or BETHSEAN, (anc. geog.) a town of Samaria, in the half tribe of Manasseh, on the borders of Galilee, about half a league from Jordan, on this side, having half of its territory in the Peraea: it was afterwards called Scythopolis: it was distant from Tiberias, situate on the lake Genesareth, 120 stadia, or 15 miles, to the south; and from Jerusalem to the north, 600 stadia, or 75 miles. As to the origin of the appellation Scythopolis, there scarce appears anything in history that has a relation to it, but the irruption of the Scythians, in the time of the Medes, when they over-ran all Asia. It was the greatest city of all the Decapolis, (Josephus.) It is called Baefon by Stephanus.