Book manuscript: Arkhipov S.V. Medical Record: The Contribution of a Middle Bronze Age Egyptian Physician to the Book of Genesis. Kyrö: Author’s Edition, 2026. – 312 pp. – 2 tables. – Bibliographical references: 856 entries. play.google.com , books.google.com
Chapter 12
ROUTE TO THE SITE OF INJURY
[i]
Understanding
the characteristics of the scene of the incident is of essential importance for
comprehending the pathogenesis of an injury. Therefore, after clarifying the
nature of the traumatic event, the ancient Egyptian physician had to inquire of
the patient where it took place. The Book of Genesis contains no detailed
description of the injury's precise location. It is merely stated that Jacob
"crossed the ford of the Jabbok", "Jacob was left alone",
and further: "his hip socket was dislocated" (Gen. 32:23, 25–26). It
can be assumed that the victim was resting near the bank of the Jabbok River
(Nahr az-Zarqa), which he had just negotiated. Jacob names the site of the
incident "Peniel" (Gen. 32:31). It was located at some distance from
the settlement of "Penuel" (Gen. 32:32). This inhabited locality is
mentioned during the movement of the caravan from the crossing, when "the
sun rose upon him" (Gen. 32:32).
It
cannot be completely ruled out that the lameness was caused by an accident that
occurred earlier – for instance, while traveling from Haran on the road to "Mount
Gilead" or during the descent from it (Gen. 31:17–18, 21, 32:2). On the
night following the crossing of the river, the prototype of Jacob might have
felt pain in the hip joint region for the first time. In connection with the
above, we have examined the entire route traversed by the victim. The primary
emphasis is placed on discussing the locations where an injury is most
probable. The complexity of the analysis lies in the fact that the location of
Haran is known reliably; this settlement exists to this day. At the same time,
the localization of "Mount Gilead" and the area of "Peniel"
has not yet been precisely established. We also do not know where Jacob's
family crossed the Jabbok River (Gen. 32:23). Therefore, to clarify the actual
site of the injury, we have studied the most probable route of Jacob's exodus
from Northern Mesopotamia using maps, atlases, and, in part, field research
during an expedition.
From
a geological perspective, the events of the journey from Haran took place on
the Arabian Lithospheric Plate. This formation shifts in a north-northeast
direction relative to the Sinai Plate at an average rate of 5.0 mm per year
(2006ReilingerR_KaramG). In the north, it collided with the Anatolian and
Eurasian lithospheric plates during an almost codirectional displacement
alongside the African Plate situated further west. The movement of the Arabian
Lithospheric Plate occurs faster than that of the African Plate and is
accompanied by a counterclockwise rotation. The movements of these geological
structures gave rise to the Dead Sea and Jordan River Valley, as well as the
basin of the Sea of Galilee. These regions represent an active transform fault
of the continental crust. The resulting extensional and compressional forces on
the Earth's surface formed the Anti-Lebanon range, along which the Serghaya
Fault runs in a northeasterly direction. The displacement rate of the Arabian
Lithospheric Plate in this section is approximately 1.5 mm per year
(2003GomezF_BrazangiM). Slip in the region of the Jordan River Valley is
estimated at 4.7–5.1 mm per year (2008FerryM_BarjousM).
In
the vicinity of the mouth of the Yarmouk River and the Sea of Galilee, the slip
rate of the Arabian Tectonic Plate approximately northward relative to the
African Plate is 4.5–4.7 mm per year (2010ArRajehiA_KoganL). Along with these
displacements, the western part of the Arabian Lithospheric Plate, encompassing
modern Jordan, is slowly uplifting (2010SternRJ_JohnsonP). According to R. J.
Duff (2014), this rate is less than 4.6 mm per year. On the whole, the Dead Sea
Basin represents an example of deformed continental crust under north-south
extension and transverse east-west flexure accompanied by deepening (2002Al-ZoubiA_tenBrinkU).
Gigantic
forces fracture the Arabian Tectonic Plate in the area of the Jordanian Plateau
into several parts. Sedimentary rocks have accumulated and rivers have flowed
within the resulting cracks in the continental crust. The largest of these in
the territory of Jordan are the Yarmouk, Jabbok (Seil az-Zarqa, Nahr az-Zarqa,
Yabbok), and Wadi al-Mujib (Arnon) (2014РомановаЭП_АршиноваМА). The Arabian Lithospheric Plate continues its
northward migration toward Eurasia. In view of this, its brittle fractures in
the area of the Jordanian Plateau will continue to lead to the deepening,
lengthening, and widening of river canyons and wadis.
According to our calculations, over the 3,600 years that have elapsed since the journey of the Old Testament Jacob, the displacement of the Arabian Lithospheric Plate relative to the African Plate northward amounted to approximately 18 m, and the slip in the area of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains was 5 m. Over the elapsed time, the Jordanian Plateau has uplifted by approximately 16 m, with a deepening and widening of river canyons. As can be observed, no significant displacement of geographical features has occurred. Consequently, the modern topography of Western Asia remains relevant for analyzing the events of the literary journey of Jacob's family from Northern Mesopotamia to Canaan.
[ii]
After
a conflict within the family, Jacob travels from Canaan to Haran, to "the
land of the people of the east" (Gen. 28:10, 29:1). From the latter
phrase, it is clear that Haran was located east of "Be'er-Sheba",
which is in the land of "Canaan" (Gen. 28:10, 37:1). The territory
where Haran was situated is named "Paddan-Aram" in the Book of Genesis
(Gen. 28:2, 5–7, 31:18, 33:18). Haran (Harran) is an ancient settlement of
Northern Mesopotamia, known from written sources approximately since the late
3rd millennium BCE (2002HollowaySW). To the west and south, the fertile lands
of the Haran Valley are bordered by the vast bend of the Euphrates River. To
the north lies the Eastern Taurus mountain range with peaks exceeding 2 km. Far
to the east flows the Tigris River, and the spurs of the Zagros Mountains rise.
