a'-in (`ayin, "eye or spring (of water)"): (1) A town in the
extreme Northwest corner of Canaan, so named, most probably,
from a noted spring in the vicinity (Numbers 34:11). Thomson and
after him Robinson make Ain the same as `Ain el-`Asy, the chief
source of the Orontes, some fifteen miles Southwest of Riblah,
which, in turn, is about twenty miles Southwest of Emesa (Hums).
As Ain is named in connection with Lake Gennesaret, some claim
that Riblah of Numbers 34:11 must be another place farther South
and closer to that lake. (2) A Levitical city (Joshua 21:16) in
the Negeb or southern part of Judah. It was first allotted to
the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:32) but later to Simeon (Joshua
19:7). The fact that it is several times named in immediate
connection with Rimmon has lent plausibility to the view that we
have here a compound word, and that we should read En-Rimmon,
i.e. Ain-Rimmon (see Joshua 15:32; 19:7; 1 Chronicles 4:32). See
also \AYIN\. W. W. Davies These files are public domain.