said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. WHY THE NAME OF THE PLACE IS CALLED GILGAL TO THIS DAY.
Joshua 5:9
THE PASSOVER AT GILGAL
10And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the 14TH DAY OF THE MONTH at even in the plains of Jericho. 11And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. 12And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
197 in Gen and Ex
524 through Duet
13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his SWORD DRAWN IN HIS HAND: and Joshua went to him, and said to him, ARE YOU FOR US, OR FOR OUR ADVERSARIES?14And he said, No; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said to him, What said my Lord to his servant? 15And the captain of the LORD’s host said to Joshua, LOOSE YOUR SHOE FROM OFF YOUR FOOT; FOR THE PLACE WHERE ON YOU STAND IS HOLY. And Joshua did so.
2 Samuel 17
17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.18Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; where they went down. 19And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. 20And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said to David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus has Ahithophel counceled against you. 22Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
2 Samuel 19 : David Returns to Jerusalem
15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
16And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
Shimei Pardoned
18And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
19And said to the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do you remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20For your servant does know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed? 22And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23Therefore the king said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore to him.
Mephibosheth Excused
24And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why went not you with me, Mephibosheth? 26And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because your servant is lame. 27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes. 28For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet did you set your servant among them that did eat at your own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more to the king? 29And the king said to him, Why speak you any more of your matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the land. 30And Mephibosheth said to the king, Yes, let him take all, for as much as my lord the king is come again in peace to his own house.
David’s Kindness to Barzillai
31And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even 80 years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33And the king said to Barzillai, Come you over with me, and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem. 34And Barzillai said to the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37Let your servant, I pray you, turn back again, that I may die in my own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you. 38And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you: and whatever you shall require of me, that will I do for you. 39And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.
40Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
Contention over the King
41And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan? 42And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: why then be you angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or has he given us any gift? 43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than you: why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
2 Kings 5: Naaman Cured of Leprosy
14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like to the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Leprousy caused skin to turn white as snow.
Jordan is filled from the snow that melts at the top of the caps of Mt. Hermon.
Job 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Rahab and Spies)
Exodus 4 : Moses’ Hand
6And the LORD said furthermore to him, Put now your hand into your bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.7And he said, Put your hand into your bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.8And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe you, neither listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land: and the water which you take out of the river shall become blood on the dry land.
Matthew 28
1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
Numbers 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriambecame leprous, white as snow:
Mary or Miriam = “their rebellion”
2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Joshua 5:9And the LORD said to Joshua, This day have I ROLLED AWAY the reproach of Egypt from off you. WHY THE NAME OF THE PLACE IS CALLED GILGAL TO THIS DAY.
Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
1 Kings 17 : Ravens Feed Elijah
1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3Get you hence, and turn you eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. 5So he went and did according to the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelled by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
The Widow of Zarephath
8And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you. 10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray you, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray you, a morsel of bread in your hand. 12And she said, As the LORD your God lives, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13And Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it to me, and after make for you and for your son. 14For thus said the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth. 15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Elijah.
צָרַף tsâraph, tsaw-raf’; a primitive root; TO FUSE (METAL), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively):—cast, (re-) fine(-er), founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try. 33 times in 29 verses to smelt, refine, test to purge gld or silver by fire and to separate from dross
Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son
17And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18And she said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, O you man of God? are you come to me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19And he said to her, Give me your son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed. 20And he cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21And he stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray you, let this child’s soul come into him again. 22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother: and Elijah said, See, your son lives. 24And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.
2 KINGS 2 : ELIJAH TAKEN TO HEAVEN
1And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said to him, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel. 3And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Know you that the LORD will take away your master from your head to day? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold you your peace.
4And Elijah said to him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. 5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said to him, Know you that the LORD will take away your master from your head to day? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold you your peace. 6And Elijah said to him, Tarry, I pray you, here; for the LORD has sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And they two went on.
7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 8And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided here and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be on me. 10And he said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so.11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted here and thither: and Elisha went over.
2 Kings 6 : The Axe Head Floats
1And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with you is too strait for us. 2Let us go, we pray you, to Jordan, and take there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go you.3And one said, Be content, I pray you, and go with your servants. And he answered, I will go. 4So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 5But as one was felling a beam, the ax head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 6And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. 7Therefore said he, Take it up to you. And he put out his hand, and took it.
Elisha Captures Blinded Syrians
8Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber. 13And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.18And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray you, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria.
Revelation 10 : The Angel and the Small Scroll
6And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 170v (F: 2*5*17) (tan: .369)
7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets. 171v
Genesis 7 : The Floodwaters Arrive
10And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were on the earth. 170V (F: 2*5*17) (TAN: .369)
11In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the 2nd month, the 17th day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 171v
Revelation 11 : Two Witnesses
2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot 42 months. (177v)
42 months using 29.5 months = 1,239 days
3And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (179v)
Revelation 12 : The Woman and the Dragon (17 Verses)
1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: (195V)
3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads. (197V)
4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (198V)
5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. (199v : 46thP)
6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a 1260 days. (12:6) (200v)
200 squared = 40,000 The number of Men of War that went across the Jordan Tan: -1.79
The War in Heaven
7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death. 12Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.
