Rivers.

• 2 min. read • grade level: 14

Source of. Job 28:10¹⁰He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. (Job 28:10). Psa. 104:8, 10⁸They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. (Psalm 104:8)
¹⁰He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. (Psalm 104:10).

Enclosed within banks. Dan. 12:5⁵Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. (Daniel 12:5).

Flow through valleys. Psa. 104:8, 10⁸They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. (Psalm 104:8)
¹⁰He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. (Psalm 104:10).

SOME OF

Great and mighty. Gen. 15:18¹⁸In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18). Psa. 74:15¹⁵Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. (Psalm 74:15).

Deep. Ezek. 47:5⁵Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. (Ezekiel 47:5). Zech. 10:11¹¹And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. (Zechariah 10:11).

Broad. Isa. 33:21²¹But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. (Isaiah 33:21).

Rapid. Judg. 5:21²¹The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. (Judges 5:21).

Parted into many streams. Gen. 2:10¹⁰And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. (Genesis 2:10). Isa. 11:15¹⁵And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. (Isaiah 11:15).

Run into the sea. Ecc. 1:7. Ezek. 47:8⁸Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. (Ezekiel 47:8).

God's power over, unlimited. Isa. 50:2²Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. (Isaiah 50:2). Nah. 1:4⁴He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. (Nahum 1:4).

USEFUL FOR

Supplying drink to the people. Jer. 2:18¹⁸And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? (Jeremiah 2:18).

Commerce. Isa. 23:3³And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. (Isaiah 23:3).

Promoting vegetation. Gen. 2:10¹⁰And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. (Genesis 2:10). Bathing. Ex. 2:5⁵And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. (Exodus 2:5).

Baptism often performed in. Matt. 3:6⁶And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:6).

Of Canaan abounded with fish. Lev. 11:9, 10⁹These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. ¹⁰And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: (Leviticus 11:9‑10).

BANKS OF,

Covered with flags. Ex. 2:3, 5³And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. (Exodus 2:3)
⁵And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. (Exodus 2:5).

Planted with trees. Ezek. 47:7⁷Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. (Ezekiel 47:7).

Frequented by doves. SoS. 5:12.

Frequented by wild beasts. Jer. 49:19¹⁹Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? (Jeremiah 49:19).

Places of common resort. Psa. 137:1¹By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. (Psalm 137:1).

Frequently overflowed. Josh. 3:15¹⁵And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) (Joshua 3:15). 1 Chron. 12:15¹⁵These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west. (1 Chronicles 12:15).

Peculiarly fruitful. Psa. 1:3³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3). Isa. 32:20²⁰Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass. (Isaiah 32:20).

Gardens often made beside. Num. 24:6⁶As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. (Numbers 24:6).

Cities often built beside. Psa. 46:4⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalm 46:4). Psa. 137:1¹By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. (Psalm 137:1).

Often the boundaries of kingdoms &c. Josh. 22:25²⁵For the Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the Lord: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the Lord. (Joshua 22:25). 1 Kin. 4:24.

MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE;

Of Eden. Gen. 2:10¹⁰And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. (Genesis 2:10).

Of Jotbath. Deut. 10:7⁷From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters. (Deuteronomy 10:7).

Of Ethiopia. Isa. 18:1¹Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: (Isaiah 18:1).

Of Babylon. Psa. 137:1¹By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. (Psalm 137:1).

Of Egypt. Gen. 15:18¹⁸In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18).

Of Damascus. 2 Kin. 5:12.

Of Ahava. Ezra 8:15¹⁵And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. (Ezra 8:15).

Of Judah. Joel 3:18¹⁸And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. (Joel 3:18).

Of Philippi. Acts 16:13¹³And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. (Acts 16:13).

Abana. 2 Kin. 5:12.

Amon. Deut. 2:36³⁶From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the Lord our God delivered all unto us: (Deuteronomy 2:36). Josh. 12:1¹Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east: (Joshua 12:1).

Chebar. Ezek. 1:1, 3¹Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (Ezekiel 1:1)
³The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him. (Ezekiel 1:3). Ezek. 10:15, 20¹⁵And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. (Ezekiel 10:15)
²⁰This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. (Ezekiel 10:20).

Euphrates. Gen. 2:14¹⁴And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. (Genesis 2:14).

Gihon. Gen. 2:13¹³And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. (Genesis 2:13).

Gozan. 2 Kin. 17:6. 1 Chron. 5:26²⁶And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day. (1 Chronicles 5:26).

Hiddekel. Gen. 2:14¹⁴And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. (Genesis 2:14).

Jabbok. Deut. 2:37³⁷Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the Lord our God forbad us. (Deuteronomy 2:37). Josh. 12:2²Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; (Joshua 12:2).

Jordan. Josh. 3:8⁸And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. (Joshua 3:8). 2 Kin. 5:10.

Kanah. Josh. 16:8⁸The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. (Joshua 16:8).

Kishon. Judg. 5:21²¹The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. (Judges 5:21).

Pharpar. 2 Kin. 5:12.

Pison. Gen. 2:11¹¹The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; (Genesis 2:11).

Ulai. Dan. 8:16¹⁶And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. (Daniel 8:16).

Many, fordable in some places. Gen. 32:22²²And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. (Genesis 32:22). Josh. 2:7⁷And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. (Joshua 2:7). Isa. 16:2²For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. (Isaiah 16:2).

ILLUSTRATIVE

Of the abundance of grace in Christ. Isa. 32:2²And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2), with John 1:16¹⁶And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (John 1:16).

Of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. Psa. 46:4⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalm 46:4). Isa. 41:18¹⁸I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. (Isaiah 41:18). Isa. 43:19, 20¹⁹Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. ²⁰The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. (Isaiah 43:19‑20). John 7:38, 39³⁸He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ³⁹(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38‑39).

Of heavy afflictions. Psa. 69:2²I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. (Psalm 69:2). Isa. 43:2²When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2).

Of abundance. Job 20:17¹⁷He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. (Job 20:17). Job 29:6⁶When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; (Job 29:6).

Of people flying from judgments. Isa. 23:10¹⁰Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength. (Isaiah 23:10).

(Steady course of,) of peace of saints. Isa. 66:12¹²For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. (Isaiah 66:12).

(Fruitfulness of trees planted by,) of the permanent prosperity of saints. Psa. 1:3³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3). Jer. 17:8⁸For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:8).

(Drying up of,) of God's judgments. Isa. 19:1-8¹The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. ²And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. ³And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. ⁴And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. ⁵And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. ⁶And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. ⁷The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. ⁸The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. (Isaiah 19:1‑8). Jer. 51:36³⁶Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. (Jeremiah 51:36). Nah. 1:4⁴He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. (Nahum 1:4). Zech. 10:11¹¹And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. (Zechariah 10:11).

(Overflowing of,) of God's judgments. Isa. 8:7, 8⁷Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: ⁸And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:7‑8). Isa. 28:2, 18²Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. (Isaiah 28:2)
¹⁸And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. (Isaiah 28:18). Jer. 47:2²Thus saith the Lord; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. (Jeremiah 47:2).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Reptiles.

• Resignation.

• Resurrection of Christ, the.

• Resurrection, the.

• Reuben, the Tribe of.

• Revenge.

• Reviling and Reproaching.

• Reward of Saints, the.

• Riches.

• Righteousness.

• Righteousness Imputed.

• Righteousness of God, the.

• Rivers.

• Saints, Compared to.