ZAANNANNIM

Zaanannim, Plain or Oak of

zā-a-nan´im, בּצענים אלון, 'ēlōn beca‛ănayim; or בּצעננּים, beca‛ănannı̄m Codex Vaticanus Βεσαμιείν, Besamieı́n; Codex Alexandrinus Βεσανανίμ, Besananı́m (Jos_19:33); in Jdg_4:11 Codex Vaticanus translates it as πλεονεκτούντων, pleonektoúntōn, and Codex Alexandrinus has ἀναπαυομένων, anapauoménōn): In Jos_19:33 the King James Version reads “Allon to Zaanannim,” the Revised Version (British and American) “the oak in Zaanannim,” the Revised Version margin “oak (or terebinth) of Bezaanannim.” In Jdg_4:11 the King James Version reads “plain of Zaanaim,” the Revised Version (British and American) “oak in Zaanannim.” It is probable that the same place is intended in the two passages. It was a place on the southern border of the territory of Naphtali (Joshua), and near it the tent of Heber the Kenite was pitched (Judges). The absence of the article before 'ēlōn shows that the be is not the preposition before z, but the first letter of the name, which accordingly should be read “Bezaanannim.” We should naturally look for it near Adami and Nekeb. This agrees also with the indications in Judges, if the direction of Sisera's flight suggested in MEROZ (which see) is correct. The Kadesh, then, of Jdg_4:11 may be represented by the ruin Ḳadı̄sh on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee; and in the name Khirbet Bessūm, about 3 miles Northeast of Tabor, there is perhaps an echo of Bezaanannim.