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Jacob crossed when on his way from Padanaram, there is a 
good ford. It may be the Bethbarali, “ house of passage/’ 
where the Israelites intercepted the routed Midianites (Judges 
vii. 24). It is still the ford by which the Eastern nomads 
cross on their periodical invasions of the plain of Esdraelon. 
The next ford of historic importance is that near the con- 
fluence of the Jabbok, on the ancient road from Samaria to 
Ramotli-gilead. Its modern name is Damieh, which is pro- 
bably derived from the “ city Ada/m” mentioned by Joshua 
in connection with the passage of the Israelites (iii. 16) : — 
“ The waters which came down from above stood and rose up 
upon an heap very far off) by the city Adam.” This was the 
scene of that tragic event, when the Gileadites under Jephtliah 
“ took the passages of the Jordan towards Ephraim/’’ and 
distinguished friends from foes by the word Shibboleth. It is 
a remarkable fact that at the present time there is a palpable 
distinction between those residing on the east and those on 
the west of the Jordan, in the pronunciation of certain words. 
It would be as easy to find a Shibboleth now as it was in the 
days of Jephtliah (Judges xii. 5 and 6). 
18. There are several fords in the plain of Jericho, but 
none of them are passable during harvest, that is, from March 
till June. This is the “holy ground” of the Jordan, the 
scene of those stupendous miracles of power and mercy when 
a way was opened through the swollen river to let Israel pass 
over ; and when, again, the waters were divided for Elijah and 
Elisha. Here occurred a still greater miracle when our Lord 
was baptized : “And, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, 
and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and 
lighting upon Him : and, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ” (Matt, 
iii. 16, 17). 
19. The passage of the Jordan by the Israelites is described 
with great minuteness ; and a knowledge of the topography 
and physical features of the district throws much light on the 
Biblical narrative. The people had been encamped for some 
time “ in the Arabah of Moab.” The word Arahah , trans- 
lated “plain” in our version, is the proper name of the 
southern section of the Jordan valley, and hence the Dead Sea 
is called “the Sea of the Arabah” (Josh. iii. 16). The word 
is from a root which signifies to be white or sterile, and is very 
appropriate. The Arabah is here perfectly flat, and about 
seven miles wide from the Jordan to the foot of the mountain- 
chain of Moab. The camp was placed close to the mountains, 
under the projecting peak of Nebo. When I stood upon 
Nebo in the spring of 1874, I was greatly impressed with 
