Jordan

JORDAN, in Hebrew called Jarden; in Greek, Jordanes; and in Latin, Jordanis; a river of great note in the sacred writings. Some assert, that it derives its name from the Hebrew Jor, which signifies a spring, and Dan, which is a small town near the source of this river; or, according to others, it derives its original from the two rivulets Jor and Dan. But these Etymologies are very dubious. 1. It is not true that the river Jordan is formed out of two rivulets, nor that one of them was called Dan, tho the geographical Maps for the most part so describe it. The visible origin of the river Jordan is a little stream, the source whereof is in mount Libanus, and upon which the little town of Dan is situated, four leagues higher than Cesarea Philippi, where properly the Jordan begins. The other source of Jordan, and that the most considerable one, tho the least apparent, is the lake Phiala, about four leagues to the south of Cæsarea Philippi. This lake has a communication under ground with Jordan, and furnishes Cæsarea with such large supplies of water, that it might even there pass for a river. See Josephus of the wars of the Jews, l. 1. c. 16. & l. 3. c. 18. p. 860.

2. The name of Dan is certainly much more modern than that of Jordan. We Judg. xviii. 1, 2, 3— 29.know that a Colony of the Tribe of Dan having got possession of the town of Laish, called it by the name of Dan out of regard to the head of their Tribe. This did not happen till after the death of Joshua, and during the Anarchy which ensued upon the death of those Elders of Israel, who had seen the wonders of the Lord. Now before this time the Jordan was very well known; nor can we tell whether it was ever called by any other name. We may perhaps with more reason derive the name of Jordan from the Hebrew Jarad, to descend, by reason of the fall and rapid course of this river.

The Jordan from its source, which we suppose to be at Cæsarea Philippi, runs thro’ a space of about fifty leagues, till it discharges itself into the Dead Sea, otherwise called the Asphaltite Lake, where it is lost. In its course it forms the lake Semechon, at five or six leagues distance from its spring. From thence it enters the lake of Tiberias, and passes quite thro’ it. It overflows its banks about the time of barley Josh. iii. 15. Ecclus. xxiv. 29.harvest, or the feast of¹ the Passover. The banks of Jordan are covered with rushes, reeds, willows and other trees; so that in the summer time the Maundrell.water of it is scarce discernible. It is reported, that there are, as we may say, two channels of the Jordan, distinct from one another. The first is that wherein this river runs in its natural state, the second that which it fills when it overflows.

Travellers observe, that Lions, during the summer, hide themselves in the trees and reeds which grow along this river, and are obliged to go from thence when the river begins to swell. The Prophet Jeremiah alludes to this, when he is comparing Jer. xlix. 19.the enemies marching to attack Jerusalem or Babylon, to lions which come up from the swelling or inundation of Jordan; that is, which are driven away from their covers by the inundation of this river. Zachary represents the Princes of Judah as afflicted at the consideration of being remote from Jerusalem, like lions roaring when they see the pride or height of Jordan spoiled. Maundrel in his Journey to Jerusalem, says, that the river Jordan at Jericho, was, when he saw it, about sixty foot wide, and so rapid that a man could not swim over it.

On both sides along Jordan there is a Vide Joseph. de Bello, l. 5. c. 4.great plain, which extends itself from the lake of Tiberias as far as the Dead Sea. Josephus says, that this plain is twelve hundred furlongs in length, and an hundred and twenty wide. He adds, that it is extremely dry in the summer time, and that the air of it is unwholesom by reason of the excessive heat. The banks of Jordan Joseph. de Bello. l. 3. c. 18.only may be said to have any moisture, all the rest is a wilderness. We know from Scripture what miracles were performed in the river Jordan: how it was divided to Josh. iii. 13, &c. 2 Kings ii. 8, & 14. 2 Kings vi. 6, 7. Matth. iii. 16.leave a free passage for the Hebrews under the conduct of Joshua; how Elijah and Elisha walked over its waters; how Elisha made the iron belonging to his axe, which fell into it, swim; how when the Saviour of the world was baptized in the same river, the heavens opened, and the holy spirit descended upon him.

Little Jordan, is only Jordan nearer to its spring head, and before it is enlarged by the waters of those springs and rivulets, Vide Joseph. Antiq. l. 5. c. 2. & l. 8. c. 3. & Reland Palæst. t. 1. p. 273. Joseph. de Bello, l. 4. c. 1. initio, p. 863.which discharge themselves into it. Josephus says, that the marshes of the lake Semechon extend as far as the delicious plain of Daphne, the fountains whereof feed little Jordan, and convey it into great Jordan below the Temple of the golden ox, or golden calf. It is my opinion, that instead of Daphne we should read Dan; Pietro del-la Valle.and that Dan should be placed much nearer to the lake Semechon than generally it is.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages