beth -dā´gon ( בּית־דּגון , bēthdāghōn ; Βηθδαγών , Bēthdagō̇n ):
(1) A town in the Shephelah of Judah named with Gederoth, Naamah, and Makkedah (Joshua 15:41 ). It may be represented by the modern Beit Dijan , about 6 miles Southeast of Jaffa. This however is a modern site, and not in the Shephelah. Nearly 2 miles to the south is Khirbet Dājūn , a Roman site. The connection in which it occurs leads us to expect a position farther Southeast
(2) A city on the border of Asher (Joshua 19:27 ) which Conder would identify with Tell D'auk , near the mouth of the Belus, in the plan of Acre.
The name seems to have been of frequent occurrence. There is a Beit Dejan about 6 miles East of Nāblus , and Josephus speaks of a fortress called Dagon above Jericho (Ant. , XII , viii, 1; BJ , I, ii, 3). This would seem to indicate a widespread worship of Dagon. But the name may mean "house of corn."
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