Judah Upon Jordan

Judah Upon Jordan (יהוּ דָה הִיִּרדֵּ, Judah of the Jordan; Sept. and Vulg. in most editions omit "Judah" altogether), is mentioned as the extreme eastern limit of the territory of Naphtali (but not within it), apparently on its northern boundary (Jos 19:34), and therefore probably referring to a tract immediately east of that around the sources of the Jordan, between Mount Hermon and Banias. Schwarz (Palestine, p. 185) plausibly explains the application of the name of Judah to a region so far distant from the territory of that tribe by assigning it as the title to the Gileaditish district embraced in the circuit of the towns of Havoth-Jair, i.e. the villages of Jair, who was a descendant of Judah (1Ch 2:21); and he adduces Talmudical authorities for reckoning his possessions as a part of that tribe. SEE JAIR. The same explanation had been suggested by C. von Raumer (cited by Keil, Comment. on Josh. ad loc.). Dr. Thomson (Land and Book, 1, 389 sq.) speaks of three interesting domes in this vicinity, called those of Seid Yehuda (i.e. "Lord Judah," the Arabs traditionally holding that they represent the tomb of the son of Jacob), which he believes is a clue to the connection of this city with the tribe of the same name.

2. One of the Levites who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ne 12:8). B.C. 536. It is perhaps he whose sons are alluded to (but unnamed) as aiding the priests in pushing the reconstruction of the Temple (Ezr 3:9); unless this latter be rather the person elsewhere called HODAVIAH (Ezr 2:40).

3. One of those who followed the half of the Jewish chiefs around the southern section of the newly erected walls of Jerusalem, but whether he was a Levite or priest is not stated (Ne 12:34). B.C. 446.

4. One of those who accompanied with musical performances the procession around the southern quarter of the walls of Jerusalem lately reconstructed (Ne 12:36). B.C. 446. He was perhaps identical with the preceding..

5. Son of Senuah, a descendant of Benjamin, and prefect of Acra or the Lower City (עִלאּהָעַיר מַשׁנֶה, over the second city, not "second over the city," as the Auth. Vers. following the Sept. and Vulg.) after the exile (Ne 11:9). B.C. cir. 440.