River Jordan

Hebrew: Yarden, from the root Yarad, to descend

The great river of Palestine, mentioned many times in the Bible. It issues from three sources on Mount Hermon, and after a course of 200 miles empties into the Dead Sea. It was the scene of several miracles: the passage of the Israelites under Josue (Jos., 3); the crossing, dry-shod, of Elias and Eliseus (4 Kings 2); and the healing of Naaman by Eliseus (4 Kings 5; Luke 4). It was also the scene of the ministrations of Saint John the Baptist and the baptism of Our Lord (Matthew 8).