In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Bubastus, mouth or lip of experience" (13).
285. Bōz. Jeremiah 25:23; K. 58:8; L. 251:4.
Textual variant Bōzan (Greek).
This is just on the edge of the limits of the Holy Land as defined by the Onomasticon .
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Buz, despising or contempt" (126).
286. Bēl. Jeremiah 50:2; K. 58:9; L. 251:5.
Another of the "idols" included by a later editor among the place names (cf. K. 36:15 and Appendix II).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Bel age" (126).
287. Bēthsaida. Matthew 11:21; K. 58:11; L. 251:7.
Textual variants: Bethsaidan (Latin) and also Genesar and Genessareth (Latin).
The location is given largely from the New Testament. In Joseph Wars II, 9, 1 and Antiquities XVIII, 2, 1 he notes it was later also called Ioulias after Augustus' daughter. Formerly only a village it seems to be raised in status. In the New Testament it is called both terms (Matthew 8:26 and John 1:44). Probably et Tell on northeast side of the Sea of Galilee with the port at Kh el 'Araj (cf. John 1:44).
Galilaia is the northern portion of the land west of the Jordan (K. 72:18). It includes the hill country above the great plain and is sometimes "upper" and "lower" in the LXX and Vulgate. In Onomasticon it includes Bēthsaida, Capharnaoum (K. 120:2), Nazareth (K. 138:24) and Chorazein (K. 174:23).
Gennēsaritis is used only twice in the Onomasticon (cf. K. 120:2). The term Tiberias is preferred (cf. K. 16:1).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Bethsaida, house of fruits or house of hunters" (135).
288. Bēthphagē (Bethfage). Matthew 21:1; K. 58:13; L. 251:9.
The conclusion of this entry and the beginning of the next are missing in the Greek Vatican manuscript but properly supplied from the Latin.
Traditionally this is located at Kefr et Tur where the Palm Sunday processions begin, coming down the Mt. of Olives ( jebel et Tur ) in Bible and Onomasticon as a referent (K. 58:16, K. 74:17, K. 118:19, K. 175:28). There was intense Roman-Byzantine occupation on the area from 2nd BC to 8th A.D. Eusebius describes the Mt. of Olives in other writings also as in Vita Const. iii, 41; Laud. Const. IX, 17 and Demonstratio Evangelica IV, 18, etc.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Bethfage, house of the mouth of the valley or house of cheeks" (135).
289. Bēthania. Matthew 21:17; K. 58:15; L. 251:10.
The continued identity of Bethany in the present Arabic el 'Azariyeh is uncontested. It is on the Mt. of Olives approximately two miles from Jerusalem. The present Arabic name is an approximation of the late Byzantine Lazarium.
The church known by Jerome (K. 59:17), but not by Eusebius, has been excavated (Note on other churches K. 7:3). The older city is up the slope farther near the medieval tower.
Paula (Migne, Patrologiae Graecae Cursus Completus 22, 888) following the Lord went from Bethany to Bethfage (K. 58:13). The later pilgrims point to both a church and a place of the tomb (John 11:1).
290. Bēthaabara (Bethabara). John 1:28; K. 58:18; L. 251:12.
Textual variant Bethtabera (Latin).
This place is sometimes called the "other Bethany," or the "Bethany across the Jordan." The location is not precisely given, possibly because it was as well know as the previous New Testament villages to the authors. Origen probably began the written tradition of Bethaabara combining the crossing of the Israelites into the Promised Land and the baptism of John. Jerome and Eusebius follow this East bank tradition which by the time of the Madaba map had come to the present traditional location on the West bank near Bethagla (K. 8:19). Madaba map reads, "Bēthabara the place of St. John the Baptist." Origen in his Commentary on John writes, "But the place named Bethania is across the Jordan. It is said that a Bethabara is pointed out beside the bank of the Jordan where as it is reported John Baptized" (Migne, Patrologiae Graecae Cursus Completus , 14, 269). Perhaps Kh el Medesh near the Wadi Nimrin is the place. Some believe the Madaba map refers to two locations, but the influence of Origen and Eusebius is still seen. On the tradition of Ainon for place of Baptism see K. 40:1.