Note 1 at Jn. 10:40: The Jordan River was, in Jesus' day as it still is today, the most important river in Palestine. It has three sources. The first and easternmost source is a stream called Banias which flows from a cave in a high cliff near the modern-day town of Banias (ancient Caesarea Philippi--see note 1 at Mt. 16:13, p. 200) which is near the slopes of Mt. Hermon. The central and most abundant source is from two large springs which emerge at Tell el-Kadi to form a stream called the Leddan. The third source is a fountain below Hasbeiya which feeds a river called Hasbany. It is the most northerly and highest source and is longer than the other two sources by about 40 miles.

Six miles south of Banias, these three streams merge to form the Jordan River which flows six more miles into Lake Hula, a fresh water lake four miles long and only seven feet above sea level. The Jordan emerges from the south side of Lake Hula and flows 10* miles south into the northern side of the Sea of Galilee, which itself is 12* miles long and 682 feet below sea level. After exiting the south side of the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan winds through lush vegetation some 65 miles south, emptying into the north side of the Dead Sea which is 1292 feet below sea level. The Jordan is the only river in the world which flows below sea level for most of its course which is a total distance of 104 miles. The name "Jordan" itself is taken from a Hebrew word meaning "a descender." It drops almost 2300 feet from beginning to end.

The Jordan River valley, especially the lower valley, as it nears Jericho and the Dead Sea is tropical in climate and very fertile.