Ford

ford (ma`abhar (Gen 32:22; "pass" (of Michmash), 1 Sam 13:23; "stroke" (the Revised Version, margin "passing"), Isa 30:32); ma`barah (Josh 2:7; Judg 3:28; Judg 12:5; Judg 12:6; Isa 16:2 "pass" (of Michmash), 1 Sam 14:4; "passages" (the Revised Version, margin "fords"), Jer 51:32); `abharah (2 Sam 15:28; 2 Sam 17:16; "ferry-boat" (the Revised Version, margin "convoy"), 2 Sam 19:18); from `abhar, "to pass over"; compare Arabic `abar, "to pass over" and ma`bar, "a ford"):

In the journeyings of the children of Israel, in addition to the miraculous passages of the Red Sea and the Jordan, they had other streams to pass over, especially the Zered (Chisa') and the Arnon (Maujib) (Num 21:12; Num 21:13; Deut 2:24). The Jabbok (Zarqa) is frequently referred to, particularly in connection with Jacob (Gen 32:22). The most frequent references are to the Jordan which, in time of flood, was impassable (Josh 3:15).

The lower Jordan is about 100 ft. wide, and from 5 to 12 ft. deep, so that in the absence of bridges, the places where it was possible to ford were of great importance. The passage of the Jordan is referred to in connection with Jacob (Gen 32:10), Gideon (Judg 8:4), the children of Ammon (Judg 10:9), Abner and his men (2 Sam 2:29), David (2 Sam 10:17; 2 Sam 17:22), Absalom (2 Sam 17:24), and others. Jesus undoubtedly crossed the Jordan, and John is thought to have baptized at the ford of the Jordan near Jericho. The fords of the Jordan are specifically mentioned in Josh 2:7 in connection with the pursuit of the spies who were hidden in Rahab's house, and in 2 Sam 15:28; 2 Sam 17:16 in connection with the flight of David. In the last two passages we have abharah, the same word which, in the account of David's return (2 Sam 19:18), is rendered "ferry-boat" (the Revised Version, margin "convoy").

See JORDAN.

Alfred Ely Day