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Main Biblical References for Samaria, the Dead Sea & the Jordan River
A clear, easy-to-browse presentation of the principal biblical references connected with the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, Samaria and the important biblical sites of central and northern Holy Land.
18Biblical site & theme groups
Old & NewTestament references
5 pagesOriginal source document
Samaria · Dead Sea · Jordan River in Scripture
From the Jordan and the Dead Sea through Samaria to Caesarea
These references bring together the baptismal traditions of the Jordan, the landscapes of the Dead Sea, the history and prophets of Samaria, the patriarchal and Samaritan traditions of Shechem, and important sites connected with Israel’s kings and the mission of the early Church.
18reference groups covering the Jordan, Dead Sea, Samaria, Shiloh, Shechem, Megiddo, Sharon and Caesarea.
Browse by biblical site
Biblical References by Site
01
The JordanBaptism · Elijah · Naaman · the Promised Land
John 1:28
Place of the baptism of John the Baptist — Bethany beyond the Jordan.
Luke 3:21
The baptism of Jesus.
Matthew 3:13–17
Jesus comes to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
Mark 1:9–11
The baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
John 1:19–34
John’s witness concerning Jesus; the Jordan evokes entry into the Promised Land and baptism as entry into the Kingdom of God.
1 Kings 17
The Prophet Elijah.
2 Kings 5; 8
The healing of Naaman.
2 Kings 6
The lost axe is recovered.
02
The River of Living WaterCreation · Psalms · Ezekiel · John · Revelation
Genesis 2:8–10; Psalm 45:5; Ezekiel 47:1–2; John 7:31–39; Revelation 22:1–2
Biblical imagery of the river of life and living water.
03
The Dead SeaSodom & Gomorrah · En Gedi · Ezekiel · John the Baptist
Genesis 13:10–13; 14; 18:19
Sodom and Gomorrah.
1 Samuel 24
En Gedi — David hides there while pursued by Saul.
Song of Songs 1:14
An oasis with its vines.
Ezekiel 47:8–12
Water flows east through the Arabah and into the Sea.
Mark 6:17–29
Machaerus — the beheading of John the Baptist.
04
Beit SheanGideon · Saul
Judges 7:4–8
The spring of Gideon.
1 Samuel 31
The body of Saul is displayed at the gates of the city.
05
Mount GilboaBattle of Saul · David’s elegy
1 Samuel 28:4
The battle of Saul.
2 Samuel 1:17–24
David’s elegy over Saul and Jonathan.
06
SamariaOmri · Ahab · Prophets · Assyrians · Philip · Peter & John
Overview
Third capital of Israel after Shechem and Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:23–25
Omri rules from Tirzah and establishes Samaria.
1 Kings 16:29–31
Ahab marries Jezebel.
1 Kings 16:32–33
Ahab builds a temple to Baal.
1 Kings 18:1–2
The Prophet Elijah appears before Ahab.
2 Kings 13:14
The death of the Prophet Elisha.
Amos 4:1–2
Amos warns the women of Samaria.
Hosea 7:1; 8:4–7
Hosea prophesies against crime and idolatry.
Jeremiah 23:13
The sin of the prophets of Samaria.
Micah 1:1–7
Judgment against Samaria.
2 Kings 10
Jehu’s massacre of the royal family of Israel.
2 Kings 17:1–6
The Assyrian invasion and the fall of Samaria in 722 BC.
2 Kings 17:5–6
The city is taken by the Assyrians.
1 Maccabees 10:30
A Greek colony.
Historical note
The city was connected by Pompey to the Roman province of Syria and later given to Herod; Herod the Great rebuilt it in honor of Augustus as Sebaste.
Acts 8:5
Philip preaches in the city.
Acts 8:14
Peter and John come to the city.
07
ShilohSamuel · the Ark · gathering of the tribes
Overview
City of Samuel and sanctuary of the Ark during the period of the Judges.
Joshua 18:1–9
The land is apportioned from Shiloh, a place where the tribes gather.
1 Samuel 1; 3
The childhood and calling of Samuel.
1 Samuel 4
The capture of the Ark.
Jeremiah 7:12
A warning to remember what happened at Shiloh, where God first caused his name to dwell.
Psalm 78:60
God abandons the sanctuary at Shiloh.