At a certain point, Jacob intended to return to his homeland, ostensibly at the
command of God (Gen. 31:14). To travel from Haran to Canaan, he had to make the
reverse journey he had undertaken 20 years earlier. The route involved moving
in a southwesterly direction and crossing the Euphrates. Bypassing the river
above its headwaters on the Armenian Highlands is virtually impossible. The
caravan that set out included numerous cattle and small livestock, pack animals
carrying the family's possessions, and children (Gen. 31:17–18, 32:6, 23).
According
to the Book of Genesis, the first notable moment of the journey was the
crossing of a certain river (Gen. 31:21). In this context, the crossing of the
Euphrates as the only significant water barrier is implied. In our primary
source, the stream is referred to as "Perat" (Gen. 2:15). The river
was also called "great", distinguishing it from the Nile – the "river
of Egypt" (Gen. 15:18). "Lebanon" comes into contact with this "great"
river (Deut. 1:7). In other words, this waterway flows in a region containing
the mountains of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. According to the primary source, "the
fourth river, Perat", separates from the river watering the garden of "Eden"
(Gen. 2:10, 15). In the instruction to the people of Israel, "Perat"
is indicated as the eastern border of the land of settlement (Deut. 11:24).
From
Turkish Harran, the shortest distance to the Euphrates is about 75 km in a
southwesterly direction toward the Syrian city of Manbij. If one moves west
toward modern Jerablus, it is necessary to cover about 90 km. The latter route
appears preferable to us, as the river here divides into parallel channels,
each being less deep. Jacob departs from the outskirts of Haran (Gen. 31:4,
17–18). The procession crosses streams and bypasses from the south an elevation
dominated by Mount Alaklitepe, following the Jazira Plateau at an altitude of
nearly 500 m above sea level.
A
detailed description of the crossing of the Euphrates is absent, but the verb "crossed"
appears in the text (Gen. 31:21). This allows for the conclusion that the caravan
traversed the river via a bridge or used a ford. In the former case, it could
have been a pontoon bridge. The possibility of its construction is evidenced by
Sumerian cuneiform tablets informing us of the existence of "floating"
villages in Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago (2010ЭкономовИС). According to the more likely scenario, it
was a crossing on foot. Accordingly, Jacob would have needed to inspect the
ford and ensure that the smaller animals could negotiate it. This would
inevitably have caused a delay in the journey. The crossing of the waterway
could not have occurred "on the move", as a march. The only exception
would be the option of crossing the river over a bridge. We consider it
difficult to force a caravan with numerous herds of domestic animals across
using watercraft. Be that as it may, it is clear from the text that the
negotiation of the water barrier took place without incident or injury.
A route heading south from Haran toward the modern city of Raqqa (Ar-Raqqah) appears unlikely to us. At the specified location, the Euphrates is wider and carries more water. Beyond it begins the stony–sandy Syrian Desert – one of the most arid on the planet – in the northwestern part of which rise the inland Palmyrene Mountains. The crossing of mountain ranges within a vast desert seems virtually impossible to us for large herds containing lactating animals (Gen. 33:13).
[iii]
After
Jacob "crossed the river", he "headed toward Mount Gilead"
(Gen. 31:21). In a narrow sense, this toponym denotes the "Gilead"
plateau, that is, the mountainous region east of the Jordan between the Yarmouk
and Jabbok rivers (1908–1913КацельсонъЛ_ГинцбургъДГ; 1999ГерцЙ). Another name is the Gilead Mountains, also
referred to as the Jordanian or Transjordanian Plateau. The mountainous region
is located at the junction of the ranges of the Eastern Levant and the
continuation of the Arabian Plateau. The Jordanian Plateau is divided into
three parts: the northern part – the Ajloun Mountains (Jalaad, Northern
Gilead); the central part – the Balqa (Jebel Jalaad, Southern Gilead); and the
southern part – Al-Sharah. The Ajloun Mountains are sometimes called the
Eastern Heights. They are bounded on the north by the canyon of the Yarmouk
River, on the south by the gorge of the Seil az-Zarqa River (Jabbok, Nahr
az-Zarqa), on the east by the Syrian Desert, and on the west by the Jordan
River Valley – specifically, its eastern section, the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain.
To
reach the Ajloun Mountains while advancing from the Euphrates River, Jacob
needed to cover a distance of no less than 500 km. The caravan had to bypass
the waterless Syrian Desert from the west. It is reasonable to assume that the
procession traveled southwest across the Aleppo Plateau, through the Manbij and
Idlib plains, encountering only small rivers along its path. Traveling south
along this route today, Jacob would have passed the cities of Aleppo, Idlib,
Hama, and Homs. Approaching the spurs of the Anti-Lebanon range, the procession
turned southwest toward Damascus. Here flows the Barada River with its
tributaries originating on the slopes of the Anti-Lebanon. From the Damascus
region, the caravan's path again lay south across the Hauran Plateau toward the
modern city of Daraa and further across the Nuqrah Plateau. On the final leg,
the travelers left the Anti-Lebanon range with Mount Hermon and the Golan
Heights to the west, bypassing to the east the canyon of the Yarmouk River with
its tributaries: Allan, Ruqqad, 'Ereir, and Zeizun. From our point of view,
Jacob turned west in the direction of the region where the city of Irbid is
located today. This is the most acceptable route, providing a sufficient number
of watering places. This aspect is exceptionally important, as a significant
amount of livestock was being driven (Gen. 30:43; 31:18, 32:6, 15–16).
