The Zarqa River is known in the Bible as the Jabbok River. Jacob crossed it on his way to Canaan, after leaving Haran. The river was mentioned for the first time in the Book of Genesis during Jacob's meeting with his brother Esau, and Jacob's struggle with the angel. The river is the boundary between the lands of Reuben and Gad, and the lands of Ammon, which extended along the Jabbok River. The lands of King Sihon were also described as extending from "Arnon to Jabbok" (Numbers 21: 24), and it was later restored by the king of Ammon. Eusebius places the river between Gerasa and Philadelphia.
Jacob is a Hebrew name that means “to follow, to hold the heel, to replace.” He is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the twin of Esau: “Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. Then his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, and he was called by the name of Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born” (Genesis 25:25-26). Jacob took the firstborn of his brother Esau (Genesis 25:34), and he deceitfully took the blessing of his father Isaac (Genesis 27: 1-40), so Esau hated Jacob and wanted to kill him.
Jacob was pious despite his mistakes, when at Bethel he saw a glorious vision from God promising him to give him the land in which he was exiled, and when he woke up from his sleep he vowed himself to the Lord, and this is what was mentioned in the book of Genesis: The earth with his head touching the sky, and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending upon him, and behold, the Lord was standing near Jacob, and he said: I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you sleep, I will give to you and to your offspring” (Genesis 28:12), and he called the name of that The place is Bethel.
Chapter 31 of the Book of Genesis mentions the itinerary of Jacob’s journey in the Aram area, which is the land of Laban, Jacob’s uncle, with his two wives, Rachel and Leah, and his sons and daughters. Then he headed towards the land of Canaan and approached the dwellings of Esau. Jacob met his brother and they fought at the Jacob River (the Zarqa River, known today as the Zarqa torrent), which originates near Amman and passes through the city of Zarqa. The river was also named after Jacob.
Jacob crossed this river and wrestled with an angel there, on his way to the land of Canaan after he left Haran. This conflict was mentioned in the Book of Genesis (32:23-30) and Jacob called the name of the place Pheniel, meaning the face of God. Before Jacob crossed the Jordan, he met his brother Esau and asked to be forgiven for the harm he had done. Esau went to Mount Seir, while Jacob went to the land of Canaan and bought the land of Shechem, where he pitched his tent and then headed to Tel El.
The river represented the boundary between the lands of Reuben and Gad and the lands of the Ammonites (Deuteronomy 2:37 and 3:16). The Bible also described the boundaries of the regions of King Sihon, king of the Amorites, as extending from "Arnon to Jabbok" (Numbers 21:24). It is an area that was later restored to the king of the Ammonites (Judges 11:13). The Old Testament also mentioned the names of some cities overlooking the river, such as: Sartan and Adam, which are located at the mouth of the valley (Joshua 3:16). As for Eusebius of Caesarea, he places the river between Gerasa (Jerash) and Philadelphia (Amman).