<P> Conflict about the waters of the Jordan River was a contributing factor to the Six - Day War when, starting in 1965, Syria attempted to divert some of its headwaters in collaboration with Lebanon and Jordan . The diversion works would have reduced the water availability for Israel's carrier by about 35%, and Israel's overall water supply by about 11% . In April 1967 Israel conducted air raids into Syria to halt this work, and two months later the Six Day War followed . The use of Jordan River's water was cited as a cause of the war by Ariel Sharon, who said, </P> <P> People generally regard June 5, 1967, as the day the Six Day War began . That is the official date, but in reality it started two and a half years earlier on the day Israel decided to act against the diversion of the Jordan River . </P> <P> In the Hebrew Bible the Jordan is referred to as the source of fertility of a large plain ("Kikkar ha - Yarden"), said to be watered like "the garden of the LORD" (Genesis 13: 10). There is no regular description of the Jordan in the Bible; only scattered and indefinite references to it are given . Jacob crossed it and its tributary, the Jabbok (the modern Al - Zarqa), on his way back from Haran (Genesis 32: 11, 32: 23--24). It is noted as the line of demarcation between the "two tribes and the half tribe" settled to the east (Numbers 34: 15) and the "nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh" that, led by Joshua, settled to the west (Joshua 13: 7, passim). </P> <P> Opposite Jericho, it was called "the Jordan of Jericho" (Numbers 34: 15; 35: 1). The Jordan has a number of fords, and one of them is famous as the place where many Ephraimites were slain by Jephthah (Judges 12: 5--6). It seems that these are the same fords mentioned as being near Beth - barah, where Gideon lay in wait for the Midianites (Judges 7: 24). In the plain of the Jordan, between Succoth and Zarthan, is the clay ground where Solomon had his brass - foundries (1 Kings 7: 46). </P>

Where did the israelites cross the jordan map