Jabbok
Wady Zerka, the modern name of this stream (which must be carefully distinguished from the Zerka Main, farther south, near Callirrhoe), has been explored by Dr. Merrill, whose account closes thus (East of the Jordan, page 381): "Its winding course is remarkable, making it in this regard unlike any other river of Syria. The Jordan is more crooked, having almost innumerable short bends; but the Jabbok sweeps far out into the desert, then doubles back upon itself, and forces its way through a mountain The valley is seventy or more miles in length, and is exceedingly fertile. Along its head-waters lived a great and powerful race, which existed from the earliest advent of the Hebrews in this region clear down to a period subsequent to the time of Christ.... Its capacities are great, because every acre can be reached by irrigation canals. Even at present it is very extensively cultivated. and contains many line farms. On the hill-sides there are. at certain points, some unused canals, of which a few can be traced to a distance of five or eight miles"
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More