Bible Dictionary
En-gannim
En-gannim, meaning “fountain of gardens,” was the name of two towns: one in Judah and one in Issachar. The latter was assigned to the Gershonite Levites.
Definition
En-gannim, “fountain of gardens,” was the name of two towns. One lay in the lowland of Judah; the other belonged to Issachar and was assigned to the Gershonite Levites.
Biblical Usage
The Judahite town appears among the cities of Judah. The Issacharite town appears in the allotment of the tribe and among the Levitical cities. The “garden house” associated with Ahaziah’s flight is connected with En-gannim.
Historical Background
The Judahite town is probably modern Umm Jina. The Issacharite town is probably Jenin, a prosperous place with gardens, orchards, and abundant water, on the southern edge of the plain of Esdraelon.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Fountain of gardens. (1.) A town in the plains of Judah (Josh. 15:34), north-west of Jerusalem, between Zanoah and Tappuah. It is the modern Umm Jina. (2.) A city on the border of Machar (Josh. 19:21), allotted to the Gershonite Levites (21:29). It is identified with the modern Jenin, a large and prosperous town of about 4,000 inhabitants, situated 15 miles south of Mount Tabor, through which the road from Jezreel to Samaria and Jerusalem passes. When Ahaziah, king of Judah, attempted to escape from Jehu, he “fled by the way of the garden house” i.e., by way of En-gannim. Here he was overtaken by Jehu and wounded in his chariot, and turned aside and fled to Megiddo, a distance of about 20 miles, to die there.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>en-gan'-im (`en gannim, "spring of gardens"):</p><p>(1) A town in the territory of Judah, named with Zanoah and Eshtaol (Jos 15:34). It is probably identical with the modern Umm Jina, South of Wady ec-Carar, not far from Zanoah (Zanu`a).</p><p>(2) A town in the lot of Isaachat (Jos 19:21), assigned to the Gershonite Levites (21:29). In 1Ch 6:73 it is replaced by Anem. It probably corresponds to the Ginnea of Josephus (Ant., XX, vi, 1; BJ, III, iii, 4), and may certainly be identified with the modern Jenin, a prosperous village on the southern edge of the plain of Esdraelon, with beautiful gardens, fruitful orchards and plentiful supplies of water from the local springs.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>