Conquest of Canaan
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The Baptism of Jesus
Jesus’ baptism is depicted in the 19th-century painting. John the Baptist is wearing traditional robes made of camel hair, pouring water over Jesus, who stands before him. The dove from heaven has descended on Jesus, representing the Holy Spirit's presence.
The Spirit Descending on Jesus
This painting from 1895 shows John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus, whose head is illuminated, representing his divine nature. The Holy Spirit, represented by the dove, is descending on Jesus.
The Baptism of Christ
This Renaissance painting from 1591 imagines the scene at the Jordan River where John the Baptizer is pouring water over Jesus as the dove descends from God the Father, pictured in the clouds.
The Baptism of Christ
This Baroque period painting from 1622-1623 imagines the scene of John pouring water over Jesus while the Spirit descends in the form of a dove.
The Baptism of Christ
This 19th-century painting depicts God’s light shining down on Jesus as he rises up out of the water.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
The baptism site known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” ruins on the eastern side of the Jordan River across from Jericho. This location has been preserved as the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
The Baptism Site of Jesus
This is a side view of Jesus’ baptism site, known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” on the eastern side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
The Modern Jordan River
This picture is of the modern Jordan River near the traditional baptismal site. In Jesus' day, the river would have been significantly wider with a greater water flow.
A Monument Marking Jesus’ Baptism
A cross marking the area of Jesus' baptism site overlooking the Jordan River.
St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
This is one of several churches or chapels rebuilt in this area, marking Jesus’ baptism.
Listen to this Bible Exhibit
The book of Joshua records Israel’s defeat of the inhabitants of the land Canaan. This was to fulfill the covenant or promise that God had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would possess the land Genesis 17:8, Exodus 3:15-17. The Promised Land was to be a second garden of Eden where God would once again dwell with His people. The destruction of the pagan inhabitants of the land was a divine judgment on the Canaanite’s false religion and immorality and lasted about six years Deuteronomy 7:1–5.
The military campaign was led by Joshua, Moses’s successor, whom God chose to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land around 1406 B.C. It began after the Israelites had wandered in the desert for forty years following their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. God instructed Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, which was inhabited by several tribes and nations, including the Amorites, Hittites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and others. God miraculously stopped the flow of the Jordan River at a town named Adam so that the people could walk across the riverbed on the dry ground reminding the people of God’s miraculous crossing at the Red Sea one generation earlier Joshua 3:1-17.
Joshua divided the Israelite army into twelve tribes, with each tribe receiving a specific portion of land to conquer. The first major battle was the Battle of Jericho, where the city’s walls fell after the Israelites marched around it for seven days, blowing their trumpets and shouting Joshua 6:1-27.
After the fall of Jericho, the Israelites went on to conquer other cities and regions in Canaan, including Ai, Bethel, Gibeon, and the southern and northern areas of the land. The book of Joshua records several battles and conquests, including miraculous interventions by God, such as the sun standing still in the sky to allow the Israelites more time to defeat their enemies Joshua 10:1-15.
Overall, the conquest of Canaan is seen as a pivotal event in Israelite history, as it marked the fulfillment of God’s promise to the Israelites to give them the land of Canaan as their inheritance. This theme of Israel’s inheritance of land recurs throughout the rest of Scripture Psalm 37:9-29. By their sins, the people eventually lost their land and became exiles Micah 2:3–5. However, during their 70-year exile, Ezekiel prophesized an idealized alignment of tribal territories Ezekiel 48:1-35. The Book of Revelation returns to the theme of the inheritance of the 12 tribes where the Spirit of God will live in all believers and meet their needs Revelation 7:4–17. These words echo the provisions of the Land of Promise Deuteronomy 8:7–10, Deuteronomy 11:11-12, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 49:10.
This Bible Exhibit is one of the several hundred found on the Bible Compass within the Bible Ventures app
