Qasr el Yahud
| قصر اليهود | |
| File:PikiWiki Israel 28702 Religion in Israel.JPG | |
 Shown within the West Bank
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| Alternate name | Al-Maghtas |
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| Location | Jericho Governorate, West Bank |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Qasr el Yahud (Arabic: قصر اليهود; also Kasser/Qasser al-Yahud/Yehud etc.; lit. "Castle of the Jews") is the official name of a baptism site in the Jordan River Valley, Palestine.
It is the western part of the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17), in Arabic Al-Maghtas, a name which was historically used for the pilgrimage site on both sides of the river. It is also traditionally considered to be the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River,[1] and Elijah the Prophet ascended to heaven.[2]
Qasr el-Yahud is close to the ancient road and river ford connecting Jerusalem, via Jericho, to several Transjordanian biblical sites such as Madaba, Mount Nebo and the King's Highway. It is located in the West Bank, a little southeast from Jericho and is part of the Jericho Governorate of Palestine.
The baptism site and facilities are administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as part of an Israeli national park.
Etymology
The Arabic name of the baptism site is Al-Maghtas, an area stretching over both banks of the river. The Jordanian side uses the names Al-Maghtas, Bethany beyond the Jordan and Baptism(al) Site, while the western part is known as Qasr el-Yahud. The nearby Greek Orthodox Monastery of St John the Baptist has a castle-like appearance (thus qasr, "castle"), and tradition holds that the Israelites crossed the river at this spot (thus el-Yahud, "of the Jews").[3][4][5]
History
The modern site reopened in 2011 after being closed since the 1967 Six-Day War. The restoration project was approved before the 2000 millennium celebrations but was delayed due to the Second Intifada and flooding in the region in 2003.[1] It is administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. Before the site was accessible, baptisms took place at Yardenit.
See also
- Aenon, a baptism site in the Gospel of John
- Baptism of Jesus
- Bethabara, a name used by some versions of the New Testament for the site of Jesus' baptism
- National parks and nature reserves of Israel
- New Testament places associated with Jesus
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Jesus's baptismal site, long sealed off, to be cleared of landmines
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kasser Al Yahud. |
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