Thought often overlooked in Bible study, Jordan is an ancient Bible land. It is a major factor in both biblical history and end-time prophecies. It was Old Testament Israel, and it will one day harbor persecuted Jews. Its lands will be absorbed into the Millennial kingdom from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.

Geographically, Jordan is between modern Israel and modern Iraq. It is a result of the post-World War I division of the Middle East by the victorious allies who were given mandates over the area by the League of Nations.

Jordan is a very young country. Like most countries in the Middle East, it dates from the late 40’s when World War II came to an end. Prophetically, Jordan is part of the fulfillment of Luke 21:29 & 30 where Christ said, “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees” (emphasis mine). The fig tree likely refers to reborn national Israel as Jeremiah 23 outlines. If so, then “all the trees” refers to the surrounding nations: Jordan, born in 1946; Syria, 1946; Lebanon, 1943; Iraq, 1932 and Egypt, 1923.

Following WWI, the British had control of Palestine, which then included all of present Israel’s area and Transjordan, which is today called Jordan. (Incidentally, if the entire area was called Palestine, wouldn’t anyone living in Transjordan/Jordan be a Palestinian?) Things became so difficult for the British that Jordan was given in 1921 to the Hashemites, an Arab family whose lineage goes back through Mohammed and, of course, to Ishmael.

Jordan has perhaps more specific places mentioned in the Bible than any country outside Israel. In fact, eastern Old Testament Israel was in what is now western Jordan.

Esau settled in southern Jordan in an area known as Seir or Edom, and his descendants became known as Edomites. This is also known as Sela and is basically located in the area of famed Petra. Genesis 32:3 is the first mention of Seir and Edom. Amalek was a grandson of Esau by a Canaanite wife (Gen. 36:12), and he would later trouble Israel as they moved through that area from Egypt on their way to Canaan (Exodus 17:8). This meant the Amalekites would be sorely judged. Saul was called on to fulfill this, but he reneged and let the Amalekite King Agag live (I Sam. 15). Later Saul himself was tragically killed by an Amalakite (II Sam. 1:8). Saul’s disobedience cost him his kingdom and his life. Wicked Hamaan, who wanted to kill all the Jews, was an Agagite in what is now Iran (Esther 3:1).

The wilderness journey of Israel was through much of Jordan. Southern Jordan is where the serpent in the wilderness was raised on a banner pole in the pattern of a cross (Numbers 21). It is the area where Moses struck the rock to bring forth water. Because he struck it twice in anger instead of once in obedience, it cost him entry into the Promised Land. Aaron died at Mount Hor nearby (Num. 20:26).

Moving northward, we find the Brook Zered (Deut. 2:13). Another river mentioned in several Old Testament verses is Arnon, which formed a huge canyon. This was the southern border of Moab (Num. 21:13). Significantly, somewhere in that vicinity is where Lot ended up after fleeing from Sodom with his two daughters. He incestuously fathered Moab and Ammon, whose descendants were the Moabites and Ammonites. Jordan’s capitol, Amman, is named after Lot’s son Ammon.

Central Jordan is actually Old Testament Moab. Many wars were fought between the Moabites and the Israelites. The bright spot is found in the Book of Ruth where a widowed Moabite woman moved to Israel with her mother-in-law and became the mother of Obed, who was the great-grandfather of David and a progenitor of Christ.

Moab was under judgment for their shabby treatment of the Israelites as they made their way toward the Promised Land. Isaiah 15 is an example. Along the way, the Israelites encountered hostile kings, one of whom was Sihon, King of Heshbon (Num. 21). The Israelites took his lands from the river Arnon in the south to Jabbok in the north. Later, they moved into the Golan Heights and defeated Og of Bashan, an Ammonite giant whose bed was 13 feet long (Deut. 3:11). That bedstead was displayed in Rabbah, which is modern day Amman. The tribes of Ruben and Gad and half of Manassa wanted to settle in Moab and Ammon because of the wonderful cattle pasture lands (Num. 32).

Amman was also where David sent brave Uriah the Hittite, a convert to Judaism and husband of Bathsheba, to die in battle to cover David’s own sin.

The prophecies of Balaam were given in central Jordan as the Israelites camped east of the Jordan River on the Plains of Moab (Num. 22-24). Balaam spoke of Messiah as a Star out of Jacob and Scepter from Israel. Jordan was where Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind (II Kings 2). Not far from where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River from Jordan and attacked Jericho is the baptismal place of Christ. It was not in the Jordan River, as people have assumed, but was “beyond Jordan” (John 1:28) in a small, clear rivulet that is clearly in Jordan.

The Brook Jabbok is stream that flows into the Jordan River in northern Jordan. It was there that Jacob, panicked by Esau’s vengeful approach, wrestled with God all night, was saved and renamed Israel (Gen. 32 & 33).

Prophetic scriptures also feature Jordan. It is believed that famed Petra in southern Jordan will be a refuge for Jews during the Tribulation. Revelation 12 speaks of a place in the wilderness, and that is where Petra is located. Isaiah 63 says that Christ comes up from Edom and Bozrah in a sweeping deliverance and then to Jerusalem. Modern day Busera is near Petra. Edom, Moab and Ammon are also mentioned prophetically. Daniel 11:14 says that Antichrist will not invade those areas. Isaiah 11:14 indicates that the Israelis will recapture the Gaza area in the west and Edom, Moab and Ammon on the East.

Jordan is one of only two Arab countries to sign a treaty with Israel. Prior to that, Jordan had joined four other Arab nations in attacking Israel. Prior to 1948, the United Nations had established two potential states in what we now call Israel—one for Israel and the other for a Palestinian state. Israel accepted the offer, but the Arab states didn’t. Five Arab nations, including Jordan, attacked Israel. When the fighting stopped, Egypt took Gaza, Syria took Golan and Jordan took the West Bank.

Incidentally, none of these countries ever established a Palestinian state. In fact, the fighting caused 300,000 Palestinians to flee to Jordan. They became so obnoxious in upsetting Jordan that they were militarily chased out to Lebanon. Many were killed, a news story which seems lost to the media deriding Israel for about every ill in the Middle East.

Jordan possessed the West Bank from 1948 until 1988 when King Hussein turned it over to Yasser Arafat’s PLO to establish whatever they could. Israel is in the process of giving much of the West Bank to a Palestinian state if they find a responsible way to maintain peace and eliminate terrorism. And that’s where we are today.

There is a Christian presence in Jordan with about 3% of the population being Christian. We should pray that those who are committed to Christ witness well.

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by David Virkler
Biblical Jordan