Qasr al-Yahud

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Qasr al-Yahud

The place where, according to the Scriptures, in 1250 BC a turning point event took place — Jews crossed the Jordan River.

To get to Qasr al-Yahud, turn north at the point where Highway 1 crosses Highway 90.

In a few kilometers, you will see a brown road sign with the name of the place we need – Qasr al-Yahud – written in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

A narrow road will take you through orchards, fenced empty lots with castle-like ancient Christian monasteries, and in about four kilometers you will reach the bank of the river Jordan.

It was here, that according to the Scriptures, in 1250 BC a turning point event took place — Jews crossed the Jordan River.

On the 10th of the Jewish month of Nisan, after forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Jews led by Yehoshua Bin Nun entered the Promised Land.

It is believed that back then Jordan was much deeper than it is today, and a miracle happened while they were crossing.

The first to enter the waters of the river were the Cohens, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, and as soon as the soles of their feet touched the water, Jordan stopped flowing.

Scientists seek to give a logical account to this and believe that the high banks of the river collapsed as a result of an earthquake, blocking the flow of Jordan.

Thus, Jordan's river bed was exposed, and the Jews crossed on dry land - just like their fathers, who had fled Egypt 40 years earlier by the bottom of the Reed Sea.

Be that as it may, Jordan was crossed.

In front of the Jews lay the land that the Almighty had promised them, but which still had to be conquered and mastered… Marking the fact that the wilderness wandering was over and the Jews had reached the Promised Land, it was here that the heavenly Manna ceased to fall.

It was also here where all men born in the wilderness got circumcised.

And it was here that the Jews, for the first time in their own land, celebrated Passover.

All these events are described in great detail in the Book Joshua bin Nun, Moshe's Successor and leader of the Jewish people.



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