CLAUTHMON. This is a Greek word, which signifies Tears, and answers to the Hebrew, Bochim, and the Latin, Locus Bochim. Κλαυθμῶν. Ps. lxxxix. 6.flentium, Judg. ii. 1. An angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, ad locum flentium. There is mention of the same place in 2 Sam. v. 24. When thou hearest the sound in the top of Bochim, thou shalt bestir thyself. Lastly, the Psalmist seems to speak of the same place, when he says, Who going through the vale of misery. Others translate the Hebrew, Bochim, Mulberry-trees, or Pear-trees, and instead of the Vale or place of Tears, read, the vale or place of Mulberry-trees.
The difficulty consists in fixing the place of Bochim, whether we understand by it Mulberry Trees or they who weep. Some fix it at Shiloh, because the People were assembled at the place where the Angel came to find them, and there they sacrificed. Now, it was not lawful to sacrifice any where but at the Tabernacle. It is very probable therefore that Clauthmon and Bochim are the same as Shiloh, where the Tabernacle at that time was. Others place Bochim near Jerusalem. It is certain, that the Battel between David and the Philistines in the Valley of Bochim, 2 Sam. v. 24. was fought near Jerusalem. Wherefore, unless two places are distinguished by the same name Bochim, it must be confessed, that this was near Jerusalem.