Such are the sources of the Jordan, of which Stanley well says—` It is not always that the sources of great rhers correspond to the future course of their progeny. But those of the Jordan meet every requirement. Geographically they might be perhaps sought elsewhere ; but historically the sight of the springs which we have now reached at once vindicates and explains their claims' (S. ancIP., p. 3S6). They are in truth noble fountains ; and their crystal waters burst forth in the very centre of the richest and grandest scenery in all Palestine. It seems fitting, too, that the river in which the SoN OF MAN was baptised should spring from that mountain whose summit was the only spot on earth where his divine glory was manifested in the Trans figuration (Porter's Damascus, p. 306).
The Jordan has also a fab/ca' fountain, thus de scribed by Josephus ` Apparently Panium is the source of the Jordan ; but the water is, in reality, conveyed thither unseen by a subterranean channel from Phiala, as it is called, which lies not far from the high road, on the right as you ascend to Tra chonitis, at the distance of 12o stadia from Cmsarea . . . That the Jordan hence derived its origin was formerly unknown, until it was ascertained by Philip, Tetrarch of Trachonitis ; who, having thrown chaff into Phiala, found it cast out at Panium' (Bell. Yud. iii. 10. 7). The lake here re ferred to appears to be Burket er-Rant, which Robinson visited and described (B. R., iii. 399). The legend has no foundation in reality.
Other fountains in this region, though unnamed in history, contribute much to the Jordan. The chief of these, and the highest perennial source of the Jordan, is in the bottom of a valley at the western base of Hermon, a short distance from the town of Hasbeiya and twelve miles north of Tell el-Kady. The fountain is in a pool, at the foot of a basalt cliff ; the stream from it, called Hasbany (from Hasbeiya), flows through a narrow glen into the plain, and falls into the main stream about a mile south of the junction of the Leddan and Baniasy. The relative size of the three streams Robinson thus estimates—‘ That from Banias is twice as large as the Hasbany ; while the Leddan is twice, if not three times, the size of that from Banias' (B. R., iii. 395). The united river flows southward through the marshy plain for six miles, and then falls into lake Hfileh, called in Scripture `The Waters of Merom' [MERom].
Besides these a considerable stream comes down from the plain of Ijon, west of the Hasbany ; and two large fountains (called Balat, and Mellahah), burst forth from the base of the mountain-chain of Naphtali. Such, then, are the sources, and such is the gradual formation of the Jordan (Handbook for S. and P., p. 436).
Physical features of the yordan and its valley. — The most remaxkable feature of the Jordan is, that throughout nearly its entire course it is below the level of the sea. Its valley is thus like a huge fissurc in the earth's crust. The following measure ments, taken from Van de Velde's Memoir of Map, will give the best idea of the depression of this sin. gular valley :— Fountain of Jordan at Hasbeiya,r7o0 ft. eleUation.
Banias, 1147 ,, Dan, 647 2, If The Lake Hilleh, . . about r2o „ The Lake of Tiberias, . . 65o ft. depression.
The Dead Sea, 1312 „ There must be some error in the elevations of the fountains as here given. Lake MI6 is en compassed by a great plain, extending to Dan , and as it appears to the eye almost level, it is im• possible there could be a difference of soo feet in the elevations of the fountain and the lake. The writer estimated it on the spot at not above roo feet ; and it is worthy of note that von Wilden. bruch makes it by measurement 537 feet, and De Berton 344.
The general course of the Jordan is due south. From their fountains the three streams flow south to the points of junction, and continue in the same dircction to the Hfileh ; and from the southern ex tremity of this lake the Jordan again issues and re sumes its old course. For some two miles its banks are flat, and its current not very rapid ; but on passing through Jisr Benat (` The bridge of Jacob's daughters'), the banks suddenly con tract, and risc high on each side, and the river dashes in sheets of foam over a rocky bed, re bounding from cliff to cliff in its mad career. Here and there the retreating banks have a little green meadow, with its fringe of oleanders all wet and glistening with spray. Thus it rushes on, often winding, occasionally doubling back like the coils of a serpent, till, breaking from rocky barriers, it enters the rich plain of Batihah, where on the left bank stand the ruins of Bethsaida [BETHsAIDA]. The stream now expands, and glides lazily along till it falls on the still bosom of the sea of Galilee. Between Bethsaida and the sea, the Jordan averages about twenty yards in width, and flows sluggishly between low alluvial banks. Bars of sand extend across its channel here and there, at which it is easily forded (Handbook far S. and P., p. 426 ; Robinson, ii. 414, seq. ; Burckhardt, Syria, p. 315) From Jisr Benat Yakfib the distance is only seven miles ; and yet in that distance the river falls 7oo feet. The total length of the section between the two lakes is about eleven miles as the crow flies.