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Bible Encyclopedias
Enam
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Hebrews with the art. ha-Eynam', הָעֵינָם , doubtless a contraction for
הָעֵינִיַם, the two springs; Sept. ᾿Ηνάϊμ v.r. ᾿Ηναείμ and Μαιανί, Vulg. Enaim), a city in the lowlands of Judah, mentioned between Tappuah and Jarmuth (Joshua 15:34). From its mention with towns (Jarmuth and Eshtaol for instance) which are known to have been near Timnath, this is very probably the place in the "entrance" of which (perhaps at a fork of the road) Tamar sat to intercept her father-in-law on his way to Timnath (Genesis 38:14), (פֶּתִח עֵינִיַם, pe'thach Eyna'yim, i.e., doorway of Enaim, or the double spring; Sept. αἱ πύλαι Αἰνάν, Vulg. bivium itineris, A.V. "an open place;" comp. Reland, Palest, page 761). Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. s.v. ᾿Ηναίμ, Enaim) state that it was "still a village Betheninm (Βεθενίμ ) near the terebinth;" meaning probably "Abraham's oak," 22 miles S. of Jerusalem (ib. s.v. Ἀρκώ, Arboch), near Hebron (Robinson, Res. 2:443). Schwarz in like manner identifies Enam with "the village Beth-Ani, distant 21 English miles from Saafir" (Palest. page 102); meaning apparently Beit-Anur, which is laid down on Van de Velde's Map at that distance S.W. of Bir es-Zafaraneh, in the region N.E. of Hebron. But this site is appropriated to Beth-anoth (q.v.), with which the similarity of names has doubtless caused these authors to confuse Enam. The place in question lay in the group of cities situated N.W. of Hebron, on the border of the tribe of Dan (Keil, Comment. on Joshua in loc.). It is perhaps the present Deir el-Butm, with a well adjoining, laid down by Van de Velde (Map) a little beyond Deir Dubibai, N. of Eleutheropolis.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Enam'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/e/enam.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
