John 3:23

ἦν δὲ καὶ … ἐκεῖ. And John also was baptising, although he had said that he was sent to baptise in order that the Messiah might be identified; which had already been done. But John saw that men might still be prepared for the reception of the Messiah by his preaching and baptism. Hence, however, the questioning which arose, John 3:25. The locality is described as Αἰνὼν ἐγγὺς τοῦ Σαλείμ. “The Salim of this place is no doubt the Shalem of Genesis 33:18, and some seven miles north is 'Ainûn [= Springs], at the head of the Wâdy Fâr'ah, which is the great highway up from the Damieh ford for those coming from the east by the way of Peniel and Succoth” (Henderson's Palestine, p. 154). The reason for choosing this locality was ὅτι ὕδατα πολλὰ ἦν ἐκεῖ, “because many waters were there,' or much water; and therefore even in summer baptism by immersion could be continued. It is not “the people's refreshment” that is in view. Why mention this any more than where they got their food? καὶ παρεγίνοντο, the indefinite third plural, as frequently in N.T. and regularly in English, “they continued coming”.