678. Mēphaath. Joshua 13:18; K. 128:21; L. 275:15.
Two sites combined here. One only a tribal listing. The other a similar sounding name in Transjordan. The second may be Mophath (K. 134:14). A garrison reported by Notitia Dignitatum (81:19) at a place called Mefa. This is near the Syrian or Arabian desert probably at Nefa'a northeast of Esebōn (K. 84:1) which in part preserves the name but it is not pre-Christian in date.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Mefaath, motion of matter or from this time" (96 and 127).
679. Maspha. Joshua 13:26; K. 130:1; L. 275:18.
Textual variants: Massēma (Greek) and Messafa, Masafa, and Masfas (Latin).
Three items are combined in one in Greek. A simple tribal listing (Josh 21:36). A contemporary town near Eleutheropolis (18:12) and another near Aelia (Joshua 15:38). Jerome corrects this to make one separate item of the last. The best identification is Kh Safiyeh just over a mile northeast of Eleutheropolis. The biblical Mizpeh is most complicated and perhaps led to the confusion in this entry as well as in K. 128:1.
680. Manaeim. Joshua 13:26; K. 130:4; L. 275:21.
Textual variant Maanaim (Latin).
Simple biblical summary with generalized location (Joshua 21:36).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Manaim, camps" (96).
681. Mōlada (Moladab). Joshua 15:26; K. 130:6; L. 275:23.
Simple tribal listing (Joshua 19:2).
Perhaps same as Malaatha (K. 14:3).
682. Medebēna (Medemena). Joshua 15:31; K. 130:7; L. 276:24.
Textual variant kōmē (village) Noeis (Greek).
Eusebius makes an identity here which is followed by the Madaba map: "Madebēna which is now Mēnois." He has probably confused two similar Hebrew names with the contemporary site (Isaiah 10:31).
Madmannah is in the Negev northeast of Bērsaba and falsely equated with Menois.
Madmenah is near Jerusalem but not clearly identified as yet.
Menois is 11 miles southwest of Gaza just off the way to Raphia (K. 50:18). Probably it is at Kh Ma'in . It is possible that "near Gaza" reflects still a fourth site that increases the confusion of the Onomasticon perhaps pointing to Maiumas, the port of Gaza. At Menois the Notitia Dignitatum (73:19) reports a Roman garrison which is overlooked in our text. Called "oppidum" in the Latin (cf. K. 10:25 and Appendix I while Greek has Gaza polichne , a rare use (cf. K. 22:11 and Appendix II).
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Medabena, from burden" (96).
683. Magdala. Joshua 15:37; K. 130:9; L. 276:26.
Simple tribal listing.
In Interpretation of Hebrew Names "Magdalgad, tower of pirate or tower of armed" (96).
684. Marēsa. Joshua 15:44; K. 130:10; L. 276:27.
The village no longer existed but ruins were identifiable in Eusebius' time just south of Eleutheropolis (K. 18:12) at Tell Sandahannah . No direction is given in the Onomasticon . Only five other villages are in ruins or deserted according to the Onomasticon . Near the Tell is Kh Mar'ash which retains the name. This town was destroyed in 40 B.C. and from then on the site which became Eleutheropolis began to be developed.