The
folded terrain seen by Jacob's companions was formed under the influence of
colossal tectonic forces displacing the Arabian Lithospheric Plate – a process
that began nearly 25 million years ago – and volcanic eruptions 4 million years
ago that formed the Golan Heights and the Hauran Plateau. South of the Golan
Heights, rock formations were carved out by the gorge of the Yarmouk River,
which in its middle and lower reaches reaches a depth of 100 to 50 m below sea
level. There is no indication that Jacob climbed the slopes of the Golan
Heights on the east and descended their rocky escarpments on the west. A path
through them would be unsafe for numerous herds of animals. In our primary
source, there are likewise no indications that the caravan crossed the gorge of
the Yarmouk River. This speaks in favor of bypassing the aforementioned
waterway. As we learn later, after the encampment on "Mount Gilead",
the crossing of the Jabbok River follows (Gen. 32:23). Consequently, Jacob was
moving east of the Anti-Lebanon range and the Sea of Galilee, rather than west
through the Beqaa Valley or along the Mediterranean coast. Traveling along
those routes would not involve encountering the Jabbok River (Seil az-Zarqa,
Nahr az-Zarqa) flowing through Jordan.
Jacob's
first stop is described on "Mount Gilead" (Gen. 31:21, 23, 25).
During this stopover, several vivid events of the journey take place – not only
ominous ones, but also those filled with humor (Gen. 31:29, 34–35). Here, Jacob
is overtaken by relatives led by his father-in-law, Laban (Gen. 31:23). Moving
from north to south between Haran (modern Turkey) and Canaan (modern Israel),
several mountain systems are encountered. In the southwest lie the mountains of
Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, and the Golan Heights. Heading south amid the Syrian
Desert are the Palmyrene Mountains, and further on lies the Jordanian
(Transjordanian) Plateau. The latter is referred to in older terminology as "Gilead"
(1908–1913КацельсонъЛ_ГинцбургъДГ; 1999ГерцЙ). In translations of the Pentateuch, the "land
of Gilead" is described as being adjacent to the land of "Jazer"
beyond the "Yarden" (Jordan) (Num. 31:1, 32:29; Deut. 3:8). Surveyed
from Mount "Pisgah" (Nebo) opposite "Jericho" (Ir
ha-Tmarim, Eriha, Ariha), the land of "Gilead" extends to "Dan"
– a settlement in the far north of the land of "Canaan" (Deut. 34:1;
1999ГерцЙ). Near "Dan"
are the cities of "Dammesek" (Damascus) and "Hobah" (70 km
north of the former) (Gen. 14:14–15; 1999ГерцЙ). In a number of cases, the land of "Gilead"
is also called a "mountain", which borders the "Arnon"
River on the south and is divided into two parts (Deut. 2:36, 3:12). West of
the "Gilead" mountainous area lies the "plain" (Deut. 3:10)
– most likely the Jordan River Valley. Its eastern edge is subdivided into the
Ghor el-Arba'in Plain, extending from the Yarmouk River to the Seil az-Zarqa
River (Jabbok), while south of it to the Dead Sea stretches the Ghor Kabid
Plain. North of the "Gilead" mountains, "Bashan unto Salcah and
Edrei" (Salkhad and Daraa) was identified (Deut. 3:10). According to A. P.
Lopukhin, "Gilead" is the entire Transjordanian side, divided into
two parts by the Jabbok stream, with Jacob heading toward the northern portion.
A number of the aforementioned toponyms are known from later parts of the
Pentateuch and do not appear in the Book of Genesis. Apparently, their authors
were unaware of them (1904ЛопухинАП).
From
the northern part of the Ajloun Mountains to the Jabbok River, one can proceed
along two routes. The first runs from Irbid to the west through the settlement
of Northern Shuna (Esh-Shuna esh-Shamaliya), while the other goes south toward
the city of Jerash (Gerasa, Gergesa). Maps of the area show that the main mass
of the northern part of the plateau forms the Ajloun Range with its highest
point at 1,235 m above sea level. The mountain chain extends from southwest to
northeast and contains a series of spurs. One is directed to the east, where,
widening, it forms a significant mountainous area. 1.5 km north of Jerash on
the eastern spur of the Ajloun Range, there is a pass whose altitude is about
1,000 m above sea level. A road originating from Damascus passes through it.
Today, a section of this ancient caravan route across the Ajloun Mountains
would pass through the cities of Daraa and Ar-Ramtha, along Wadi Warran, past
the settlements of Balila and Khirbet Asfur on the above-mentioned pass. From
its highest point, there is a descent into the valley to Jerash. Further south,
it crosses the Wadi Suf stream, and then the Jabbok River (Seil az-Zarqa). Over
it, a permanent bridge was built in the last century near the village of
Khirbet es-Suweirat. From there, the road leads to the settlement of Khirbet
el-Mudawwara and on to Amman.
A
study of the described mountain route using maps shows that it would be
difficult to utilize for a large caravan carrying baggage and livestock.
Furthermore, lies an even less hospitable territory – the Balqa Plateau
(Southern Gilead). It is bounded on the north by the canyon of the Jabbok
River, on the south by the gorge of the Wadi al-Mujib (Arnon) River, and on the
west by the Jordan River Valley. The average elevation of this mountainous area
is 700–800 m above sea level, with peaks reaching around 1,000 m: Umm Nulaylifa
(1,065 m), Jibal ad-Dayr (1,023 m), and Jabal al-Muzawwad (907 m).
