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TIMNATH-SERAH.—The city in Mount Ephraim given to Joshua (Jos_19:50), where he was buried (Jos_24:30), lying on the N. of the Mountain of Gaash (Jdg_2:9 Timnath-heres). Josephus calls the burial-place of Joshua Thamna, and this probably corresponds to Timnath of 1Ma_9:50, although there it is reckoned to Judæa. It was head of a Jewish toparchy, and is named with Lydda and Emmaus (BJ III. iii. 5, etc.). The Onomasticon identifies it with Tibneh, where there are remains of an important place, with a spring and ancient tombs, on the Roman road from Cæsarea to Jerusalem, about 14 miles N.E. of Ludd (Lydda). The tombs are on the S. of the road. One, distinguished by size and workmanship, may be that pointed out as Joshua’s in the time of Eusebius and Jerome. The Samaritans place the burial of Joshua at Kefr Hâris, a village some 10 miles S. of Nâblus, with two sanctuaries to the E., one of which, Neby Kift (‘the prophet of the portion or lot’), may be identified with Joshua. In this case, only the second element in the name has survived. Heres, it will be observed, simply reverses the order of the letters in Serah.
W. Ewing.