Beth-barah
Beth-barah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Wadi al Fara. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Beth-barah appears in a single, pivotal verse in the book of Judges. In Judges 7:24, Gideon sends messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, calling upon the Ephraimites to seize the waters ahead of the retreating Midianites, specifically commanding them to take Beth-barah and the Jordan River. This strategic command proves decisive: the Ephraimites obey, cut off the Midianite escape route, and capture and execute the two Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb. The name Beth-barah likely means "house of the ford" or "house of the crossing," reflecting its location at a significant crossing point on the Jordan River. Its mention in this context situates it as a place of military and geographical importance in the period of the judges. The victory achieved by securing Beth-barah illustrates the theme of Judges, that God delivers his people through unexpected means and unlikely allies. The location would have controlled movement across the Jordan, making its seizure an essential element of Gideon's campaign to rout the Midianite forces.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Beth-barah is generally associated with a ford on the Jordan River, possibly corresponding to the Wadi Far'ah area or a nearby crossing in the central Jordan Valley. Some scholars have proposed identification with a site near Wadi al Fara, a perennial stream descending from the Samarian hills to the Jordan, which would have made it a natural ford location. Archaeological surveys along the Jordan Valley have documented numerous ancient crossing points marked by settlement clusters and road networks. No significant excavation has been conducted specifically targeting a Beth-barah identification, and the site remains among the lesser-known biblical locations whose precise modern equivalent awaits definitive confirmation.
Verse Appearances (1)
Judg
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]