Place of the ford, a town on the east bank of the Jordan, where John baptized, Joh 1:28. It was perhaps the same as Beth-barah, Jg 7:24; but the true site is unknown. Many of the best Greek manuscripts and recent editions have Bethany, also unknown, instead of Beth-abara.
Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: "Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan." So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.
All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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