We
believe that Jacob's family bypassed the Ajloun Mountains from the north,
heading from the area around modern Irbid toward the present-day settlement of
Northern Shuna. In the foothills of the Ajloun Mountains and west of Irbid,
there are deep canyons of permanent and seasonal rivers. An analysis of the
terrain in an historical aspect showed that Highway 10 between Irbid and Northern
Shuna was reconstructed only recently. In the mid-1980s, the road passed
through the town of Kufr Asad and then descended down a switchback nearly 300 m
into the valley formed by the gorges of Wadi Samad and Wadi al-Amud. In the
absence of a proper road, this route along a mountain trail would have been
extremely difficult for animals carrying baggage.
A
less arduous route lies around these canyons through the settlements of
Et-Tayyibah and Samma. From the latter, there is a convenient, gently sloping
road that gradually descends from the Ajloun Mountains. The trail proceeds
smoothly downward, roughly parallel to the gorge of the El-Arab River, and
opens onto the expanse of the Jordan Valley. Today, this route remains
accessible for people on foot, livestock, and a caravan of pack animals. It
should be kept in mind that 3,600 years ago, the height of the Ajloun Mountains
and the depth of the canyons were approximately 16 m less.
Jacob
had already traveled this route when fleeing from his brother Esau to Haran
(Gen. 27:43, 28:10). The road was apparently known to him from family lore, as
Abraham had previously traversed it when migrating from Haran to Canaan (Gen.
12:5). Along this path, Abraham's servant went to "Aram-Naharaim, to the
city of Nachor" to find a wife for his son Isaac (Gen. 24:10). Rebekah,
Jacob's grandmother, seems to have traveled through Samma as well on her way to
Canaan to meet her future husband (Gen. 24:61).
Advancing
south from Damascus, Jacob's caravan bypassed from the east the practically
impassable canyons of the Yarmouk River tributaries. These partially cut across
the Hauran Plateau – specifically its southern portion, known as Nuqrah. In the
vicinity of the city of Daraa, traveling at elevations of around 500 m above
sea level, the prototype of Jacob turned west toward modern Irbid and passed
the site where the city of Ar-Ramtha now stands. To the right, the caravan left
the gorge of Wadi Ain Rahub, oriented approximately from south to north.
Southeast of the locality with present-day Irbid, the procession bypassed the
canyon of Wadi Zabda and the hill of Tell Kufr Yuba, moving in the direction of
the settlement of Deir as-Seneh. Such a route involves crossing the canyon of
Wadi ar-Ruhaylah and bypassing the hill of Zahrat Sawqa'ah. Then the caravan
descended into the canyon of Wadi ad-Deir and moved along it to the spot where
the modern settlement of Deir as-Seneh flourishes. To the north lay the canyon
of Wadi al-Mishwara, about 50 m deep, and to the south – the canyon of Wadi
Dulban, about 100 m deep. Heading northwest, Jacob and his companions reached
the site where the village of Et-Tayyibah thrives today. Here, the path south
is blocked by the canyon of Wadi at-Tayyibah, about 100 m deep, and to the
north – by the canyon of Wadi Abu Hilal, up to 50 m deep.
The
plateau in the specified region widens into a small plain. From the north and
northeast, it is bounded by the 50-meter-deep canyon of Wadi ad-Deir as-Seneh
and the nearly 100-meter-deep canyon of Wadi as-Sindiyar with almost vertical
walls, and to the south – by the equally deep canyon of Wadi at-Tayyibah. To
the southwest, Jacob could behold the hill of Tell Raquqa, and to the west – the
hill of Tell Abu al-Husayn near the present-day village of Manda. To the
northwest began the canyon of Wadi an-Nuhayr, about 50 m deep. Here, between
the canyons, lies a narrow isthmus up to 200 m wide that leads to the
settlement of Samma. We believe that the prototype of Jacob was heading toward
this area on his way to "Mount Gilead" (Gen. 31:21). On the leg of
the route across the Ajloun Mountains from the site near the modern city of
Irbid, the caravan gradually descended from an altitude of about 500 m to 300 m
above sea level.
The
settlement of Samma is built 18 km west of Irbid on a hill with a peak of 325 m
above sea level. This hill rises 20–25 m above the surrounding terrain. To the
north lies the canyon of Wadi Hofa, about 150 m deep, and the canyon of Wadi
ash-Sheikh Siraj. To the south lies the canyon of Wadi an-Nuhayr, approximately
110 m deep.
Southeast
of the hill lies a nearly triangular plateau with conceptual vertices near the
settlements of Manda, Samma, and Et-Tayyibah. In our opinion, the authors of
the Book of Genesis envisioned this location as the camp where Jacob set up "his
tent in the mountain" (Gen. 31:25). The "mountain" refers to the
hill beneath the settlement of Samma. The caravan's encampment was organized at
an altitude of approximately 300 m above sea level. It was lower than the camp
set up by Laban by about 20 m. His father-in-law established his camp "in
the mountain of Gilead" (Gen. 31:25). Jacob's numerous herds could well
have been accommodated on the adjacent section of the plateau. According to
tradition, the stopover lasted for two days, so the animals required a watering
place. About 1 km to the west lies the well-known drinking water spring of Ain
el-Mismar.
As
stated in our primary source, the pursuing Laban bypasses Jacob's resting
procession and stops higher up "in the mountain" (Gen. 31:25). From
this, we understand that the "mountain" was not very high;
apparently, Jacob was meant to pass beside or over it. In order to obstruct his
passage, the father-in-law set up camp ahead along the line of movement and
higher up – for a better view. It is reasonable to assume that Laban stopped on
the hill where the village of Samma exists today. This elevation is likely the
biblical Mount "Gilead" (Gen. 31:21, 23, 25). The approach to the
specified height from the direction of the settlement of Et-Tayyibah is the
only one available, bounded on the right by the canyons of Wadi Hofa and Wadi
ash-Sheikh Siraj, and on the left by the canyon of Wadi an-Nuhayr. The only
road leading down to the foot of the Ajloun Mountains runs through the strip
between them. Laban's presence on the "mountain" controlled and
blocked the movement of his relative's caravan.
