At Kh Sheikh 'isa Byzantine remains may indicate the city with its nearby fort. This location southeast of the Dead Sea fits the early geographers and the concept of Moab identity (Isaiah 15:5 and Onomasticon 94:1 for Jerome 48:4). Ptolemy has it 35 miles from Petra, which seems to be an error.
On the Pentapolis of Sodom see K. 8:4 (Genesis 19:21). Jerome's etymological parallel is repeated in Hebrew Questions : indeed Segor means little which in the Syriac is Zoara. However, the Valley of Salt, where formerly they worked pits of bitumin, after the wrath of God and the sulphuric rain, became the Dead Sea which in Greek is called Iimnē asphaltitis (i.e. lake of Bitumin)" (117).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Bale, casting down or devouring: (62) cf. Hebrew Questions "Bale in the Hebrew is gulping or devouring" (17).
194. Belanos (Belanus). Genesis 35:8; K. 42:6; L. 246:18.
Simple translation of Hebrew with biblical summary. Not properly a place name.
195. Barad. Genesis 16:14; K. 42:8; L. 246:20.
The latter part of this entry and the beginning of the next are missing in the Vatican manuscript by an obvious scribal error easily corrected by the Latin. The Syriac text agrees with the Latin.
Apparently quoting Genesis 16:14 the tradition of a well was perpetuated into the fourth century. There is a jebel Umm el Bared in the Negeb which perpetuates the name. Some would see the site at Bir Ma 'in .
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Barad, hail" (62).
196. Bēthlehem. Genesis 35:19; K.42:10; L. 246:22.
Textual variant Bethlem (Latin).
There are two startling facts about this entry: 1 - The Greek text has none of the New Testament references. But the Syriac has an addition "city of David where our Savior was born, of the tribe of Judah." 2 - Neither Greek nor Latin mention the Church which was important spiritually and economically (also not mentioned for Jerusalem K. 106:1). But Eusebius knew of the building in Bethlehem ( Laud. Const . ix and Vita Const. iii, 25, 43). The itinerary mentions "a basilica built by command of Constantine" ( Itin. Bourd 25: 3, PPT I, 12). The Madaba Map shows a Basillica with the tomb of Rachel not far away.
The Onomasticon has no reference to Bethlehem's size. Josephus reports only on pre-exile Bethlehem. It may be of interest that Origen reports on a cave near Bethlem where Christ was born ( Contra Celsum I, 51) which tradition Eusebius also knows ( Laud. Const. ix and Vita Const. iii, 41. Jerome knows of this in his Epistle 46.
Bethlehem is six miles from Jerusalem in the Onomasticon which agrees with the Bourdeaux Itinerary which notes: Bethlehem is off "to the left of the road" going to Hebron.
The tradition of the tombs is overwhelming in the pilgrims. In addition to Tessai and David, they report that Ezechikel, Asaph and Solomon are also buried nearby. The reference to Archalaeus is unique. The town of Archalaeus is 12 miles from Ierichō in Tabula Peutinger but no strong tradition of burial recorded there. Perhaps refers to Herodium.
The name Ephratha for Bēthleem region covers the Tomb of Rachel one or two miles away from Bēthleem itself (K. 82:12,K. 83:14, K 148:1, K. 172:4, cp LXX of Joshua 15:59a). Itin. Bourd. also has the two mile distance.
The tower of Ader is possibly equated by the Greek with Geder of Joshua (K. 68:11 but note Jerome on the absence of the guttural K. 63:3). The tower and the real tomb of Rachel most likely should be looked for north of Jerusalem toward Bethel. The tradition of Eusebius is maintained in Jerome's Epistle 108: 10 (Paula PPT I, 8) "Not far from there (Bethlehem) she descended to the tower of Ader, i.e. of the flock, near which Jacob fed his flocks and the shepherds watching at night were worthy to hear the Gloria." The mystery of the shepherds receiving the news before the event is noted by Jerome here and in Hebrew Questions (43).
197. Beelsephōn (Beelrefon). Exodus 14:2; K. 44:2; L. 246:27.
Textual variant "through the waters" is not in the Latin.
Many of the stations are from a separate list and probably were not in the original Eusebius text since for the most part they are out of the geographical range of the Holy Land. Occasionally in the early writers this is the boundary of Palestine. Old Testament site probably Ras Baron .
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Beelsefon, having hope" (74) and "Beelsofon Ascent of hope" (79).
198. Banēiakan (Baneiacan). Numbers 33:31f.; K. 44:5; L. 246:31.
Simple entry of station but out of biblical order.
199. Banōth. Numbers 21:19, 20; K. 44:7; L. 246:33.
Textual variant Babōth (Greek).