Bible Encyclopedias
Ijon

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ı̄´jon ( עיּון , ‛ı̄yōn ; Septuagint in Kings has Ἀίν , Aı́n , or Ναίν , Naı́n ; in Chronicles Ἰώ , Iō̇ ; Αἰών , Aiō̇n ): A town in the territory of Naphtali, first mentioned in connection with the invasion of Ben-hadad, in the reign of Baasha. It was captured along with Dan and Abel-beth-maacah ( 1 Kings 15:20; 2 Chronicles 16:4 ). It shared with these cities a similar fate at the hands of Tiglath-pileser in the reign of Pekah (2 Kings 15:29 ). The name survives in that of Merj A‛yūn , "meadow of springs," a rich, oval-shaped plain to the Northwest of Tell el Ḳāḍy , where the Liṭāny turns sharply westward to the sea. The ancient city may be represented by Tell Dibbı̄n , an important site to the North of the plain.