FORD . Of the numerous ‘fords’ or passages of the Jordan, two in ancient times were of chief importance: that opposite Jericho near Gilgal ( Joshua 2:7 , Judges 3:28 ), and that at Bethabara (mod. ‘Abarah ), at the junction of the Jalud (which drains the Jezreel valley) and the Jordan. Bridges are now used in crossing the Jordan. In 2 Samuel 15:28; 2 Samuel 17:18 the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] has ‘plain’ for ‘fords,’ and in Judges 12:5-6 ‘passages.’ Other fords were those of the Jabbok ( Genesis 32:22 ) and the Arnon ( Isaiah 16:2 ).
G. L. Robinson.