Bethabara

Bethabara (Beth-Abara, Betabara).

The Jordan ford and the nearby village of Solomon.

Inhabitants or Natives

On the east bank, near the main road: Ananias the old, Solomon the ferry-man, the young Michael and his parents, Levi, a wealthy man who lends his tombWater.

Description

Solomon’s village is located after the ford of Bethabara, on the main road that goes from Jericho to Gilead. This is where John the Baptist baptized. "Go to the ford of Bethabara. Cross it and go to the village after Bethany beyond the Jordan. Do you know? Where John baptized at the beginning."

In this fishing village, Solomon offers his house as a refuge to the apostolic group:

"In this village is the Master. Everyone will show you the house where He lives. It is the first on the only road of the village that goes from the countryside to the river. You cannot go wrong: a low house without a terrace or upper room, with a garden that is, when coming from the river, before the house, a garden enclosed by a small wooden gate and a hawthorn hedge, I believe, a hedge altogether."

Notable Events

Jesus delivers the parable of the steep path here to the pilgrims returning from the 3^rd Passover. It is probably a few kilometers south of this ford that John the Baptist was teaching and where Jesus was baptized.

Name

Bethabara. Today גשר אלנבי (Gesher Allenby).

Bethabara has the same meaning as Bethany.

It is often called "Bethany of the Jordan" (Not to be confused with the nearby village Bethany beyond the Jordan). Variable etymology: "the house of the poor" - "the house of Ananya" - "the house of springs" - "the house of batWaterx".

Where is it Mentioned in the Work?

EMV 45 EMV 47 EMV 81
EMV 383 EMV 384 EMV 385
EMV 501 EMV 526 EMV 543 EMV 559

Learn More About This Place

This village located near the Jordan ford is frequently mentioned in the work. Jesus finds refuge there several times, in the small house of the disciple Solomon: "the small village and its surroundings have Homeli the Lord’s Word, because ‘the memory of the Baptist is very vivid here’" , comments a resident.

Bethabara is mentioned on the Madaba map (6th century) and by Origen. The exact location remains to be discovered.

According to Maria Valtorta's account, this village, located to the northeast of the ford, should not be confused with the neighboring village of Bethany du Jourdain, "where John baptized", contrary to the most widespread opinion today.

Today near Allenby Bridge on the road from Jericho to Jordan.

Explore

• 31° 51’ 12’’ N / 35° 33’ 00’’ E /-

• 378m

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