keep my feet up, but in the
Dead Sea they could not be kept down, and of course I could swim like a
duck. Nothing grows near this body of water. Everything about it is
dead. Like some people, it is always receiving but never giving. At the
mouth of the Jordan one can see dead fish floating on the water. When
carried by the swift current into this salty water they soon die.

The River Jordan runs very swiftly. It is about the size of the Des
Moines river in northern Iowa, not nearly so large as this river in the
southern part of the state. At the fords of the Jordan I waded out into
the stream but the current was so swift that I did not attempt to go
entirely across.

Here at this ford occurred some of the greatest events of Bible history.
On the plain just east of the river the Children of Israel were encamped
when Moses went up on Mount Nebo, looked over the Promised Land, folded
his arms and peacefully passed into the great beyond. It must have been
an exciting day for the entire camp when they last saw their great
leader become a mere speck on the mountain side and finally disappear
altogether. They not only never saw him again but they never were able
to find a trace of his body.

There must have been much speculation among these people as to what
became of Moses until in some miraculous way Joshua was informed that
the great leader was dead and that he must now take charge and lead the
people across the Jordan into the Promised Land. After thirty days
mourning for Moses, the great company marched down to the river; it was
opened for them and they crossed on dry ground. The record also states
that this crossing was at the time when the river was out of its banks
and this whole bottom, nearly a mile wide, was a rushing torrent.
Perhaps this accounts for the fact that the enemies who had taken
possession of the Promised Land were totally unprepared for their
coming, feeling secure while the river was so high and dangerous.

Another great event which occurred was when the old prophet Elijah and
the young prophet Elisha crossed the river together and the young man
came back alone later on for Elijah was taken up to heaven in a
whirlwind. Now fifty young men had followed the two prophets to the
river and when Elisha came back alone and told them how the chariot of
fire came after Elijah they simply couldn't believe it and finally went
across and searched the mountains for three days trying to find his
body. Failing t