Khan

is the more common Arabic name for the public establishments which, under the less imposing title of menzil, or the more stately one of caravanserai (q.v.), correspond to our Occidental ideas of an INN SEE INN (q.v.). These afford lodging, but not usually food, for man and beast. They are generally found near towns, but sometimes in the open country on a frequented route. They are mentioned in the N. Test. (πανδοχεῖον, Lu 10:34) and Talmud (פונדק, Lightfoot, Opp. p. 799), and something of the kind seems to occur in the later books of the O.T. (גֵּרוּת, Jer 41:17; the κατάλυμα of Lu 2:7 is, however, thought by some to have been of a more private character). The earlier Hebrews knew of no such provision for travellers (Ge 42:27; Ex 4:24; 2Ki 19:23; the מִלוֹן being merely the stopping-place over night; the זוֹנָה of Jos 2:1 indicating rather a brothel, and the ניות of 1Sa 19:18 the home of the prophet-scholars). Entertainment was generally furnished by individual hospitality (q.v.).