The Jordan River is the regional eastern boundary between Israel and Jordan. It flows from the Sea of Galilee in the north and empties into the Dead Sea to the south. There are two traditional baptism spots in the Jordan: Yardenit, at the mouth of the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee, and Al-Maghtas, located near the city of Jericho by the Dead Sea.
The Bible references the Jordan River 198 times throughout the Old and New Testaments. Here are the most memorable moments:
Genesis 13: Abraham and Lot. The first mention of the Jordan River in the Bible.
Deuteronomy 3: Moses brings the Israelites to the border but is not allowed to cross the Jordan.
Joshua 3: Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan and into the Promised Land .
2 Kings 5: Elisha the prophet tells Naman to dip seven times in the Jordan to be healed of leprosy.
Matthew 3: Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan.