The "brothers" of course mean in general Christians, but it is unclear whether loutron refers to general bathing, liturgical renewals of baptism or the original baptism of each Christian. In spite of Constantine there are only three Christian "towns" in the Onomasticon : Anaia (K. 26:14, Ietheira (K. 108:3) and Kariatha (K. 112:16).
291. Bēzatha (Bethsaida). John 5:2; K. 58:21; L. 251:15.
Textual variants: Bethesda (Latin), Josephus has Bezatha.
Eusebius again follows Origen (Migne, Patrologiae Graecae Cursus Completus 14, 269) in his description of the twin pools and in the general location. The pools apparently gave their name to the quarter of the city. The Church of St. Ann is in the general area of the church on the Madaba map.
This explanation is curious. Such explanations are not common in the Onomasticon . In Eusebius only one of the twin pools is involved in the miracle. The pilgrims report similar happenings. "There are in Jerusalem two large pools at the north side of the temple, that is one upon the right hand and one upon the left where were made by Solomon; and further in the city are twin pools with five porticoes which are called Bethsaida. There persons who have been sick for many years are cured; the pools contain water which is red when it is disturbed" ( Itin. Bourd. PPT 1, 20).
292. Gaiōn (Geon). Genesis 2:13; K. 60:3; L. 251:24.
This entry is out of the geographical range of the Holy Land as perceived in the Onomasticon just as entries appearing first in A and B sections also. This is a river which makes it doubly suspect.
The information is dependent on Scripture and Josephus. "Lastly (of the 4 rivers in Paradise) Geon which flows through Egypt means 'that which wells up to us from the opposite world' and by the Greeks is called the Nile" ( Antiquities I, 1, 3). For another such river see K. 82:7, K. 164:7, and K. 166:7).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Geon, breast or broken off" (66).
293. Gomorra. Genesis 10:19; K. 60:5; L. 251:26.
Biblical information on the Pentopolis of Sodom (K. 150:10). Jerome in Hebrew Questions seems to suggest the vicinity of the hot springs of Callirhoe (14).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names he notes that the Latin G is not here but rather a vowel should be used to begin these words (cf. his note on Gader (K. 63:4). "Gomorra, fear of the people or sedition" (67).
294. Gerara. Genesis 20:1; K. 60:7; L. 251:28.
Procopius 309C follows the first sentence almost exactly but shortened the remainder into "a royal city of the Phylistiems located between the deserts of Sour and Kadēs." The Madaba map also follows Eusebius "Gerara-once a royal city of the Phylistia and the southern border of the Chananaia thence the salton Geraritikon."
Gerara is located from Eleutheropolis (K. 18:12) in the southwest area of Palestinē. A vignette on the Madaba map fits the legend and the Onomasticon's information. The name is still to be found at Kh Um Jerrar but this is not the location for either the Old Testament site or that of the Onomasticon . The biblical site is possibly at Tell Abu Hureira . Eusebius does not say if he knows a village or city existing there in his day so he could have had this tell in mind. But if a Byzantine town is needed it may be Tell ash Shari'a on the wadi of the same name which is largely a Roman-Byzantine site.
The area was named for the city back in patriarchal times (Genesis 26:1). It is on the border of Chananite territory (Genesis 10:19). The Geraritikē is probably the same area south of the region of Eleutheropolis and west of the Daroma (K. 26:10) or Negeb (K. 136:14). It may be parallel to Barsama a military area. Later this was a bishop's seat.
Apparently Sur is the southern and western portion of the Sinai Peninsula (K. 152:6). Kades (K. 112:8) is central and eastern while that belonging to the Saracees is the northern caravan area which in Transjordan probably extended to the Syrian Desert (K. 118:21 and K. 124:10). The biblical information is here summarized from I Samuel 15:7, Exodus 15:22, and Numbers 27:14.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Gerara, he saw a chewing of the cud or a garden wall" (66).
295. Galaad. Genesis 31:21; K. 60:15; L. 252:36.
Originally the area was just south of the Jabboq. In the widest use as in the Onomasticon it included all the Transjordanian territory ever claimed by ancient Israel. Procopius 1060B has, "Galaad is located back of Phoenikē and Arabia, linked with the Libanon and extending through the desert beyond the Iordan Peraia (to Petra?). Here Sēon the Amorite dwelled. It was received by the two half tribes. In Jeremia it says, "You are to me like the peak of Lebanon." There is also a mountain Galaad with a city set upon it which Galaad the son of Macheir, son of Manassē took from the Amorites." Jerome in Commentary on Ezekeil 14:18 writes, "Galaad, which is connected by hills with Mt. Leban fell by lot to Ruben and Gad and the half tribe of Manassē. It is back of Phoenice and Arabia. To this mountain Jacob came fleeing from Charran and was caught by Laban. Jeremia says of it, 'Galaad, you are to be the beginning of Libani.' Galaad the son of Machir, the son of Manassē took this from the Amorites." Jerome repeats this in Commentary on Jeremiah 22:6.
The hill country today includes a jebel jel'ad which is near Kh Jel 'ad , the probable town Eusebius had in mind. It has Roman-Byzantine sherds but the Old Testament site must be elsewhere.
The biblical information is from Deuteronomy 3:16, Joshua 13:8.11, Jeremiah 22:6 and Numbers 32:39. Charran although out of the Onomasticon 's area is discussed in K. 170:23.
There is a Latin variant Charris.
Mesopotamia is probably here used as the Roman province which includes Euphratēs (K. 82:7, Phathourra (K. 168:22) and the above Charran (K. 170:23).
Arabia is confusing in the Onomasticon since it is not always the Roman province. Different editors may be using it differently.