Joshua's Crossing of the Jordan River Location
Joshua's crossing of the Jordan River, as described in the book of Joshua, occurred at a location that allowed the Israelites to enter Canaan and begin their conquest [2, 4]. While the exact geographical point is not explicitly named in the biblical narrative, various interpretations and geographical clues help to narrow down the possibilities. The crossing was a miraculous event where the waters of the Jordan were held back, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground [2, 11].
The narrative in Joshua 3:1 states that Joshua and the Israelites moved from Shittim to the bank of the Jordan. Shittim was located in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River [6]. The pursuit of the spies in Joshua 2:7 indicates that there were "fords" of the Jordan, suggesting multiple crossing points were known and used [5, 6]. Rashi, a medieval Jewish commentator, explains that these "fords" were places for crossing the water, and the pursuers of the spies thought the spies might have turned back towards the plains of Moab, with the Jordan between them [6].
One significant location often associated with the crossing is Bethabara, or Bethany beyond Jordan, mentioned in John 1:28 as the place where John the Baptist was baptizing [1]. Easton's Bible Dictionary suggests Bethabara, meaning "House of the ford," might be identical with Bethbarah, an ancient ford mentioned in Judges 7:24 [1]. This location is described as "the great ford," known as Makhadhet Abarah, "the ford of crossing over," situated about 25 miles from Nazareth [1]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, suggests that the twelve stones Joshua set up in the midst of the Jordan (Joshua 4:9) might have been visible at Bethabara, and could be the very stones John the Baptist pointed to in Matthew 3:9 [3]. This connection implies a traditional understanding that the miraculous crossing occurred at a well-known ford in the central Jordan Valley.
The proximity of Mount Ebal to the crossing point is also a key consideration in rabbinic discussions. Rabbi Elazar, in the Babylonian Talmud, argues that the phrase "beyond the Jordan" in Deuteronomy 27:4, concerning the setting up of stones on Mount Ebal, implies that Mount Ebal was near the location where the Israelites crossed the Jordan [7, 8, 9]. This suggests a crossing point that would place Mount Ebal within reasonable proximity for the subsequent actions commanded in Deuteronomy. Mount Ebal is located in the central hill country of Canaan, north of Shechem, which would place the crossing in the central part of the Jordan River rather than further north or south.
The crossing itself was a pivotal moment, striking fear into the Canaanites [4]. The news of Israel's "impossible crossing" spread throughout southern Canaan, causing the inhabitants to lose heart and become paralyzed with fear, recognizing the power of Israel's God [4]. This suggests the crossing occurred at a point that was strategically significant for an invasion into the heart of Canaan.
While the precise coordinates are not given, the general area can be inferred from the biblical narrative and subsequent events. The Israelites encamped at Gilgal after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:19), which was located "on the eastern border of Jericho" [10]. This places the crossing in the vicinity of Jericho, in the lower Jordan Valley. The Jordan River in this region is characterized by its fords, which were crucial for travel and military movements in ancient times [5]. The pursuit of the spies "unto the fords" of the Jordan (Joshua 2:7) further emphasizes the importance of these crossing points. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown note that the Jordan has several well-known fords, including those immediately above and below the pilgrims' bathing-place, opposite Jericho [5].
The miraculous nature of the crossing, where the waters "stood still" and allowed the people to pass on dry ground, is emphasized in the biblical account [2, 11]. This divine intervention made the specific geographical features of the river less of an obstacle and more of a stage for God's power. Nevertheless, the location chosen was likely one that was known for its fords, even if the miraculous intervention rendered them unnecessary for the Israelites' passage. The event served as a powerful demonstration to both the Israelites and the Canaanites of God's presence and power [4].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bethabara — House of the ford, a place on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptizing (John 1:28). It may be identical with Bethbarah, the ancient ford of Jordan of which the men of Ephraim took possession (Judg. 7:24). The Revised Version reads "Bethany beyond Jordan." It was the great ford, and still bears the name of "the ford," Makhadhet Abarah, "the ford of crossing over," about 25 miles from Nazareth. (See [61]BETHBARAH.)”
- Joshua (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Joshua 3 (introduction): Passage Through the Jordan - Joshua 3-4 The following morning, after the return of the spies into the camp, Joshua proceeded with the people from Shittim to the bank of the Jordan, to complete the necessary preparations there, and then cross the river and enter Canaan (Jos 3:1). The crossing of this boundary river of Canaan, or rather the passage through the bed of the river, which had been dried up by a miracle of divine omnipotence at the place of crossing, is narrated in these two chapters in the following manner: first (Jos 3:1-6), the final pre”
- Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 4:9: And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan,.... Twelve other stones, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and so Jarchi; which he set one upon another, so that they might be seen above the water; or however the water of Jordan being clear, they might easily be discerned by those who either passed over the river, or walked by the side of it, where they were; and perhaps may be the very stones John the Baptist pointed at in Mat 3:9; since it was at Bethabara he was baptizing, supposed to be the very place of the passage of the children of Israel over”
- Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 5:1: 5:1 After news of Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River spread, all of southern Canaan was in a state of alert awaiting Israel’s expected invasion. • With Israel’s impossible crossing of the Jordan, the Canaanites lost heart and were paralyzed with fear. They knew they faced the people of a God more powerful than any they worshiped.”
- Joshua (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joshua 2:7: the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords--That river is crossed at several well-known fords. The first and second immediately below the sea of Galilee; the third and fourth immediately above and below the pilgrims' bathing-place, opposite Jericho. as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate--This precaution was to ensure the capture of the spies, should they have been lurking in the city.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Joshua 2:7: To the fords. These were places for crossing the water, 14 There were a number of crossing places linking both sides of the Jordan. for the pursuers thought they had turned back to return to the plains of Moav and the Jordan was between them.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 33b.7: Rabbi Elazar disagrees with Rabbi Yehuda and says: “Are they not beyond the Jordan” means near the Jordan River, as, if it meant farther west beyond the Jordan, isn’t it written: “And it shall be when you have passed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones which I command you this day, on Mount Ebal” (Deuteronomy 27:4)? This implies that Mount Ebal was near the location where the Jewish people crossed the Jordan.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99a.66:7: Rabbi Elazar disagrees with Rabbi Yehuda and says: “Are they not beyond the Jordan” means near the Jordan River, as, if it meant farther west beyond the Jordan, isn’t it written: “And it shall be when you have passed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones which I command you this day, on Mount Ebal” (Deuteronomy 27:4)? This implies that Mount Ebal was near the location where the Jewish people crossed the Jordan.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99b.66:7: Rabbi Elazar disagrees with Rabbi Yehuda and says: “Are they not beyond the Jordan” means near the Jordan River, as, if it meant farther west beyond the Jordan, isn’t it written: “And it shall be when you have passed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones which I command you this day, on Mount Ebal” (Deuteronomy 27:4)? This implies that Mount Ebal was near the location where the Jewish people crossed the Jordan.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Joshua 16:1: From the Jordan at Yericho to the waters of Yericho to the east. This is where the eastern border begins.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Joshua 3:17: In the midst of the Jordan. So long as they remained standing, the upper waters did not descend below, and during this time all the people were crossing on dry land.”