According
to the authors' design, Jacob argues with his father-in-law in his camp on the
plateau between the villages of Samma and Et-Tayyibah near Mount "Gilead"
(Gen. 31:26–32, 36–44). Today, this territory is actively cultivated, and in
its western part near the village of Manda, a forest park has been established.
Modern photographs of this protected spot allow us to picture what the meeting
place of the Old Testament relatives might have looked like 3,600 years ago.
Tents of Jacob's family stood among sparsely growing trees, and livestock
grazed nearby. It was likely on such a landscape, but close to the road, that
the writers envisioned the erection of a stone monument, which Jacob called "Galed",
and Laban called "Yegar-sahadutha" and "Mitzpah" (Gen.
31:46–47, 49). It follows from the text that the base was an elongated,
vertically placed rock fragment surrounded by boulders (Gen. 31:45–46). In
Hittite religion, larger stones – roughly carved or left in their natural state
– were erected in open fields, in groves near springs or rivers, and on
mountain peaks (2002BryceT). If a "monument" built by natives of
northern Syria truly existed near the modern settlement of Samma, its small
size means it was dismantled long ago.
Assessing
the terrain of the northern part of the Ajloun Mountains, it appears to us that
the route described above is the most favorable for descending into the Jordan
River Valley. It seems that this path was used by merchants and migrants
traveling from Mesopotamia and Anatolia to Canaan and then to Egypt. Someone
among the authors of the ancient work we are studying likely traveled along
this very road.
[iv]
In
our opinion, Mount Gilead, where according to the narrative in the Book of Genesis
a memorial marker was erected, represents the hill beneath the settlement of
Samma. Here begins a convenient, gentle descent from the Ajloun Mountains.
Confirmation that "Gilead" is a hill is directly indicated in the
text: "and they ate there upon the heap [hill]" (Gen. 31:46). Further
evidence can be found in the phrase of Laban, who thrice mentions both the
monument and the heap separately: "behold this heap, and behold this
pillar" (Gen. 31:51); "this heap be witness, and this pillar be
witness", "over this heap, and over this pillar" (Gen. 31:52).
Likely, according to the author's plan, the monument was erected near the
elevation beneath the village of Samma by the road. It is preferable to assume
that this was how it appeared to the authors as they mentally developed the
scenery of the tale. The events associated with Laban's inspection, the
arguments, and the act of reconciliation took place on the Ajloun Mountains. This
conclusion is drawn because, having completed their shared meal, the kinsmen "tarried
all night in the mount" (Gen. 31:54).
In
our opinion, the camp was established by Jacob on a small plateau of the Ajloun
Mountains between the present-day settlements of Samma and Et-Tayyibah. Deep
canyons surround the specified territory on almost all sides: Wadi Hofa, Wadi
ash-Sheikh Siraj, Wadi an-Nuhayr, Wadi at-Tayyibah, Wadi Qarara, Wadi Mughr
al-Qushsha, and Wadi Darraba. A study of the topography of this site shows that
only one road leads from it toward Canaan that is suitable for numerous herds
of domestic livestock – the one passing through the hill beneath present-day
Samma. That is why Laban and his relatives set up their tent upon it (Gen.
31:25). Stationed on the high ground, watchmen observed the road, suspecting
that stolen idols were being transported in the caravan (Gen. 31:19). The
features of the terrain near Jacob's encampment made it impossible to bypass
the lookout from any side.
Initially,
Laban strikes his bivouac and departs (Gen. 32:1). After the relatives leave,
Jacob's family sets out on their journey (Gen. 32:2). We have identified the
starting point of the caravan's third stage of travel as a small plateau
southeast of present-day Samma and northwest of Et-Tayyibah, closer to the
former. The campsite was apparently located at an altitude of around 300 m
above sea level near the coordinates 32°33'49.9" N, 35°41'55.9" E.
The road down from the Ajloun Mountains begins at this point.
On
the initial segment of the route, the caravan proceeded along a narrow isthmus
up to 200 m wide between the canyons of Wadi Hofa to the north and Wadi
an-Nuhayr to the south. Then Jacob, walking at the head of the procession as
the one who knew the route, passed south of the "peak" of an unnamed
hill beneath the settlement of Samma, which rises by 20–25 m. On it, the fires
left by his father-in-law's lookouts were likely still smoldering. Further in a
northwesterly direction, the caravan crosses the foot of the hill and covers
nearly 2 km across the plateau at an elevation of approximately 300 m above sea
level. Then the road gradually curves in an arc to the north and proceeds
downward along the southeastern slope of a hollow located here. Upon exiting it,
the canyon of Wadi Hofa stretches to the right, and the southwestern slope of
the Ajloun Mountains lies to the left. Descending from it, Jacob reached the
bottom of the canyon of Wadi Samad, joined with the canyon of Wadi al-Amud,
adjacent to the currently cultivated territory of Murshid. The specified road
intersects here today with modern Highway 10 at an elevation of approximately
100 m above sea level. According to our measurements carried out using maps,
the gentle descent from the plateau covers about 2.5 km. On the main segment,
the caravan descended by 200 m. In accordance with our calculations, the slope
of the road was 3–4°, which is not critical for pack animals. In total, from
the campsite near Mount "Gilead" along the southeastern slope of the
Ajloun Mountains, the caravan must have traveled approximately 4.5 km.
