Aantekeningen bij de Bijbel
Vragen, overdenkingen en achtergronden over de Bijbel,
welke resulteren in allerlei aantekeningen.
welke resulteren in allerlei aantekeningen.
John J. Bimson , Encyclopedie van Bijbelse plaatsen, , [2007], p. 93, 
- - , Algemeen, , Bethabara, the place of baptism of St. John - (Makhadat al-Hajla)
Theodosius, De situ Terrae Sanctae, 20
At the place where the Lord was baptized is a marble column, and on top of it has been set an iron cross. There also is the Church of Saint John Baptist, which was erected by Emperor Anastasius. It stands on great vaults which are high enough for the times when the Jordan is in flood. The monks who reside at this church each receive six gold coins a year from the Treasury for their livelihood.
Itinerarium Burdigalense 598, 1-2 (333 A.D.)
"Five miles from there in the Jordan is the valley where the Lord was baptized by John, and above the far bank at the same place is the hillock from which Elijah was taken up to heaven."
Anonymus Placentinus, Itinerarium 11 (ca. 570 A.D.)
I kept Epiphany at the Jordan, and on the night special miracles take place at the spot where the Lord was baptized. There is an obelisc there surrounded by a screen, and in the water, where the river turned back in its bed, stands a wooden cross. On both banks there are marble steps leading down to the water. The eve of Epiphany is solemn vigil with an enormous congregation. They begin mattins at the fourth or fifth cock-crow, and at dawn, when mattins is over, the ministers come outside, and, accompagnied by deacons, the priest goes down into the river. The moment he starts blessing the water the Jordan turns back on itself with a roar and the water stays still till the baptism is finished. All the shipowners of Alexandria have men there that day with great jars of spices and balsam, and as soon as the river has been blessed, before the baptism starts, they pour them out into the water, and draw out ships when they are about to set sail. After the baptism every one goes down into the river to gain a blessing. Some wear linen, and some other materials which will serve as their shrouds for burial. And after the baptism the water returns to its place. From the point where the Jordan comes out of the Sea of Tiberiades to where it ends at the Salt Sea is about 130 miles.
