Another site on the Mt. of Olives (cf. Bēthania (K. 58:15) and Bethphagē (K. 58:13)). The "faithful" are the Christians who bath at Bethabara and here are called "brothers" (K. 58:18). Helen planned a church there and Eusebius knew of it but only the Latin text (cf. Note on K. 7:3) reports the church (cf. Vita Const . iii, 43 and Demonstratio Evangelica vi, 18). In the itinerary it is across the Valley of Josafath ( Itin. Bourd. PPT I, 25). The Madaba map has "Geths" and the remainder must be emended. Perhaps two locations are involved: the betrayal spot and the place of prayer, one at the foot and another higher up.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Gethsemani, valley of fatness" (136).
365. Golgotha. Matthew 27:33; K. 74:19; L. 257:21.
The tradition of Golgotha has been of long standing. Some feel it was never lost sight of. The Itinerary notes "on the left side is the little hill Golgotha" ( PPT I, 22). This means a short distance from the ConstantinianChurch of the Holy Sepulchre. In Vita Const . iii, 25f., Eusebius describes the pagan temple to Venus on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and the subsequent work of Constantine. Curiously he does not speak of Golgotha. Here it is in the area north of Mt. Zion (K. 162:12) which is not clearly located in the Onomasticon , perhaps because the tradition continued strong to the 4th century A. D.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Golgotha, skulls" (136).
366. Dasem. Genesis 10:12; K. 74:24; L. 257:25.
The LXX has misread the MT with a D for an R (cp. K. 142:21). This is also outside the area of the Holy Land and so is doubly suspect, as are many first entries in these alphabetic sections.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Dasem, bridle" (64).
367. Drus (Drys i.e., oak). Genesis 13:18; K. 76:1; L. 257:23.
The emended reading of the Madaba map is "drus mambre and terebinthos." The first name is in black letters and the second in red, but no tradition that they were really separated. It is near Chebrōn (K. 6:8) on the map and also here in the Onomasticon . The pilgrims place it 8 miles from Bethsur (K. 52:1) and two miles from Chebrōn ( Itin. Bourd. PPT I, 27). Constantine built a church there which Eusebius knew about ( Vita Const. iii, 51) but only Jerome mentions it in the Onomasticon (K. 7:2). It is probably the excavated site of Ramet el Khalil . Mamre (K. 124:5) and the terebinth are frequently used for referents (K. 6:13, K. 24:16, K. 68:21 and K. 94:21).
368. Damaskos (Damascus). Genesis 15:2; K. 76:4; L. 257:30.
This city is the limit of the Onomasticon on the east along with Bostra (K.46:10). Damaskos is one of the Dekapolis (K. 80:16). In Tabula Peutinger it is 56 miles from Caecarea Paneas. It was a seat of a bishop at the time of Council of Nicea. Later pilgrims locate Paul's conversion as a few miles out of the city. In Interpretation of Hebrew Names (15:3) Jerome notes that Hebrew is quite different and lacks the idea of a proper name for a slave.
369. Dan. Genesis 14:14; K. 76:6; L. 257:18.
The border of Joudaia went from Dan to Bērsaba (K. 50:1). It is in the general region of the sources of the Jordan (K. 104:20 and cf. Josephus' Antiquities I, 10, etc.). Jerome calls one of the sources Dan and the other Ior close by ( Interpretation of Hebrew Names 19). He also gives Greek etymology in an unusual way. The Syriac text and Procopius 333A have the little village of Dan 14 miles from Paneas on the road to Tyre which would be almost midway and so, much too far. In Commentary on Ezekiel 48:18, Jerome identifies Dan with Paneas (cp. K. 16:4).
The site is probably Tell el Qadi which preserves reminiscences of the meaning of the Hebrew Dan , namely "judge."
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Dan, judgment or judging" (64).
370. Danaba (Dannaba). Genesis 36:32; K. 76:9; L. 257:35.
Part of this entry has been emended from the Latin since it is missing in the Vatican manuscript. The Old Testament site is not identified.
The village of Dannea is probably Kh ed denn about the proper distance north of Areopolis (K. 10:13). The other Danaba comes near Mt.Nebo (K. 136:6) but its location is uncertain. Silva speaks of a city of Job called Dennaba which is Carneas now ( PPT I, 29). This may relate to Karnaea or Karnaeim (K. 112:3-4).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Dennaba, bringing judgment" (65).
371. Dōthaeim (Dothaim). Genesis 37:17; K. 76:13; L. 257:38.
This well excavated site is on the Samaria to Jenin road at Tell Dothan . It has extensive Roman-Byzantine remains, it was junction for the road east to Merrous (K. 128:4).
For Sebaste-Samaria see K. 162:13.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Dothaim, food or his greens or successful rebellion" (65).
372. Daibōn (Debon) or Dibon. Numbers 21:26f., 30; K. 76:17; L. 257:42.