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Easton's Bible Dictionary
a pouring out, or a wrestling, One of the streams on
the east of Jordan, into which it falls about midway between the Sea of Galilee
and the Dead Sea, or about 45 miles below the Sea of Galilee. It rises on the
eastern side of the mountains of Gilead, and runs a course of about 65 miles in
a wild and deep ravine. It was the boundary between the territory of the Ammonites
and that of Og, king of Bashan ( Joshua
12:1 - 5
; Numbers
21:24 ); also between the tribe of Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh (
Numbers
21:24 ; Deuteronomy
3:16 ). In its course westward across the plains it passes more than once
underground. "The scenery along its banks is probably the most picturesque in
Palestine; and the ruins of town and village and fortress which stud the surrounding
mountain-side render the country as interesting as it is beautiful." This river
is now called the Zerka, or blue river.
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
evacuation; dissipation; wrestling
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(emptying) A stream which intersects the mountain range
of Gilead, comp. ( Joshua
12:2 , 12:5
) and falls into the Jordan on the east about midway between the Sea of Galilee
and the Dead Sea. It was anciently the border of the children of Ammon. ( Numbers
21:24 ; Deuteronomy
2:37 ; 3:16
) It was on the south bank of the Jabbok that the interview took place between
Jacob and Esau, ( Genesis
32:22 ) and this river afterward became, toward its western part, the boundary
between the kingdoms of Sihon and Og. ( Joshua
12:2 , 12:5
) Its modern name is Wady Zurka .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
jab'-ok (yabboq, "luxuriant river"):
A stream in Eastern Palestine first named in the history of Jacob, as crossed
by the patriarch on his return from Paddan-aram, after leaving Mahanaim (Genesis
32:22). On the bank of this river he had his strange conflict with an unknown
antagonist. The Jabbok was the northern boundary of the territory of Sihon the
Amorite (Numbers
21:24). It is also named as the border of Ammon (Deuteronomy
3:16). It is now called Nahr ez-Zerqa, "river of blue," referring to the clear
blue color of its water. It rises near to 'Amman--Rabbath Ammon--and makes a wide
circuit, flowing first to the East, then to the Northwest, until it is joined
by the stream from Wady Jerash, at which point it turns westward, and flows, with
many windings, to the Jordan, the confluence being just North of ed-Damiyeh. It
drains a wider area than any other stream East of the Jordan, except the Yarmuk.
The bed of the river is in a deep gorge with steep, and in many places precipitous,
banks. It is a great cleft, cutting the land of Gilead in two. It is lined along
its course by a luxuriant growth of oleander which, in season, lights up the valley
with brilliant color. The length of the stream, taking no account of its innumerable
windings, is about 60 miles. The mouth of the river has changed its position from
time to time. In the lower reaches the vegetation is tropical. The river is fordable
at many points, save when in full flood. The particular ford referred to in Genesis
32 cannot now be identified.
W. Ewing
Tags:
bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, blue river, define, jabbok, jacob, nahr ez-zerqa, river of blue, yabboq, zerka, zurka
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