Bible Dictionary
Ijon
Ijon was a town in the territory of Naphtali in northern Israel. It was captured first by Ben-hadad of Syria and later by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria.
Definition
Ijon was a town in the territory of Naphtali in northern Palestine. It was captured and plundered by the forces of Ben-hadad and later taken by Tiglath-pileser during the reign of Pekah.
Biblical Usage
Ijon appears in the accounts of the invasions of Israel by Syria and Assyria. It was captured along with Dan and Abel-beth-maacah.
Historical Background
The town lay in or near Merj A‘yun, a fertile plain northwest of Dan where the Litany turns westward. The ancient site may correspond to Tell Dibbin, north of the plain.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A ruin, a city of Naphtali, captured by Ben-hadad of Syria at the instance of Asa (1 Kings 15:20), and afterwards by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria (2 Kings 15:29) in the reign of Pekah; now el-Khiam.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(a ruin), a town in the north of Palestine, belonging to the tribe of Naphtali. It was taken and plundered by the captains of Ben-hadad, (1 Kings 15:20; 2 Chronicles 16:4) and a second time by Tiglath-pileser. (2 Kings 16:29) It was situated a few miles northwest of the site of Dan, in a fertile and beautiful little plain called Merj’ Ayun .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>i'-jon (`iyon; Septuagint in Kings has Ain, or Nain; in Chronicles Ion; Aion): 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 Da and Abel-beth-maacah (1Ki 15:20; 2Ch 16:4). It shared with these cities a similar fate at the hands of Tiglath-pileser in the reign of Pekah (2Ki 15:29). The name survives in that of Merj A`yun, "meadow of springs," a rich, oval-shaped plain to the Northwest of Tell el Qady, where the LiTany turns sharply westward to the sea. The ancient city may be represented by Tell Dibbin, an important site to the North of the plain.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>