Across the Jordan

Another form of alleged geographical anachronism takes into account the perspective of the author as exemplified in Deuteronomy 1:1, 5; 4:41, 43, 46, 47, and 49.

Because the Hebrews approached the Promised Land from the east side of the Jordan river and had not crossed yet, critics charge that these verses indicate that the author was writing from the west side; thus, they represent editorial additions that took place after the conquest of the land and after Moses died. Consulting a map here will be helpful to understand the geography.

Deuteronomy 1:1, 5

1) These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab.

5) Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law, saying,

Deuteronomy 4:41, 43, 46, 47, and 49

41) Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east,

43) Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

46) across the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the sons of Israel defeated when they came out from Egypt.

47) They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were across the Jordan to the east,

49) with all the Arabah across the Jordan to the east, even as far as the sea of the Arabah, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah.

The debate centers about the Hebrew term ‘ēber hayarden ("across the Jordan"). The first term, ‘ēber, means "transition or translate," and based on its root words abar or aw-bar’, the translation becomes "traverse, cross over, or across."

Some scholars believe that when ‘ēber is used as an adverb with hayarden (Jordan), the terms are taken to mean "across the river" (usually east). However, when one examines the use of the terms ‘ēber hayarden, this is not true. In these instances, the term refers to "across the river" westward and as a proper noun.

Deuteronomy 3:20 - this is a reference to the land of Canaan.

20) until the LORD gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God will give them beyond the Jordan.

Deuteronomy 3:25 - Lebanon is west of the Jordan river.

25) 'Let me, I pray, cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.'

Deuteronomy 11:30

30) "Are they not across the Jordan, west of the way toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?

Joshua 5:1

1) Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.

Joshua 9:1 - Great Sea refers to the Mediterranean Sea.

1) Now it came about when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country and in the lowland and on all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, heard of it,

Joshua 12:7

7) Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions,

As in the above example, the term ‘ēber hayarden appears to also refer to the region that is known as the Transjordan, which is the area east of the Jordan river as these examples indicate.

Joshua 1:14-15 - Just before crossing the Jordan river in the conquest of Canaan, Joshua reminds the tribes Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh that, though they received their inheritance, which was land east of the Jordan river, they were committed to fight with the others in the Conquest on the west side of the Jordan.

14) "Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15) until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise."

Joshua 2:10 - Rahab speaks of Sihon, who ruled the south end of the Transjordan from Aroer, and Og, who ruled as far north as Mount Hermon from Ashtaroth.

10) "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

Joshua 7:7 - After the defeat at Ai, which is west of the Jordan river, Joshua laments.

7) Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan!

Joshua 12:1 - Joshua recounts the kings defeated by the Hebrews beginning with the kings who resided on the east side of the Jordan river from the Arnon river, which is the south end of the Transjordan to the north all the way to Mount Hermon.

1) Now these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon as far as Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah to the east:

Joshua 14:3 - Joshua is referring to tribes Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe Manasseh who received their inheritance in the Transjordan.

3) For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but he did not give an inheritance to the Levites among them.

Joshua 17:5 - Gilead and Bashan are in the Transjordan.

5) Thus there fell ten portions to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan,

Joshua 20:8

8) Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 22:4, 7 - Joshua, speaking from Canaan, honorably discharges the tribes Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe Manasseh so that they can return home to the Transjordan.

4) "And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as He spoke to them; therefore turn now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan.

7) Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave a possession among their brothers westward beyond the Jordan. So when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,

Joshua 24:8 - Joshua refers to the Amorite kings who ruled the whole Transjordan: Sihon in the south and Og to the north.

8) 'Then I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan, and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land when I destroyed them before you.

The term ‘ēber hayarden can refer to either Canaan (west of the Jordan river) or Transjordan (east of the Jordan river), regardless of the position of the speaker. The term functions as a proper noun and also serves as the root word for Hebrew! To learn more, see The origin of the term "Hebrew". Thus the Hebrews are grammatically and geographically identical with the Promised Land.

Destructive critics seeking evidence of post Mosaic authorship fail to understand that the term ‘ēber hayarden is in the form of a proper noun. The reading is literal; however, when taking the terms as an adverb or proper noun, one can reach very different interpretations.