of the Jordan from Banias is about 104 miles in a straight line, during
which it falls 2,380 feet.
There are two considerable affluents which enter the river between the Sea
of Galilee and the Dead Sea, both from the east. (1.) The Wady Mandhur,
called the Yarmuk by the Rabbins and the Hieromax by the Greeks. It
formed the boundary between Bashan and Gilead. It drains the plateau of
the Hauran. (2.) The Jabbok or Wady Zerka, formerly the northern
boundary of Ammon. It enters the Jordan about 20 miles north of Jericho.
The first historical notice of the Jordan is in the account of the separation
of Abraham and Lot (Genesis 13:10). “Lot beheld the plain of Jordan as
the garden of the Lord.” Jacob crossed and recrossed “this Jordan” (32:10).
The Israelites passed over it as “on dry ground” (Joshua 3:17; Psalm
114:3). Twice afterwards its waters were miraculously divided at the same
spot by Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:8, 14).
The Jordan is mentioned in the Old Testament about one hundred and
eighty times, and in the New Testament fifteen times. The chief events in
gospel history connected with it are (1) John the Baptist’s ministry, when
“there went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and were baptized of him
in Jordan” (Matthew 3:6). (2.) Jesus also “was baptized of John in
Jordan” (Mark 1:9).
- JOSEPH remover or increaser. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Jacob by
Rachel (Genesis 30:23, 24), who, on the occasion of his birth, said, “God
hath taken away [Hebrews ‘asaph] my reproach.” “The Lord shall add
[Hebrews yoseph] to me another son” (Genesis 30:24). He was a child of
probably six years of age when his father returned from Haran to Canaan
and took up his residence in the old patriarchal town of Hebron. “Now
Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of
his old age,” and he “made him a long garment with sleeves” (Genesis 37:3,
R.V. marg.), i.e., a garment long and full, such as was worn by the children
of nobles. This seems to be the correct rendering of the words. The phrase,
however, may also be rendered, “a coat of many pieces”, i.e., a patchwork
of many small pieces of divers colours.
When he was about seventeen years old Joseph incurred the jealous hatred
of his brothers (Genesis 37:4). They “hated him, and could not speak
peaceably unto him.” Their anger was increased when he told them his
dreams (37:11).