CASPHOR (Sept. Xarrepuip [Al. KacrOthp] ; Vulg. Casphor, and Josephus, Ant. xii. 8, 3, Xdacbcoika), which was one of the cities in the land of Galaad ' taken by Judas Maccabmus in his brilliant campaign against the Syrian general, the younger Timotheus. See t Maccab. v. 24-54. The site of this city does not appear to have been identified. From the slight clue afforded in the history, which states that Judas and his brother Jonathan on their errand of liberation had proceeded three days' journey into the wilderness east of Jordan, before they received from the Nabathans information, which determined their military movements, added to the specific de scription of the cities to be attacked—that they were strong and great (riirrai al 7r6Acts arca bxvpal Nal Feycaat), it is not unreasonable to conjecture, that we have in this group the originals of some of the ruined cities of the Hauran and neighbouring dis tricts which are now exciting the curiosity of travel lers. After a careful comparison of the routes of
Ritter (section on Hateran-ebene) and Seetzen (notes on part I., March 1806, vol. iv. p. 198), with the maps of Van de Velde and Robinson (in Later Bibl. Researches), we suppose that on the confines of Hauran [Auranitis] and Jebel Ajlun [Galaaa'itis] near the ascertained sites of Bostra, Astaroth-Karn aim and Edrei, may be placed our Casphon. Seetzen's commentators suggest the modem es Szbdn, as the possible site of Casphon, but add ' Site however uncertain.' Calmet (in. loc.), from another form of the Vulgate, Chesbon or Cheschbon, supposes, with extreme improbability, that Hesh bon, the well known capital of Sihon, was identical with Casphon.—P. IL