BETH-ABARA (BOapapci). In the Text. Rec. this is the name given to the place where John was baptizing when Jesus came to him (John i. 28). In all the ancient MSS., however, and versions, the reading is Bneculg, and this has accordingly been placed in the critical editions. The substitution of the one reading for the other is due to Origen, who tells us that the reading found in almost all the codices was BriOaPist, but that he, knowing the localities, altered it to BnOa(3apc?.. Most of the Fathers follow Origen in this, even those best acquainted with Palestine. From this it may fairly be inferred that there was a place on the Jordan called Bethabara, probably some much frequented ford (the word Bethabara, nix) n+z, meaning House, i. e., Place of crossing); to which John resorted as a suitable situation for his labours as a preacher of the kingdom of heaven. Assum ing this, it may be asked—r. Might not this also be called Bethany? In reply to this, it may be observed, that the Greek word Beavta here may represent the Hebrew MIN ITZ, which signifies House, or place of a ship, and would, therefore, be a very appropriate name for a ford. In this case Bethabara and Bethania have substantially the same meaning ; so that it is not improbable that the place which originally bore the name of Bethany may have come at a later period to be known by the name of Bethabara ; or it may have had both names in popular usage, and the necessity of dis tinguishing it from the Bethany on the Mount of Olives may have led to the dropping of this name.
It is no objection to this that the etymology of the word above stated will not apply to this Bethany, for the Greek ROcula may represent two different Hebrew words. 2. Is this Bethabara the Beth barah of Judg. vii. 24? There exist no means o satisfactorily answering this question, but the proba bility is that the two were different. Bethbarah was on ' the waters,' which, whatever they were, are expressly distinguished from the Jordan ; whereas Bethabara was a ford of the Jordan. It is, besides, improbable that the pursuit of the Midianites should have extended so far south as the scene of John's baptizing, to which the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out in such numbers, must be placed. Van de Velde thinks he has found the Bethabara of John in the ford by which the Jordan is crossed by the highway from Nabulus to Es-Salt (ii. 271). —W. L. A.