Engannim

There is a great inclination in me to believe that Naim is the same with Engannim, mentioned Joshua 19:21, 21:29. For, 1. Both of them were within the tribe of Issachar; Engannim, as the Holy Scriptures, and Nain, as the Jewish doctors tell us; and why we should not take their word in such a thing as this, I know no reason. 2. Both of them signify pleasantness: Naim, in the very etymon, implies pleasantness: and Engannim, a fountain of gardens. 3. The Engannim, mentioned Joshua 21:29, in 1 Chronicles 6:73, is Anem. Now if you transpose the letters, it will be Naim. 4. Let me add that Engannim (if there be any credit to those guides that commonly shew these places to travellers) lies directly in the way going from Galilee to Jerusalem; and so, as is very evident, was our Naim. Of this place, thus our countryman Biddulph: "a town, commonly called Jenine, of old Engannim: exceedingly pleasant, abounding with waters and gardens, and delightsome walks."

Why the Seventy should render Engannim by a fountain of letters, Joshua 21:29, let those that are more learned, search out. It is true, the children of Issachar are celebrated for their skill in computing the times, 1 Chronicle 12:32; where the Targumist, "They were skilled in calculating the beginnings of the years, the calends of the months, and the intercalation both of years and months; sophists [skillful] in new moons, astrologers [conversant] about planets and stars," &c.

If we would include the Levites, that dwelt amongst the tribe of Issachar, under the general name of Issachar, then might Engannim, being a Levitical city, be an academy for that kind of mathematical learning; but in both we are very uncertain. Nor is it less obscure, that the same Greek interpreter hath, instead of Remeth, Engannim, Enhaddah, and Bethpazes, rendered, "Remmas, and Jeon, and Tomman, and Aemarec, and Bersaphes," Joshua 19:21.