southern border of Canaan, near the desert of Shur, which received its name in consequence of the appearance of an angel to Hagar, when she was in exile. The name of the place signifies "the well of him that liveth and seeth me."
Beer-sheba. (Gen. xxi. 31.) This was at first the name of a well, near which Abraham long resided, (Gen. xxi. 33,) and Isaac after him, (Gen. xxvi. 32, 33.) It afterwards became a town of considerable note. It was situated about 20 miles south of Hebron, at the southern extremity of the land of Canaan, as Dan was at the northern extremity. Hence the expression, (Judg. xx. 1,) "from Dan to Beer-sheba," denoted the whole length of the land, as also did the expression, "from Beer-sheba to Mt. Ephraim," (2 Chron. xix. 4,) represent the whole length of the kingdom of Judah. The town was within the territory of Judah, and fell finally into Simeon's hands.—(Josh. xv. 28; xix. 2.) At Beer-sheba resided the sons of Samuel, (1 Sam. viii. 2,) and in later times the place was given to idolatry—(Amos v. 5; viii. 14.)
Bethel, (Gen. xxviii. 19,) was the residence of one of the Canaanite kings; and the Ephraimites, to whom it was assigned in the division of the land, were unable to gain possession of it until they were aided by the treachery of one of the inhabitants.—Judg. i. 22 — 26.) The tabernacle was stationed a longtime in this place. This city was situated east of a line running from Shechem to Jerusalem, and at about an equal distance from each. When Jacob was journeying towards Mesopotamia to avoid the fury of his brother Esau, he lodged at a place near the city of Luz, and was favored with a remarkable vision of the Almighty. For this cause, he named the place, and the adjoining city, Bethel, [house of God.]
Bethshean, a city west of the Jordan, known in ancient geography as Scythopolis, but now called Bysan, and containing only 70 or 80 houses.
Bozrah was a city situated to the eastward of Bashan.
Cana, of Galilee. (John ii. 1.) A small village about 15 miles north-west of Tiberias, and 6 miles north-east of Nazareth.
Chorasin. (Matt. xi. 21.) A town on the shore of