Google
Maps mapping service allows one to trace the route along which Jacob presumably
traveled from Mount "Gilead" to the foot of the plateau. The imagery
displays the slopes of the hollow starting from the settlement of Samma,
followed by the exit from the canyon of Wadi Hofa, and the bottom of the
canyons of Wadi Samad and Wadi al-Amud. The sparse vegetation on the slopes of
the Ajloun Mountains and the stony soil were likewise seen by the companions of
Jacob's prototype 3,600 years ago. From below, out of the canyon of Wadi Samad
and Wadi al-Amud to the southeast, one can observe the elevation with the hill
beneath the settlement of Samma and the road descending from it. Presumably,
the view from below gave rise to the name "Mountain", the summit of
which is the hill where Jacob's father-in-law kept watch.
At
the bottom of the canyon of Wadi al-Amud, the road gradually turns left and
proceeds downward, remaining at the base of the northern slope of the plateau.
To the right, north of it, lie the gorges of Rawd al-Mashiyah and Wadi Zadar.
Near the mark of 50 m below sea level, the road turns west, rounding a ledge of
the Ajloun Mountains rising approximately 150 m above sea level. To the north
flows the El-Arab River through the deep canyon of Wadi al-Arab, currently
blocked by the man-made Wadi Arab Dam. According to our measurements, Jacob
needed to walk along the southern foot of the plateau for no less than 5.5 km.
Gradually, he descended to the mark of 130 m below sea level. The slope of this
segment of the road was 2–3°. Accordingly, the descent from the Ajloun
Mountains was gentle, without any physical obstacles. This significantly
reduced the likelihood of Jacob sustaining an injury.
The
exit into the Jordan River Valley has the coordinates 32°36'20.9" N,
35°37'02.4" E. South of this point lies the slope of the Ajloun Mountains,
and to the north – the canyon of Wadi al-Arab, beyond which rises the mountain
spur of Dhahrat Hajjat Sa'id, and to the west – the hill of Tell al-Muntar.
According to our measurements conducted using the mapping service, Jacob
covered approximately 10.5 km from the camp at "Mount Gilead" to the
exit onto the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain. The route outlined appears favourable for
the descent of a caravan including numerous livestock and pack animals from the
Ajloun Mountains.
Having negotiated this leg of the journey, Jacob reaches the northern part of the Jordan River Valley. We believe that the caravan makes a stop here, and he names the location "Mahanaim" (Gen. 32:3). The descent from the Ajloun Mountains for Jacob's procession passed without consequences. The angle of inclination of the roadbed was approximately 2–3°. The head of the family knew the route from personal experience and family traditions. The probability of joint damage to the lower extremities at the discussed stage of the trek was, in our opinion, minimal.
[v]
The
fourth stage of Jacob's caravan journey, according to our subdivision, begins
in the northeastern part of the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain, east of the Jordan
River. Today, the settlement of Ma'ad (Iskan Ma'adh) flourishes here, with
Khirbet ash-Sheikh Hussein and Northern Shuna (Esh-Shuna esh-Shamaliya) to the
north. Jacob stops, naming the locality "Mahanaim" (Gen. 32:3). The
Egyptian word maḫan is known, meaning a type of wooden chest, which is also
found in Akkadian texts: ma-ḫa-an (2004OppenheimAL_ReinerE). In Ancient Egypt,
the concept m’hanem’ was also used, the translation of which is unclear. It has
been suggested that the term is a derivative of the toponym M’ḫa, which was the
name of a district in Nubia near Primis (Qasr Ibrim) (1920BudgeEAW). This
settlement was founded near the bank of the Nile, as was the "Mahanaim"
camp near the Jordan. The authors could have invented the geonym using the
equally distant Nubian Maḫan by the river as a base. Moreover, if this word had
fallen out of active usage, a Judean scribe could not have used it in such a
context. We think that "Mahanaim" is a "fossil word" that
survived in our primary source.
The
territory around the "Mahanaim" campsite is bounded on the west by
the Jordan River, on the north by the Yarmouk, on the east by the slopes of the
hill of Tell al-Muntar and the spurs of Mount Dhahrat Hajjat Sa'id, and on the
south by the El-Arab stream. In this area, there was sufficient fodder for
animals and watering places. In the early 20th century, the locality was
described as a "blessed, rich country", covered with groves of "evergreen
oaks intermingled with conifers, wild pistachios, pears, pomegranates, and
other plants", among which lay "magnificent pastures; fresh, lush
meadows strewn with beautiful flowers" (1908–1913КацельсонъЛ_ГинцбургъДГ).
We
believe that Jacob's camp was implied in the area of the modern town of
Northern Shuna. Here, in our opinion, was localized the place "Mahanaim",
and later – the settlement of the same name mentioned in the books of the Bible
(Gen. 32:2; Josh. 13:26, 30, 21:38; 2 Sam. 2:8, 12, 29, 17:24, 27, 19:32; 1
Kings 2:8; 4:14; 1 Chron. 6:80). We do not know how long Jacob lingered in this
bountiful place. An important reason for the caravan's stop was apparently the
need to create favorable conditions for fattening the livestock. Earlier in
Haran, Jacob had demonstrated a satisfactory knowledge of animal physiology
while breeding and selecting livestock (Gen. 30:41–42). Perhaps the herds moved
gradually as they consumed the vegetation, and the family migrated behind them.
Movement was possible only to the south, as the Jordan flowed to the west, the
Yarmouk River and the Golan Heights blocked the path to the north, and the
Ajloun Mountains rose to the east.
