In Scripture, a passage may refer to a river ford, mountain gorge, or route through a region. The term is used especially of crossings or difficult ways near the Jordan and in the mountains.
Definition
Passage denotes a way through or across a place, especially a river ford, a mountain pass, or a rocky defile. In biblical usage the term can refer to the fords of the Jordan, to a narrow route through mountainous terrain, or to a location beside or beyond the Jordan. In one passage traditionally translated “passages,” the Revised Version uses Abarim, treating the word as a proper geographical name.
Biblical Usage
The term is associated with Israel’s movements near the Jordan and with military routes through difficult terrain. It refers to the Jordan fords used in the conflict between Gilead and Ephraim and to rocky passes involved in the events of Saul’s reign.
Historical Background
Passages could be natural crossings or narrow routes through rugged country. The Jordan fords mentioned were south of the Sea of Galilee, while the mountain region called Abarim lay east of the Jordan.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Denotes in Josh. 22:11, as is generally understood, the place where the children of Israel passed over Jordan. The words “the passage of” are, however, more correctly rendered “by the side of,” or “at the other side of,” thus designating the position of the great altar erected by the eastern tribes on their return home. This word also designates the fords of the Jordan to the south of the Sea of Galilee (Judg. 12:5, 6), and a pass or rocky defile (1 Sam. 13:23; 14:4). “Passages” in Jer. 22:20 is in the Revised Version more correctly “Abarim” (q.v.), a proper name.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Used in the plural, (Jeremiah 22:20) probably to denote the mountain region of Abarim on the east side of Jordan. It also denotes a river ford or mountain gorge or pass.