08
Mount Gerizim & Mount EbalHoly Mountains · blessing · curse · worship
Joshua 8:33
Israel assembles on Gerizim and Ebal.
Deuteronomy 11:29–30
Blessing on Gerizim and curse on Ebal.
Deuteronomy 27:12
The tribes stand on the two mountains.
Judges 9:7
Jotham delivers his speech from Mount Gerizim.
John 4:20
The Samaritan tradition of worship on Mount Gerizim.
2 Maccabees 6:2
Profanation of the temple.
09
Shechem · Nablus · BalataAbraham · Jacob · Joseph · Joshua · Samaritans · Jacob’s Well
Genesis 35:4
Jacob destroys the idols of his household and buries them under the oak near Shechem.
Genesis 12:6
Abraham passes through Shechem after coming from Ur.
Genesis 12:7
Abraham builds an altar there.
Genesis 33:19
Jacob purchases a field.
Genesis 34; 35
The events involving the sons of Jacob and Shechem.
Genesis 37:12–25
Joseph seeks his brothers tending their father’s flock and is later sold.
Joshua 24:1–29
Joshua gathers the people to renew the covenant before his death.
Joshua 24:32
The bones of Joseph, brought from Egypt, are buried at Shechem.
Acts 7:16
Reference to the burial of the patriarchs.
1 Kings 12:1–20
After Solomon’s death, Rehoboam assembles the people; the kingdom divides into Israel and Judah.
2 Kings 17:24–41
The origin of the Samaritans.
Ezra 4:1–24
The Samaritans seek to participate in rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51–56
A Samaritan village refuses to receive Jesus.
John 4:1–42
Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well.
10
Tell el Farah · Biblical TirzahFirst capital of the divided kingdom · beauty of Tirzah
1 Kings 14:17
Tirzah, the first capital of the divided kingdom.
1 Kings 15:21; 15:33
Tirzah as the royal capital.
1 Kings 16:6; 16:23
Tirzah in the history of the northern kingdom.
Song of Songs 6:4
Tirzah is remembered for its beauty.
11
Engadin & DjeninThe ten lepers
Luke 17:11–19
The healing of the ten lepers.
12
DothanJoseph · Elisha
Genesis 37:14–17
Joseph finds his brothers there.
2 Kings 6–13
Elisha at Dothan.
13
BethuliaJudith · Holofernes
Judith 5:7–10; 4:4–6
The camp of Holofernes and the siege of Bethulia.
Judith 15:6
Bethulia as the native country of Judith.
14
ThebezAbimelech · edge of the Jezreel plain
Judges 9:53
The death of Abimelech.
15
En-dorSaul and the medium of En-dor
1 Samuel 28:7–25
Saul consults the medium of En-dor.
16
MegiddoDeborah · Solomon · Josiah · Armageddon
Judges 1:27
A Canaanite city.
Judges 4; 5
The battle associated with Deborah.
1 Kings 9:15
Construction works of Solomon.
2 Kings 9:27–29
The death of Ahaziah.
2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:20–27
The death of King Josiah.
Zechariah 12:11
Prophetic reference to Megiddo and the plain of Jezreel.
Revelation 16:16
Armageddon in the Apocalypse.
17
Valley of SharonFertile plain · rose of Sharon · early Christian witness
Isaiah 33:9
The fertile valley of Sharon is described as withering like a desert.
Isaiah 35:2
The splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
Isaiah 65:10
Sharon becomes a pasture for flocks.
1 Chronicles 27:29
Royal cattle and pasture in Sharon.
Song of Songs 2:1
The rose of Sharon.
Acts 9:35
The people of Lydda and Sharon turn to the Lord.
18
Caesarea MaritimaPhilip · Cornelius · Herod Agrippa · Paul · early Church
Overview
A key setting for the universal mission of the early Church.
Acts 8:40
Philip preaches the Good News.
Acts 10
The baptism of Cornelius.
Acts 12:19–23
The death of Herod Agrippa I.
Acts 9:30
Paul departs for Tarsus.
Acts 18:22
Paul reaches Caesarea on his journey.
Acts 21:8–26
Paul visits the Christian community after his third missionary journey.
Acts 23; 25; 27
Paul is imprisoned and tried before departing for Rome.
231 AD
Eusebius of Caesarea wrote his History of the Church; Origen was also active at Caesarea.