After
the Euphrates, Jacob's caravan does not cross any major rivers. This means that
after descending from the Ajloun Mountains, the patriarch did not move west
across the Jordan River and did not cross the Yarmouk in a northwesterly
direction toward the coast of the Sea of Galilee (Gennesaret, Tiberias). In
connection with this, the words of Jacob's prayer sound mysterious: "with
my staff I passed over this Yarden" (Gen. 32:11). In our opinion, the
Jordan River is mentioned as having been crossed during his trek from Canaan to
Haran. From the place of his appeal to God, the supplicant could see this water
barrier. Near the town of Northern Shuna, where the caravan's camp was likely
located, rises the hill of Tell al-Muntar. Jacob could have been on it or
another elevation when appealing for help to "otherworldly forces".
We visited the specified area of Jordan in early November 2014. From a small
elevation near Northern Shuna, there was a good view of the entire northern
part of the Ghor el-Arba'in Valley and both banks of the Jordan.
Over
the 3,600 years that have elapsed since Jacob's journey, no significant changes
in the topography of the locality have occurred. Undoubtedly, the vegetation
and animal life have been transformed. As calculated by us, the displacement of
geographical features amounted to no more than 20 m. Due to the northward
movement of the Arabian Lithospheric Plate and its counterclockwise rotation,
the Jordan River Valley has slightly widened and deepened. From the settlement
of Northern Shuna, the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain gradually slopes southward toward
the Dead Sea. The aforementioned settlement is located approximately at an
altitude of 200 m below sea level. The surroundings of the Jabbok River stretch
at elevations of 220–230 m below sea level. In the transverse direction, the
Ghor el-Arba'in Plain is crossed by small rivers and streams flowing from the
western slopes of the Ajloun Mountains. In its northern part, it rises
approximately 100–200 m above sea level. To the south, the height of the
mountainous region increases, reaching 900 m above sea level near the canyon of
the Jabbok River. The western slope of the plateau is generally devoid of
vegetation, in places gentle, and in many places dissected by the gorges of
rivers and wadis. The entire eastern bank of the Jordan on the Ghor el-Arba'in
Plain currently constitutes a vast, well-tended plantation. Fruit trees,
bushes, and vegetables are actively grown on it in both open and closed ground.
The width of the eastern part of the plain in the area of Northern Shuna is
about four kilometers. Further south, its transverse measurement varies
downward to 1.5 km and expands again to almost 7 km near the settlement of Deir
Alla. The length of the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain from the Yarmouk River to the
Jabbok stream is about 50 km. In a north-to-south direction along the western
slope of the Ajloun Mountains runs Highway 65, along which settlements and
plantations flourish. The aforementioned part of the plain was formerly called "Bithron",
extending from the crossing point across the Jordan in the south to "Mahanaim"
in the north. The biblical King Abner and his army covered this section in a
single night (2 Sam. 2:29).
Jacob
resides for some time on the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain south of the Yarmouk River.
From here he migrates south, pondering what course of action to take next. As a
result of his deliberations, Jacob decides to reconcile with his brother and
sends emissaries to him (Gen. 32:4).
By
the time the messengers return, Jacob's campsite had likely shifted south of
the modern town of Deir Alla, which lies north of the Jabbok River. Here, the
width of the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain allows for the accommodation of numerous
herds. The extensive coastal meadows of the eastern bank of the Jordan and
accessible watering places favored the grazing of cows, oxen, donkeys, and
camels. The nearby Ajloun Mountains provided convenient pastures for small
livestock.
According
to our version, in the vicinity of the settlement of Deir Alla, Jacob sets up
another camp and receives the envoys here (Gen. 32:7). Following this, the
patriarch's consternation is described, manifested among other things by the
division of the caravan into two "camps" (Gen. 32:8). The "reserve"
portion remains grazing at the former site in the tract of Ghor Abu Ubaida near
the mound of Deir Alla or Tell Abu Sarbut. With the other part, Jacob moves
further south by approximately 1 km into the area of the present-day settlement
of Es-Sawalha. Here the caravan stops for the night (Gen. 32:14). The new
encampment is organized even closer to the northern bank of the Jabbok River,
apparently at a distance of about 200 m from the water's edge on an elevation
west of Highway 65. From this point, the specified highway proceeds south with
an incline toward the river, where a permanent bridge and a section of the
roadbed behind it are currently clearly visible.
Adjacent
to Jacob's camp were pastures for livestock and watering places on the Jabbok
River. The other camp was located at a distance, but its movements could be
observed. The herds and their herders were separated by a sufficient distance
so as not to cross paths during feeding. The hill on which Jacob stopped forms
the foundation of the settlement of Es-Sawalha, north of the Jabbok River and
west of the road leading to the ford. The maximum altitude of the elevation is
233 m below sea level, while the surrounding area lies at approximately 240 m
below sea level. The river in the visible section south of the camp flows from
a mark of 227 m in the east to 260 m below sea level in the west. From the
specified campsite, the opposite bank, extending at elevations from 240 to 250
m below sea level, was satisfactorily visible. To the right, west of the hill,
stretched the depression of Ghor Abu Ubaida, an unnamed marsh near the village
of At-Tiwal esh-Shamali, and the tract of Et-Tiwal. Still further west flow the
waters of the Jordan River. To the southeast, the Jabbok stream flows in an
arc, beyond which rise the Balqa Mountains (the mountains of Southern Gilead).
Their height at the edge of the plain reaches up to 150 m from the base, and
further east – around 350 m above sea level. To the southeast, beyond the
Jabbok River near the town of Es-Salt, the plateau rises to 1,000 m above sea
level. Jacob's rear was controlled by the "personnel of the first camp".
