FORDS OF THE JORDAN

Shallow places where people and animals could wade through the Jordan River. Many OT personalities crossed over the Jordan at its two main fords: these people include Jacob (Gn 32:10), Gideon (Jgs 8:4), David (2 Sm 10:17; 17:22), Absalom (17:24), Abner and his men (2:29). Joshua led his followers across the Jordan on dry land during a flood, truly a God-given miracle (Jos 3:15-16). Jesus crossed the Jordan on several occasions on his trips between Galilee and Jerusalem.

The two main fords of the Jordan were at Jericho (Jos 2:7; Jgs 3:28; 2 Sm 19:15) and at Bethabara, where John baptized (Jn 1:28, kjv). In certain places and at certain times the Jordan was not fordable: after the melting of the snows in the Lebanon Mountains, and near the Dead Sea, where the Jordan is about 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide and from 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) deep (Jos 3:15).