The Dragon Persecutes the Woman
13And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:
10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 239v
Revelation 18
10Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is your judgment come. v306
Damia Bridge (also Prince Muhammad Bridge) known in Israel as Gesher Adam (Hebrew: גשר אדם) is a bridge over the Jordan River between the West Bank and Jordan. After 1991 it was used only for goods transported by truck between Israel, the West Bank and Jordan until its closure for security reasons some time between 2002 and 2005 during the Second Intifada.[1] As of 2014, the Israeli side is part of a closed military area.
German military truck crossing the bridge in March 1917
The site was used as a crossing between the west and east banks of the Jordan due to good access in both directions over the Far’a[2]/Tirzah Valley to the west and the Zarqa/Yabbok Valley to the east.
Still visible are ruins of several consecutive bridges:[3] the stone bridge built by the Mamluk sultan Baibars in the 13th century, blown up by Haganah forces during Operation Markolet (known as the Night of the bridges) on the night of 16–17 June 1946; a British bridge built soon after, and a Jordanian one from the 1950s, both destroyed by the Israeli army during the 6-Day War of 1967. Right after the war, in August 1967, Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan allowed the uncontrolled traffic of goods between the Palestinians and Jordan using the ford of Damiya, as a way of avoiding the economic collapse of the West Bank and for avoiding Palestinian discontent, since the Israeli markets were not open yet to Palestinian produce.
This was an element of what became known as the “policy of the open bridges”.[4]
In January 1968 Jordan built a prefabricated metal bridge to facilitate the trade connections to the West Bank. The bridge was open to both goods and people, but fighting due to the 1967-1970 War of Attrition led to the 1968 Battle of Karameh during which the bridge was damaged by Jordanian artillery who tried to prevent Israeli armour from passing. In 1969 the Jordanians blew up parts of this bridge,[5] but it was repaired at some later point.
During the Black September events in 1970, the bridge was again closed for several days during the fighting between the Palestinians and the Jordanian army. The Jordanians repaired the bridge in early 1975 after it had been damaged by floods, and performed some amendments in 1976.[6] The Jordanian metal bridge still stands but is currently out of use. In 2014 the Palestinian authorities were negotiating with Jordan the possibilities of reopening traffic between the two sides.[7]
Located on an ancient trade route, this is the oldest bridge in the Jordan valley.
The bridge was constructed several times (1266, 1947, 1950s (2), and 1967) in different adjacent locations.
The site is located on the border with Jordan, and can be reached only after pre-arrangement with the army. An aerial photo is shown below, indicating the major points of interest and the place of the bridge(s). You can point on the purple points to navigate to the selected site.
History:
Prehistoric and Biblical periods
The crossing at the Adam bridge started in prehistoric times, and was a major ancient trade route. A mountain pass exists on the west side of the bridge (along the Tirzah creek, connecting to the region of Efraim) and on the eastern side of the bridge (along the Yabbok/Zarka river, connecting to the Gilad in Jordan). This made the crossing at this location most convenient, and was in use for many millenniums until modern times.
The Bible describes the location of the crossing by the Israelites, led by Joshua, as passing at Adam (Joshua 3: 16): “That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam…”. An ancient city is indeed located here, and called Tell Adam.
The bridges
The bridges across the Jordan river were constructed and destroyed many times. Each bridge used a different location, all in a near proximity.
The Mameluke ruler, Baybars, erected a large (400m) bridge in 1266 AD. It was in use until the Ottoman period, and was blasted in 1946. The British soon constructed a new bridge, and the Jordanians added another one in the 1950s. The two bridges were destroyed by the IDF during the 6 day war (1967). Later that year Jordan constructed a pre-fabricated (“Bailey”) bridge on the south side in order to support the commercial trade traffic between Jordan and the West Bank.
Modern Times
The bridge is not in commercial use in recent years, since the traffic between Jordan and Israel – now under a peace treaty – was relocated to Allenby bridge. The area of the bridge is a closed army zone, and visits to the site are permitted only after coordination with the Army.
Tell Adam is identified as Biblical Adam. This is the place where the Israelites passed the Jordan river after returning from the exile in Egypt (Joshua 3 16): “That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam…”. The city existed from the Bronze/Canaanite period until the Byzantine period.
After Solomon’s death, Egypt’s Shishak invaded Israel in 924 BC (1 Kings 14: 25: “in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem”). According to the Pharaoh’s hieroglyphic inscriptions, Adam is listed as one of the cities that he captured (#56 i-d-m).
Succoth /Sukkot:
The area to the north of Adam is called, in the Bible, by the name of Sukkot (Hebrew for huts). There are several passages in the Bible. King Solomon casted Brass and Gold vessels for the temple, casting them in the clay that is located here (1 Kings 7 47): “In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan”.
Western View:
Around the delta of the Jordan river, are tall marlstone (Havar) hills on both sides of the valley. These were created by the fragmentation of the rocks by the sun and wind. They were actually dry beds of an ancient sea that once was located along the Jordan river.