No attack by his brother's army was expected from these three directions. The
southern direction, from which Esau's advance was anticipated, remained in full
view. Any traveler traversing the specified route from Mesopotamia or Anatolia
to Egypt could envision this. The terrain was likewise familiar to the
inhabitants of Canaan on both sides of the Jordan. Thus, the Asian portion of
the Nile Delta population unambiguously verified the described region. It posed
no difficulty for them to appreciate the strategic talent of Joseph's father,
who was preparing to repel the aggression of his brother Esau (Gen. 32:7).
On
the following day, Jacob selects a numerous group of animals and sends them
ahead as a gift (Gen. 32:14–16). According to our hypothesis, he spends the
night near the northern bank of the Jabbok River prior to the crossing (Gen.
32:22). The location of the crossing of this water barrier had been known to
him since his flight from Be'er-Sheba to Haran (Gen. 28:10). The city is
located further west, at the level of the southern extremity of the Dead Sea.
Having departed from his home, it was preferable for Jacob to cross the Jordan
near the settlement of Damia. According to legend, Gideon utilized it while
pursuing the kings of "Midian" (Josh. 2:23; Judg. 8:4–5).
The
Book of Genesis provides an exact list of the animals sent as a gift: "two
hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty
milch camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and
ten foals" (Gen. 32:15–16). According to our calculations, a total of 580
head of livestock was sent. Each herd moved "by itself", that is,
separately, accompanied by 1–2 drivers (Gen. 32:17, 20). It turns out that no
fewer than five men went ahead. This allowed us to conceptualize the
composition of the caravan. According to our estimates, the animals listed
above and their herders comprised no less than a quarter of the total number.
An equal quantity of livestock and "people" remained with Jacob, and
twice as much in the other, reserve camp (Gen. 32:8–9). Thus, his "wealth"
consisted of no fewer than 800 female goats and as many sheep, 80 rams and male
goats each, 120 lactating camels alone with as many colts, 160 cows, 40 bulls,
80 female donkeys, and 40 foals – that is, 2,320 head in total. Under the
patriarch's authority were approximately 20 workers, four wives, a daughter,
and eleven sons (Gen. 32:23, 34:3). During livestock drives in the 19th century
along the Chisholm Trail to Kansas, a herd of 2,500 to 3,000 head required
10–14 cowboys and 100–150 horses (2010DortchSD). Accordingly, it is reasonable
to assume that the people in Jacob's caravan numbered up to four dozen, whom
Esau refers to as a "company" (Gen. 33:8). Apparently learning this
number from the emissaries, the brother, in turn, takes ten times as many on
his expedition – 400 men (Gen. 32:7, 33:1).
As
shown above, in the area of the "Mahanaim" camp, which stood near
modern Northern Shuna, there were sufficient watering places – the Jordan,
Yarmouk, and El-Arab rivers. Shifting south along the Ghor el-Arba'in Plain,
water from the Jordan was constantly accessible to Jacob's herds. Movement in
any other direction across the Ajloun Mountains was virtually impossible. That
route significantly increased the risk of animal mortality from dehydration and
injury. Furthermore, the caravan needed to advance gradually along the tracks
of the messengers so as not to miss them upon their return.
The
discussed stage of Jacob's journey was the least hazard-prone in terms of
injury. He moved slowly and sporadically southward along the Ghor el-Arba'in
Plain. Apparently, the authors implied that during this period the livestock
was being fattened. Climate is assumed to be an important factor in Jacob's
prolonged stay in the Jordan Valley. In summer, daytime temperatures here
average around 32 °C and can exceed 40 °C in the hottest months – July and
August – with minimal precipitation (2011Oxford_Business_Group). The nearby
presence of the Jordan guaranteed a water supply for the livestock. There were
no wide rivers or significant topographical irregularities along the caravan's
path. In view of this, the risk of Jacob sustaining an injury was assessed by
us as minimal. Furthermore, the Book of Genesis reports no incidents between "Mahanaim"
and the Jabbok River. We have taken the northern bank of this stream near the
modern settlement of Es-Sawalha (32°10'55.8" N, 35°36'56.9" E) as the
terminal point of the fourth stage of Jacob's trek to the ill-fated site of
injury.
Title & Contents / Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14 / Chapter 15 / Chapter 16 / Chapter 17 / Chapter 18 / Chapter 19 / Chapter 20 / Chapter 21 / Chapter 22 / Chapter 23 / Chapter 24 / Chapter 25 / References / Notes
Russian-language version:
Титул и оглавление / Глава 1 / Глава 2 / Глава 3 / Глава 4 / Глава 5 / Глава 6 / Глава 7 / Глава 8 / Глава 9 / Глава 10 / Глава 11 / Глава 12 / Глава 13 / Глава 14 / Глава 15 / Глава 16 / Глава 17 / Глава 18 / Глава 19 / Глава 20 / Глава 21 / Глава 22 / Глава 23 / Глава 24 / Глава 25 / Список литературы
Author of the publication
Arkhipov S.V. – Independent Researcher, MD, PhD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical Writer, Finland.
Correspondence: Sergey Arkhipov, e-mail: archipovsv @ gmail.com
Publication history
October 23, 2026 - online version of the book is published.
Suggested citation
Arkhipov S.V. Medical Record: The Contribution of a Middle Bronze Age Egyptian Physician to the Book of Genesis. Chapter 12. About the round ligament of the femur. October 23, 2026. https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2026/10/medical-record-chapter-12.html
Note
Keywords
hip joint, hip dislocation, osteoarthritis, ligament of the head of femur, ligamentum teres, ligamentum capitis femoris, Minoan Eruption, Bronze Age, Ancient Medicine, Ancient Egypt, Edwin Smith Papyrus, Biblical Chronology, Genesis, Genesis Protograph, Bereshit
NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7
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