Bethabara

• Landmark Historical Place
• Landmark & Historical Place

Bethabara is the name used by some versions of the New Testament for the site "beyond (i.e. east of) the Jordan" where John the Baptist preached and performed baptisms, where he met with a group of priests and Levites sent by the Pharisees to investigate his ministry, and where he baptised Jesus. The name "Bethabara" also appears on the 6th-century Madaba Map and in the Talmud.The most likely location of Bethabara is Al-Maghtas in Jordan.Traditions based on interpretations of the scriptural texts connect the site with two other miracles: the crossing of the River Jordan, whose waters were divinely restrained, by the Israelites under the command of Joshua; and Prophet Elijah being taken to heaven by chariots of fire. Bethabara is also mentioned as the location of Jesus' baptism in The Book of Mormon, as foretold by the first prophet in the Book of Mormon, Lehi, approximately 600 years before Jesus' birth.Attempts at identifying BethabaraDifferent ancient manuscripts containing the Gospel of John are using two different names, either Bethabara or Bethany, for the place where John was baptising "with water" and where he named Jesus "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."