SALIM (ZaXelik; and Alex. aXXelbc). In John a 23, the only passage of Scripture in which this name occurs, it is said, and John also was bap tizing in Anon, near to Salim. beca.use there was much water there.' Salim was manifestly a well known place ; but its situation is not described, and sacred geographers are unable to fix it with any degree of certainty. The sacred nairative af fords some little guidance. Christ was in Judxa. (ver. 22), and the whole scope of the passage cer tainly conveys the impression that John was near him, and consequently Salim was either in Judxa or close to its borders.
This fact appears to render the statement of Eusebius and Jerome impossible. They locate Salim in the plain of the Jordan, eight miles south of Scythopolis (Onomast. s.v. zEnon); and there, at the base of a little tell, are some ancient ruins beside a copious fountain. A way, or tomb, near the ruins is called Sheikh Salim (Van de Velde, Travels, ii. 346 ; Robinson, B. R. iii. 333). There can be little doubt, notwithstanding the opinion of Robinson, that this is the Salim men tioned by Eusebius • yet, as it is nearly forty miles from the borders of Judxa, it cannot be that in which John was baptizing.
There is a village called Salim in the plain of Mukhna, east of Nabulus, which is probably the Shalem of Gen. xxodii. 18 (Handbook, p. 340 ; B. R. ii. 279) ; but it is too far north to suit the gospel narrative • and besides it cannot be said of it there is much' water there.' The theory of Dr. Barclay, though lightly re garded by so high an authority as Mr. Grove (Smith's Diet. of Bible, s. v.), is much more in accordance with the gospel narrative than either of the foregoing. He identifies Salim with Wady Selim, a wild ravine which runs down from Ana thoth into Wady Farah ; and ./Enon vvith a large fountain discovered by him in that ravine, which he describes in somewhat extravar,ant terms (City of the Great .King, pp. 558, seq.) bThis place is in juchea, about six miles north-east of Jerusalem ; ' and may be the place where John was baptizing. According to Dr. Barclay's description it can truly be said of this valley, there are many waters (Okra roVolt) there.'—J. L. P.