RIVER ( riv'er). All the rivers mentioned in Scripture are in this work described under their respective names, except such as are included in the article PALESTINE. The NILE is also described under EGYPT; RIVER oF EGYPT; and GE IION and PisoN are also considered under PARADISE.
It may be desirable to discriminate the words which are applied to different kinds of rivers in Scripture.
1. Neh-ore' (Heb. which appears to have been of Egyptian origin, denotes a 'fosse,' or 'river' (it was expressed by Toro in the dialect of Memphis, and by lero in that of Thebes, while it appears as for in the Rosetta inscription). This name is applied exclusively in Scripture to 'the river of Egypt,' excepting in Dan. xii :5, 6, 7, where it denotes another river. This 'river of Egypt' is undoubtedly the Nile ; and is to be dis tinguished from the 'brook of Egypt,' mentioned below.
2. Naw-haTor' (Heb. is the word gener ally used to express any river or perennial stream. The Scripture must mean the Euphrates and its canals, where it speaks of the rivers (naharoth) of Babylon' (Ps. cxxxvii :I).
3. Nakh'al(Heb. denotes a stream, brook or torrent, whether perennial or not, but mostly not, as most of the brooks of Palestine are tor rents, flowing only in winter. (See PALESTINE.) See a picturesque allusion to such brooks in Job vi :15. \Vlien the word stands alone it seems to denote a mere winter torrent, a permanent stream being indicated by the addition of the word ennial, as in Ps. lxxiv :15 ; Deut. xi :24 ; Amos v :24. A few brooks are specially designated, as the Brook of \Vino:vs' (Is. xv :7), a stream on the cast of the Dead Sea, probably the present \Vady-el-Ahsy, which descends from the eastern mountains, and enters the eastern end of the Dead Sea ; the ARNON (see the word) ; the JADBOK (which see) ; the BESOR (the cold), a torrent emptying itself into the Mediterranean near Gaza (1 Sam. xxx :9, to, 21) ; the KIDRON, the KISIION (see the two words) ; and the K ANAII, a stream on the borders of Ephraim and Manasseh (Josh. xvi : 8; xvii :9). 'The Brook of Egypt,' mentioned in Num. xxxiv :5 ; Josh. xv :4, 47; I Kings viii :65 ; 2 Kings xxiv :7; Is. xxvii :12 ; which is also called simply 'the brook' (Ezek. xlvii :19; xlviii :28), and described as on the confines of Palestine and Egypt, is unquestionably the \Vady-el-Arish, near the village of that name, which was anciently called Rhinocorura. The 'river (jeor) of Egypt' is, however, the Nile ; and it is unfortunate that the two are not so well distinguished in the Au thorized Version as in the original.
4. The word nakhal sometimes occurs in the sense of the Arabic wady, that is, a valley watered by a brook or torrent. Such are the valley of ESIICOL (which see) ; the valley of GERM?. (Gen. xxvi :17) ; and as iiachal signifies both a brook and the valley in which it flows, the same terms may be understood of either, as in the case of the 'brook' Zered in Deut. ii :13,14 ; which is ex pressed by the same word as the 'valley' of Zered in Num. xxi :12 ; and in some cases it is difficult to say which is meant, as in Josh. xv :7; xix :14 ; comp. It. The valley of SORER' (Judg.
so called probably from its vineyards, Eusebius and Jerome place north of Eleutheropolis, and near to Zorah. The valley of Suirriza ('acacias') was in Aloab, on the borders of Palestine (Joel iii :18 ; comp. Num. xxv :1 ; Josh. ii :1; iii :1; Mic.
vi :5). The valley of ZERED was in the territory of Moab, east of the Dead Sea (Num. xxi :12 ; Deut. ii :13, 14), probably the same with 'the Brook of Willows.' Figuratit'e. (I) God is likened to "broad rivers;" how large and abundant the refreshing influence he bestows on his people; and how full his protection of them! (Is. xxxiii :21). (2) Christ is likened to "rivers of water" in a dry place; how plentiful, free and constant the cleansing and renewing influence of his blood and Spirit I (Is. xxxii :2). (3) The gospel, and its ordinances and blessings, the Holy Ghost, and his influences, and the joys of the heavenly state, are likened to "a river," to denote their plenty, purity, perpetuity, purifying and defensive influence (Ps. xlvi :4; Ezek. xlvii :5. 9; Joel iii :18; John vii :38; iv: 14). (4) God "shakes his hand over the river," i. c., he "smiles its streams," and "dries up riv ers," when as difficulties they lie in the way of the execution of his purpose, and of the salvation and deliverance of his people (Is. xi :x5; xliv : 27). (5) To pass through the land "as a river," is to flee off as speedily as possible, in multitudes, not to return (Is. xxiii :to). (6) Pharaoh's "riv er" made by him, may denote his power and wealth (Ezek. xxix :3). (7) Whatever is very plentiful is likened to "a river," as plenty of tears, or of peace, of oil, or of pleasure (2 Sam. ii Job xxix :6; Ps. xvi :11 ; Is. xlviii :18). (8) Be hemoth's large draught of ?vater is called "a river" (Job x1:23) ; and plentiful rain is called the "river of God" (Ps. lxv :9). (9) "Rivers of living water" flow out of the saints' hearts, when their inward fullness of spiritual grace appears in the multitude of their good works (John vii :38).