Bible Location
Meaning: the law; custom · 2 cross references · Modern-day map available
Dothan was the northern hill-country pastureland where Joseph was sold and where Elisha later saw the mountain filled with heavenly protection. It is important because it links betrayal and prophetic vision in one place. First appears in Gen 37:17.1
Place meaning
the law; custom
Coordinates
32.42, 35.18
First appears
Gen 37:17
AI summary: Dothan is unusually rich for a small place-name. Genesis remembers it as the site of Joseph's betrayal and sale, while Kings transforms it into the setting of Elisha's prayer and the vision of fiery horses and chariots. The cross references present Dothan as a place of human treachery and divine unseen protection.1
Place meaning
the law; custom
Latitude
32.42
Longitude
35.18
Bible references
2
Two wells, a famous pasture-ground where Joseph found his brethren watching their flocks. Here, at the suggestion of Judah, they sold him to the Ishmaelite merchants (Gen. 37:17). It is mentioned on monuments in B.C. 1600.
It was the residence of Elisha (2 Kings 6:13), and the scene of a remarkable vision of chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain on which the city stood. It is identified with the modern Tell-Dothan, on the south side of the plain of Jezreel, about 12 miles north of Samaria, among the hills of Gilboa. The “two wells” are still in existence, one of which bears the name of the “pit of Joseph” (Jubb Yusuf). 3
Source note: this 1893 dictionary language reflects its period and may be culturally insensitive or outdated. It is presented as historical source material, not as ai-BIBLE’s language, interpretation, or endorsement.
AI-assisted summary prepared for ai-BIBLE and stored as page content, based on dictionary material, place metadata, and linked Bible cross references.
Alistair de Blacquiere-Clarkson, “ai-BIBLE Bible Names JSON Factsheet Aggregating Material from Smith’s Bible Dictionary & Hitcocks’s New and Complete Analysis of the Bible.” ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
M.G.Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.