Search
Aenon
AENON (ē'nŏn; in Aramaic means springs). A place near Salim, where John the Baptist was baptizing during the time Jesus was baptizing in Judea (
AENON e’ nŏn (Αἰνών, G143). Aenon is mentioned only once in the Bible: “John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there” (
The location of Aenon is disputed. This is also the only occurrence of the name Salim (Σαλίμ, G4890) in the NT. Some scholars follow Eusebius (Onomasticon 40) and place Salim in the Jordan Valley about eight m. S of Scythopolis and Aenon nearby. There is a Tel Shalem located about this distance S of Bet Shean.
However, the Johannine reference to “much water” at Aenon would suggest locating the place outside the Jordan Valley (otherwise the reference would be irrelevant). The meager Johannine details would point to a place N of Jerusalem to the W of the Jordan Valley. About three to four m. E of Nablus (Shechem) lies present-day Salim. Albright identifies this place with ancient Salim and adds: “nor can it be quite accidental that there is an ’Ainun in the immediate vicinity” (Archaeology of Palestine [1960], 247). In 1962 a survey of the area revealed an extensive tell with architectural remains in the vicinity of modern ’Ainun. Surface sherds indicated significant occupation during the Rom. period. This location is near the sources (some springs—cf. the meaning of Arab. ain) of Wadi Fari’a and it could properly be said that “there was much water there.” The discussion in
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
See discussion under SALIM.