or BETHSEAN, in Ancient Geography, 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, situated 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 overran all Asia. It was the greatest city of all the Decapolis, (Josephus.) It is called Baccon by Stephanus.