(Heb. Beney' Yaakan', בְּנֵי 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 (Numbers 33:31-32). (See BEEROTH-BENE- JAAKAN). The tribe doubtless derived its name from Jaakan, the son of Ezer, son of Seir the Horite (1 Chronicles 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 עִקְתָּא ). The assemblage of fountains near the northern extremity of the Arabah is no doubt referred to. (See EXODE).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More