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Bible Encyclopedias
En-Gannim
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Hebrews Eyn Gannim'עֵין גִּנַּים ם , fountain of gardens), the name of several places in Palestine, for, besides those mentioned below, there was said, according to Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. s.v. ᾿Ηγαννί, Engannim), then to be a third village called Engannim (᾿Ηγαννά , Eganna) near Gerasa, beyond the Jordan.
1. (Sept. ᾿Ηνγονείμ v.r. unrecognizable; Vulg. AEngannim.) A town in the plains of Judah, mentioned between Zanoah and Tappuah (Joshua 15:34). Eusebius and Jerome state (Onomast. s.v. ῾Ηγανίμ, Engannim) that it was still extant in their day near Bethel; but there must have been some mistake in this, as the place in question lay in the group N.W. of Jerusalem (Keil, Comment. on Joshua in loc.), possibly at the site of the present agricultural village Rana, north of Eleutheropolis (Robinson, Researches, 2:354). Schwarz, however, thinks (Palest. page 102) that "En- gannim is certainly identical with the village Jenin, 3 Eng. miles S.E. of Ashkelon;" but this is not in the quarter indicated by the associated names, and is, moreover. with greater probability appropriated to another ancient locality. (See ZENAN).
2. A city on the border of Issachar (Joshua 19:21; Sept. Ι᾿εών καὶ Τομμάν , Alex. ῏῏ην Γαννίμ; Vulg, En(annimni); allotted with its "suburbs" to the Gershonite Levites (21:29; Sept. ρλσψσ ) Πηγὴ γραμμάτων; Vulg. En-Gannim); probably the same (see Reland, Palest. page 812) as the Ginaea (Γιναία ) or Geman (Γημάν ) of Josephus, of the borders of the great plain toward Samaria (Ant. 20:6, 1; War, 3:3, 4; comp. 2:12, 3), which Biddulph (in Purchas, 2:135) identifies with the present Jenin, a town 15 miles south of Mount Tabor, and which he and others describe as still a place of gardens and abundant water (Wilson, Lands of Bible, 2:84; Van de Velde, Narrative, 2:359; Schwarz, Palest. page 167). In the lists of Levitical cities in 1 Chronicles 6:1-81, ANEM is substituted for Engannim, apparently by contraction. The position of Jenin is in striking agreement with the requirements of BETHHAG-GAN (A.V. "the garden- house;" Sept. Βαιθγάν ) in the direction of which Ahaziah fled from Jehu (2 Kings 9:27). The rough road of the ascent was probably too much for his chariot, and, keeping the more level ground, he made for Megiddo, where he died (Stanley, Palest. page 942). The place is several times noticed by Arabian writers in connection with thee march of Saladin, and has been visited by many modern travelers (Robinson, Researches, 3:156). The only remains of Ginea are a few foundations of walls close to the mosque of the present town (De Saulcy, Narrative, 1:78, 79). The town is high enough to overlook the broad plain, and low enough to have its houses encircled by its verdure. The hills rise steeply behind, dotted with bushes, and here and there clothed with the somber foliage of the olive. Rich gardens, hedged with prickly pear, extend along their base, and a few palm-trees give variety to the scene. The "fountain," front which the town took the first part of its Scripture name (En), is in the hills a few hundred yards distant; and' its abundant waters flow over and fertilize the "gardens" (Gannim) from which the second and chief part of the name is derived. The leading road from Jezreel and the north to Samaria and Jerusalem passes Jenin. It contains about 2000 inhabitants, and is the capital of a large district (Porter, Handbook, page 351; Thomson, Land and Book, 2:189).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'En-Gannim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/e/en-gannim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
