Caphenatha

Caphen´Atha

αφεναθά), a place apparently close to and on the east side of Jerusalem, which was repaired by Jonathan Maccabaeus (1 Macc 12:37). The name seems to be derived from כִּפנַיתָא, kaphnitha´, the Chaldee word for the unripe date (Buxtorf, Lex. Talm. col. 1071), and thus has a remarkable correspondence with the names of Bethany (house of dates), Bethphage (house of figs), and of the Mount of Olives itself, on which the three were situated — all testifying to the ancient fruitfulness of the place (comp. Schwarz, Palest. p. 256).

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.