Benejaakan
Be'ne-ja'akan (Heb. Beney' Yaakan', בּנֵי יִעֲקָן, Children of Jaakan; Sept. Βαναία v. r. Βανικάν; Vulg. Benejaacan), a tribe who gave their name to certain wells in the desert which formed one of the halting-places of the Israelites on their journey to Canaan (Nu 33:31-32). SEE BEEROTH-BENE- JAAKAN. The tribe doubtless derived its name from Jaakan, the son of Ezer, son of Seir the Horite (1Ch 1:42). SEE AKAN; JAKAN. In the time of Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. s.v. Ι᾿ακείμ, Beroth fil. Jacin), the spot was shown ten miles from Petra, on the top of a mountain. Robinson suggests the small fountain et-Taiyibeh, at the bottom of the pass er-Rubay under Petra, a short distance from the Arabah (Researches, 2, 583). The word "Beeroth," however, suggests, not a spring, but a group of artificial wells. In the Targum of Pseudo-Jonathan the name is given in Numbers as Akta (בֵּירֵי עִקתָּא). The assemblage of fountains near the northern extremity of the Arabah is no doubt referred to. SEE EXODE.
