Dictionary Summary: Fruitful, an ancient town on the northern frontier of Palestine, 35 miles north-east of Baalbec, and 10 or 12 south of Lake Homs, on the eastern bank of the Orontes, in a wide and fertile plain. Here Nebuchadnezzar had his head-quarters in his campaign against Jerusalem, and here also Necho fixed his camp after he had routed Josiah’s army at Megiddo ([2 Kings 23:29-35](/2kgs#2Kgs.23.29); [25:6](/2kgs#2Kgs.25.6), [20](/2kgs#2Kgs.25.20), [21](/2kgs#2Kgs.25.21); [Jer. 39:5](/jer#Jer.39.5); [52:10](/jer#Jer.52.10)). It was on the great caravan road from Palestine to Carchemish, on the Euphrates. It is described ([Num. 34:11](/num#Num.34.11)) as “on the eastern side of Ain.” A place still called el Ain, i.e., “the fountain”, is found in such a position about 10 miles distant. (See JERUSALEM.) ²