Joshua 2:7

Unto the fords. There were several of these fords. One near Jericho (cf, 3:28 ; 12:5 , 12:6 ; 2 Samuel 17:22 , 2 Samuel 17:24 ; 2 Samuel 19:16 , 2 Samuel 19:19 , 2 Samuel 19:39 ); one at Bethsean, now Beisan, leading to Succoth ( 8:4 ; cf. Genesis 32:22 ; Genesis 33:17 . See Robinson, ' Biblical Researches' 2.497; Ritter, 'Geography of Palestine'); beside others not mentioned in Scripture. A vivid description of the crossing the Jordan at the fords near Jericho is to be found in Tristrain's 'Land of Israel,' p. 520. The ford is almost certainly the one mentioned here, since an hour or two's ride brought the party to Shittim. These fords were easy to cross save when the Jordan, as was now the case ( Joshua 3:15 ), overflowed its banks. This may have been the reason why the pursuers did not cross the fords, but they pursued the spies to the fords, hoping to find their retreat cut off. This is rendered more probable by the fact ( Joshua 2:22 ) that the pursuers appear to have continued their search after leaving the fords.