or BETHBARAH, signifies in the Hebrew a place of passage, because of its ford over the river Jordan, on the east bank of which river it stood over against Jericho, Joshua 2:7; Joshua 3:15-16 . To this place Gideon sent a party to secure the passage of the river, previous to his attack on the Midianites,

Judges 7:24 . Here John commenced his baptizing, and here Christ himself was baptized, John 1:28 . To this place, also, Jesus retired, when the Jews sought to take him at the feast of dedication; and many who resorted there to him believed on him, John 10:39-42 .