On the western side of the Adam bridge are the high mountains of the Jordan valley, seen below in the background. One hill stands out among these mountains – Sartaba.
According to the Biblical location of the Israelite crossing (Joshua 3 16): “… very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan”. Zeratan is identified as Sartaba, the fortress above the western hills. It is seen in the center of the photo below – a high pointed hill rising over the Tirzah valley pass.
JORDAN VALLEY
Physical Peculiarities: As more fully detailed elsewhere (see ARABAH; DEAD SEA; GEOLOGY OF PALESTINE), the Jordan valley in its lower portion occupies a remarkable depression in the earth’s surface, reaching its greatest depth in the Dead Sea,
- the surface of which is 1,300 ft.,
- the bottom 2,600 ft. below tide level,
- the portion of the basin below the level of the sea being about 100 miles in length and from 10 to 15 miles in breadth at base,
- and from two to three times that distance between the bordering summits of the mountains and plateaus on either side.
In the early prehistoric period, corresponding with the Glacial epoch, this depression was filled with water to a height of 1,400 ft. (see references above) which gradually disappeared by evaporation as present climatic conditions came on.
At an elevation of approximately 650 ft. above the Dead Sea, very extensive sedimentary deposits were made, which, while appearing only in fragments along the shores of the Dead Sea, are continuous over the bottom of the valley (the so-called Ghor), farther North.
These deposits are from 100 to 200 ft. thick, consisting of material which was brought down into the valley by the tributary mountain streams descending from each side, while the water stood at this higher level.
Naturally these deposits slope gradually from the sides of the valley toward the center, the coarser material of the deposits being nearer the sides, and the amount of sediment being much increased opposite the mouths of the larger streams.
The deposit was at first continuous over the entire Ghor, or valley, but has since been much dissected by the Jordan river and its tributaries.
The Jordan itself has eroded a channel through the soft sediment, 100 ft. more or less deep, from Lake Galilee to the Dead Sea, a distance in a straight line of about 70 miles.
At first this channel was narrow, but it has been constantly enlarged by the stream as it has meandered from side to side, undercutting the banks so that they cave into the river and are washed down to fill up the Dead Sea, a process which is especially familiar to residents upon the banks of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
This narrow gorge is called the Zor, and will hereafter be referred to under this name.
The Zor at present averages about 1/2 mile wide, the most of which is occupied by a flood plain extending from the banks of the river to the foot of the sedimentary bluffs on either side.
This flood plain is so overgrown with brush and reeds that it is practically impenetrable, except by wild beasts, which, according to Scriptural references, have infested it from earliest times, among which may be mentioned the lion, the tiger, the wild boar.
During the spring months, when the snows are melting from Mt. Hermon and cloudbursts are sending sudden torrents of water down the river courses from the plateau of Gilead and the mountains of Samaria, the Jordan “overflows all its banks,” i.e. covers this flood plain and drives out the beasts to infest the neighborhood for a short time.
Lake Huleh
The Hula Valley lies within the northern part of the Syrian-African Rift Valley at an elevation of about 70 meters above sea level, and covers an area of 177 square kilometers (25 km by 6–8 km).[dubious ]
On both sides of the valley are steep slopes: the Golan Heights to the east and the Upper Galilee‘s Naftali mountains to the west rise to 400 to 900 meters above sea level.
Basalt hills of about 200 meters above sea level along the southern side of the valley intercept the Jordan River, and are commonly referred to as the basalt “plug”, the Korazim block, or Korazim plateau (actually a temporary geologic base level), as they restrict water drainage downstream into the Sea of Galilee.
Annual rainfall varies greatly between different parts of the valley and ranges from about 400 millimeters in the south of the valley, to up to 800 millimeters in the north of the valley. More than 1,500 millimeters of precipitation falls on the Hermon mountain range, only a few kilometers north of the valley, mostly in the form of snow, feeding underground springs, including the sources of the Jordan River, all eventually flowing through the valley. The wind regime is dominated by regional patterns in the winter with occasional strong north-easterly wind storms known in Arabic as Sharkiyah.
Prior to its drainage in the early 1950s, Lake Hula was 5.3 kilometers long and 4.4 kilometers wide, extending over 12-14 square kilometers. It was about one and a half meters deep in summer and three meters deep in winter. The lake attracted human settlement from early prehistoric times. Paleolithicarchaeological remains were found near the Bnot Yaakov (“Daughters of Jacob”) bridge at the southern end of the valley. The first permanent settlement, Enan (Mallaha), dates from 9,000-10,000 years ago and was discovered in the valley.
The Hula Valley was a main junction on the important trade route connecting the large commercial centre of Damascus with the eastern Mediterranean coast and Egypt. During the Bronze Age, the cities of Hazor and Laishwere built at key locations on this route approximately 4,000 years ago. At some point the area came under Israelite control until it was captured by the Assyrian armies of Tiglath-Pileser III and its inhabitants were driven away. The Bible records lake “Merom” as the site of a victory of Joshua over the Canaanites.[2]
