BROOK, Torrens; in Greek Cheimarros; in Hebrew Nachal1. A Brook is distinguished from a River; a River flows at all times, a Brook at some particular times only: For example, after great Rains, or the melting of the Snow. As the Hebrew word Nachal signifies a Valley as well as a Brook, one is often placed in Scripture for the other; for example, the Brook of Gerar, for the Valley of Gerar. This Ambiguity is not very dangerous, since generally there are Brooks in Valleys: But it may deserve to be taken notice of, because sometimes that is attributed to the Valley which belongs only to the Brook; for example, to the Valley of Kidron, which should be understood of the Brook so called.
The distinction between a Brook and a River is not always observed in Scripture, and one is often taken for the other; by giving great Rivers, such as the Euphrates, the Nile, and Jordan, and other Rivers which flow the whole year, such as Jabok and Arnon, the name of Brooks. The Euphrates in Isaiah is called the Brook of Willows, Isai. xv. 7.
Joel iii. 18.The Brook of Thorns, mentioned in Joel, is called in the Hebrew, the Brook of Shittim; and in the Septuagint the Brook of Cords2. I take this Brook to be the same as that of Kidron, which discharged itself into the Dead Sea.
The Brook Kidron, runs between the City of Jerusalem to the West, and the Mount of Olives to the East. See Kidron.
Brook of Egypt. This is probably the Nile, or the most eastern arm of this River. See Egypt.
The Brook Besor, is commonly placed between Gaza and Rhinocorura: But S. Jerom, upon the vi. Ch. of Amos, says, it lies between Rhinocorura and Pelusium. See Besor, and 1 Sam. xxx. 9, 21.
The Brook of Grapes, or Cluster of Numb. xiii. 25. Deut. i. 24.Grapes, in Hebrew Nachal Eshcol3. We are of opinion that it lay to the South of Judah, and the Lot of Simeon, not far from the Valley of Sorek.
The Brook Zered, Deut. ii. 13, 14. It is further southward than the Brook Arnon.
The Brook Arnon. This is rather a River than a Brook. See Arnon.
The Brook Jabok. This is rather a River than a Brook. See Jabok.
The Brook or Valley of Gerar, near the City of this name, southward of the promised Land, in Arabia Petræa.
The Brook of Jeruel, or rather the Brook opposite to the Wilderness of Jeruel2 Chr. xx. 16., in the southern part of Judah.
The Brook Kishon, springs up at the foot of Mount Tabor, and falls into the Mediterranean, between Carmel and Ptolemais. See Kishon.
The Brook Cadumim. This, in my opinion, is the same as Kishon. See Judg. v. 21.
Josh. xxiv. 30. Judg. ii. 9. Judith ii. 14.The Brook Cherith, beyond Jordan, towards Succoth. See Cherith, and 1 Kings xvii. 3.
The Brook of Gaash, 1 Chr. xi. 32. was probably in the Tribe of Ephraim, at the foot of Mount Gaash, upon which the City of Timnath-Serah was situated, when Joshua was buried, Josh. xxiv. 30. His Tomb was still shewn on Mount Gaash in Eusebius’s time.
The Brook of Mamre. This is the Valley of Mamre, Genes. xiii. 18. xiv. 13, &c. We have already observed, that the Hebrew Nachal signified equally a Valley and a Brook.
Psal. lxxiii. 15.The Brook of the South. Psal. cxxv. 11. Sicut torrens in austro, signifies probably the Brooks which are to the South of Palestine, or no more than the flux of Water, which was seen when the south Wind dissolved the Snow. The Hebrew word4 is not Nachal, which signifies a Brook, but Aphikim, which signifies drains of Water, Inundations.
The Brooks or Rivers of Ethan. See Ethan.
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