TORRENT VALLEY

The Hebrew word naʹchal may denote either the valley through which a stream flows (Ge 26:19; 2Ki 3:16; Job 30:6; Ca 6:11) or the stream itself. (1Ki 17:4; Ps 110:7) Regarding the word naʹchal, A. P. Stanley, in his book Sinai and Palestine (1885, p. 590), observes: “No English word is exactly equivalent, but perhaps ‘torrent-bed’ most nearly expresses it.” A Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon by Koehler and Baumgartner lists “torrent-valley” as one of its definitions. (Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, Leiden, 1958, p. 607) The term “wadi” (Arabic) is also used to designate a torrent valley.​—Ge 32:23, ftn.

The Promised Land is described as “a land of torrent valleys of water, springs and watery deeps issuing forth in the valley plain and in the mountainous region.” (De 8:7) Some of the streams are fed by springs and are therefore perennial, whereas others are torrents during the rainy season but dry up completely during the rainless season. (1Ki 17:7; 18:5) Faithful Job compared the treacherous dealings of his brothers toward him to a winter torrent that dries up in the summer.​—Job 6:15.

Among the torrent valleys mentioned in the Bible are those of the Arabah (Am 6:14), Arnon (De 2:36), Besor (1Sa 30:9), Cherith (1Ki 17:3), Egypt (Jos 15:4), Eshcol (Nu 13:23), Gerar (Ge 26:17), Jabbok (De 2:37), Kanah (Jos 16:8), Kidron (2Sa 15:23), Kishon (Jg 4:7), Sorek (Jg 16:4), and Zered (De 2:13; see the torrent valleys under their respective names). Other torrent valleys that are not mentioned but are principal tributaries of the Jordan are the Yarmuk and the Farʽah.

[Map on page 1116]

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PRINCIPAL TORRENT VALLEYS

Great Sea

T.V. of Kishon

T.V. of Kanah

T.V. of Sorek

T.V. of Gerar

T.V. of Besor

Jordan River

T.V. of Yarmuk

T.V. of Farʽah

T.V. of Jabbok

Salt Sea

T.V. of Arnon

T.V. of Zered