Map Jordan River Valley
Map Jordan River Valley
Resting in green meadows
The Jordan River and the river valley are important locations in both the Old and New Testaments. It's especially important to the Jewish and Christian people.Geography of the Jordan
The river is a river in the Middle East that starts north, in the mountains of Lebanon. It flows into the Dead Sea. Bible writers talk about it many times. They report it in the story of Joshua, who led the Israelites across the Jordan into Canaan. John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan. The Jordan River valley is a lush green area that is surrounded by desert. It's famous for its fertile land and beautiful scenery. Bible writers called it the land of milk and honey. This is because God told Moses that he would lead the Israelites to a land "where milk and honey flow like rivers" (Exodus 3:8, Casual English Bible).Jordan River scenes in the Bible
The Jordan River valley is home to other important biblical sites, including Jericho. That's the city famous for its walls that came tumbling down in Joshua's time. The northern river valley is also home to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. And in that same valley, on the Sea of Galilee, is where the Bible writers report that Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm. The Casual English Bible describes the river as "the most famous river in the Bible." It says that when Joshua led the Israelites across the river and into the Promised Land "walking in the water of the Jordan River symbolized the people stepping out in faith and trusting God to keep his promise." The Bible says God stopped the Jordan River during flood sea, which allowed the Israelites to cross. Israelites are the ancient ancestors of today's Jewish people.Jordan River, resting in green meadows
Map of Kadesh Oasis
Psalm 29 map
Jerusalem Temple
Jerusalem Temple
Jerusalem Temple
The Jewish Temple was an important part of Jewish worship for a really long time. King Solomon built it around 3,000 years ago. He used valuable materials like gold, bronze, and other expensive material. He imported cedars of Lebanon, floated down as rafts on the ocean.
Getting close to God
The Temple was where Jewish people went to be close to God. It had different areas, like an outside place (courtyard) and two inside rooms. The Holy of Holies was the most important part of the Temple. It was where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, which had the Ten Commandments inside. The Ark was really special because it meant that God was also present in the Temple.
Sacrificing to God
People would have religious ceremonies and holidays at the Temple. They'd do things like give offerings, make sacrifices, and teach the people about Jewish laws and traditions. These helped people stay close to God.
Destroyed twice
Unfortunately, invaders destroyed the Temple twice. The Babylonians trashed it in 586 BC, but the Jews rebuilt it even better, with the help of King Herod the Great. But the Romans destroyed it too, in 70 AD...once and for all. This was a big deal for Jewish people because their religion revolved around what happened there. But the "there" wasn't there anymore. Never has been. They had to find another way to worship God. That's possibly how synagogues developed.
Even though the Temple doesn't exist anymore, it's still an important part of Jewish culture and history. People still talk about it and remember it as a symbol of their faith. The Temple was the center of Jewish worship and identity for a long time, and its legacy continues to inspire people of different religions today.
Some Jews even hope to rebuild it. But the Temple Mount is now occupied by a 1,400-year-old iconic landmark that is now the most visual symbol of Jerusalem. It's the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim shrine where Islamic people go to pray every day.
Map Revelation 12
Map Revelation 12
Map Revelation 12. A woman runs away to the badlands and to a safehouse for three and a half years.
On the run