Dothan (ancient city)
Encyclopedia
Dothan (also, Dothaim) was a city located at north of Shechem
, and about 100 km north of Hebron
. Eusebius places it 12 miles to the north of Sebaste
(Samaria
). It has been identified with Tel Dothan located ten kilometers (driving distance) southwest of Jenin
, near Dotan Junction of Israel Route 60
.
It is first mentioned (Genesis 37:17) in connection with the history of Joseph
where, at the suggestion of Judah
, the brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite merchants (Gen. 37:17). It later appears as the residence of Elisha
(2 Kings 6:13) and the scene of a vision of chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain on which the city stood.
The modern Israeli settlement
of Mevo Dotan
's name, approach to Dothan, is derived from its nearby location. Dothan, Alabama
is also named after the Biblical city.
Shechem
Shechem was a Canaanite city mentioned in the Amarna letters, and is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as an Israelite city of the tribe of Manasseh and the first capital of the Kingdom of Israel...
, and about 100 km north of Hebron
Hebron
Hebron , is located in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank and home to around 165,000 Palestinians, and over 500 Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter...
. Eusebius places it 12 miles to the north of Sebaste
Sebastia, Nablus
Sebastia is a Palestinian village of over 4,500 inhabitants, located in the Nablus Governorate of the West Bank some 12 kilometers northwest of the city of Nablus. The village's total area is 4,810 dunums, the built up area of which comprises 150 dunums...
(Samaria
Samaria
Samaria, or the Shomron is a term used for a mountainous region roughly corresponding to the northern part of the West Bank.- Etymology :...
). It has been identified with Tel Dothan located ten kilometers (driving distance) southwest of Jenin
Jenin
Jenin is the largest town in the Northern West Bank, and the third largest city overall. It serves as the administrative center of the Jenin Governorate and is a major agricultural center for the surrounding towns. In 2007, the city had a population of 120,004 not including the adjacent refugee...
, near Dotan Junction of Israel Route 60
Highway 60 (Israel)
Highway 60 is a north-south intercity road in Israel and the West Bank that stretches from Beersheba to Nazareth.-Route:The route is also known as the "Route of the Patriarchs" since it follows the path of the ancient highway that runs along the length of the central watershed, and which...
.
It is first mentioned (Genesis 37:17) in connection with the history of Joseph
Joseph (Hebrew Bible)
Joseph is an important character in the Hebrew bible, where he connects the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in Canaan to the subsequent story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt....
where, at the suggestion of Judah
Judah (Biblical figure)
Judah was, according to the Book of Genesis, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Judah. Biblical scholars, such as J. A...
, the brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite merchants (Gen. 37:17). It later appears as the residence of Elisha
Elisha
Elisha is a prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an. His name is commonly transliterated into English as Elisha via Hebrew, Eliseus via Greek and Latin, or Alyasa via Arabic.-Biblical biography:...
(2 Kings 6:13) and the scene of a vision of chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain on which the city stood.
The modern Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
of Mevo Dotan
Mevo Dotan
Mevo Dotan is a communal village and an Israeli settlement in the northern Samarian hills part of the West Bank south of the Dotan Valley within the municipal jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council. It is named for being on the way to the ancient town of Dothan )...
's name, approach to Dothan, is derived from its nearby location. Dothan, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
is also named after the Biblical city.